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Reviews For: CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna
Reviews: 70MSRP: 299
Description:
The CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna™ is a revolutionary antenna that stands at a mere 8.5 feet tall and contains a unique trap coil design. This antenna is ideally designed for mobile, portable or base station purposes were limited space is a concern. This antenna is a lightweight antenna system with 11 BANDS of capability including: 6m, 10m, 11m (Citizens Band), 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 60m & 80m. The CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna™ can also operate on the 70cm, 1.25m & 2m BANDS (144Mhz to 500Mhz) but is primarily a HF antenna. Unlike other multiband antennas, the CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna™ requires no changing of switches, jumpers, coils, etc. Our simple screw together two-part system makes the CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna™ easy to manage and store. The CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna™ is a Super-Flexible Whip. This advantage allows the antenna to withstand extreme shock from obstructions without breakage or failing. To function properly this antenna REQUIRES A TUNER (RECOMMENDED) OR A 9:1 BALUN.
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00704.6
KF6HYD Rating: 2010-09-24
quick set up Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just purchased both a v1 and v2 for mobile operation. I was anxious to try it out so I used a mag mount, approx 25 ft of rg58 and the 9:1 balun at the radio. mounted the mag mount on my cooler located about 6 ft up with 4 radials about 10 ft. i was surprised of the way this antenna tuned with an it-100. within minutes, I was checking into traffic nets on 80m. I was getting 5-9 signal reports at 100w output at the radio. This set up even tuned the antenna on 160m. This I was not expecting. Even though it probably radiated like a wet noodle, I was happily surprised that it would do it.
KC2TRX Rating: 2010-09-21
excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

Installed the V1 about 30 feet up in my very urban environment: NYC, about a mile from the Empire State building. Not an ideal ham environment! Nonetheless, it gets out, and hears well too. Local contacts on a comatose 10 meters, and then an opening into Colombia, no less. Using it without the UNUN, and it gives me an SWR of 1.3/1. Solidly built, low profile; just what an urban hammer needs, for the antenna police. Highly recommended.
ROB1955 Rating: 2010-07-14
The most reliable portable/mobile antenna that I ever had! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I’m using the chameleon v1 since more than a year and half now with excellent results on any bands from 80m to 2m (I don’t do 70cm but it works great too). I’ve absolutely no complaints about this neat antenna! It’s the most reliable portable/mobile antenna that I ever had! It’s simple to install, very robust and provides great HF communication performance for only 8’ long. (Yes only 8’ long)

I don’t need to use a lot of power with the v1. I’d nice SSB QSO’s with Argentina, Bolivia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, UK and Italy with under 30w of power on 15m, 17m and 20m portable. With 75w to 100w on 40m I did Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Spain, Germany, Ireland and Chile on mobile. I’m using 80m for cw and digital modes at home and sometime 75m to chat around. Nothing wrong here. Sometime I can even hear 160m!

Like VE7LSE was saying in his review the v1 requires a nice ground plane especially for 40m and 80m. Of course, another key to performance is a good ground radial system. Fewer radials will work, but with diminishing results. This is probably why the new v1 kit comes with 4 radials (nice add btw with the ferrite beads). During the winter I use a total of 8 radials at home. A must when surrounded by ice and snow.

I gave my old v1 antenna to my brother in Ireland and I bought 2 new v1 with accessories. For portable I’m using the single v1 with the kit and at home I’m using the dipole v11. Everything will work perfectly if the recommended antenna installation is applied and if good judgment is used.

On my Toyota Tacoma the v1 performs beautifully and I prefer the v1 to my old collection of Hamsticks hands down! How many time I had to stop to switch antennas to work a different band… Not anymore because I just press the tuner button now. At first I had huge rx & tx problem on my truck because the antenna was too close to the truck cabin (where my old Hamsticks use to work great). I had to change the antenna location and move it to the back of the truck and away from the cabin. The difference is day and night!

This antenna will never replace a 5 elements Yagi installed at 70 feet high but for a small 8’ long antenna that can be installed under 15 minutes. You seriously can’t go wrong!

I would definitely recommend this compromise antenna to everyone desiring to have a good and reliable antenna that covers multiple bands. It’s a winner!
W5TWY Rating: 2010-07-13
Very poor when compared to other antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The antenna works on all bands with the help of a auto tuner. RX is poor and TX is poor when compared with other antennas used for portable or mobile use. Gave mine away. Would not recommend at this point. Customer support is good by e-mail(very fast response)
KE6WPP Rating: 2010-07-10
the V1 and mobilehome Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased the V1 to use it for receiving while I studied for my upgrade. After my upgrade, I started using it. At this point I discovered a problem, the steel roof was reflecting RF back to the antenna, so much for a usable SWR, even with a tuner. Had a lot of trouble be heard!
Found a VERY simple solution, treat it as an end-fed antenna (it is after all). I left the LMR-400 conected, but added a 6 inch peice with a PL-259 on one end and a pigtail at the other. Trimmed the braid back an inch and a half and removed the foil with a file, then connected it the the random wire connector on my tuner. No more problem. With the antenna 13 feet above my steel roof and 100 watts I have been checking in on 75 and 40 meters with good results (not a big boomer, but I'm heard). The antenna works as good as any antenna I've used on my car and any antenna that is only 10 percent of full size and works as good as a resonent 1/4 wave is a damn good antenna.
N4MKT Rating: 2010-05-25
V1 as a Marine SSB Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After so many years of using the "backstay" antenna on our sailboat "Spindra" I was able to try out this V1 antenna.
This antenna I can assure you out preformed my backstay antenna 100% which I have used for years with a great amount of frustration on all the bands. Backstay antenna was at best a 50% contact rate. SWR with the AH140 tuner and a Diawa Cross needle SWR bridge was flat on all bands all the time. This included the marine bands as well. I recently did a trip to Isla Mujeres Mexico from St Petersburg FL and did a test between the backstay and the V1. The V1 out preformed the backstay in every case. All the calls I made with the V1 succeeded. Only issue I had was the mount, when coated with salt water the SWR went out of site. If I kept the salt water away with rigging tape it worked all the way home without an issue. I am told the manufacturer is working on a marine verison and that should be dynamite! I have tried the Hustler line as well but this antenna eliminates the coils and after a year in the salt water air the hustler didn't look so good.
Larry Wissing SPYC Port Captain.
VE6GCE Rating: 2010-05-24
Continued review Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Between with little time and with ease. I used a shunt coil to achieve good swr on 80m and when used portable with a camera tripod and several above ground radials I even tuned up on 160m with my ah4 tuner.
I have a older friend with a motorhome looking to get back into the hobby. With it's ease of use and setup, I will suggest the chameleon to him.
With proper bonding, grounding, and taking a hint or two from Carl great results can be achieved.
KF5DCW Rating: 2010-05-22
whew...! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When i bought the V1 i was looking for a multiband mobile antenna, i didnt realize that it would be more aptly utilized as a portable. I must admit strong and fast customer support, but almost immediately i knew that the V1 was going to be a bull to tame for mobile use unless one were disposed to pull on the grass and toss counterpoise everytime one wanted to talk.
First thing, as with any HF mobile antenna "GROUNDING" the antenna is paramount...once i had that one solved i pulled the balun and hooked up an LDG autotuner to finally get right for mobile use.
Have made some decent contacts from Arkansas to Ga, Mich, NM, AZ, CA which is about what i wanted and expected.
Scored it a 3 from aggrivation level suffered but am satisfied over all now that its working.
VA7BC Rating: 2010-05-10
Excellent customer service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the Chameleon V1 antenna for over a year. It has been used primarily portable on the West Coast of Canada in temperatures ranging from -10degrees to +30 degrees Celsius. Wx has varied from sun to rain to snow. Winds up to 100km/h. Chameleon has withstood all the weather conditions like a charm. Has worked well with my portable operation.

When I snapped the antenna through my own mishandling, I wrote to the Chameleon crew with my misadventures. They responded (on a weekend) within hours and had a replacement on the way within 24 hours. Fees charged were minimal and shipping was included. Now that is first class customer service. They have a customer for life now.
VE7WGR Rating: 2010-03-26
happy with results and service Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have been using my V1, as a base antenna, for a few months now and am quite pleased with the results. Initially, I had some problems but it only took an e-mail to get immediate assistance from the guys at Chameleon. I have followed their recommendations and the antenna is performing well. I find the Chameleon team to be very responsive and innovative. My location dictates that I not "mess up" the landscape and my V1 makes a nice neat installation.