Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: CHAMELEON HF MULTIBAND ZEPP ANTENNA - 10M to 80M

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : CHAMELEON HF MULTIBAND ZEPP ANTENNA - 10M to 80M
Reviews: 24MSRP: 99
Description:
CHAMELEON HF MULTIBAND ZEPP ANTENNA

The Chameleon HF Multiband Zepp Antenna has been specially designed for apartments, condominiums, homeowners associations, deed restrictions and CCRs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions), ARES, RACES, MARS, EMCOMM, NVIS, First Responders, Emergency Preparedness and attic antenna installation. It’s a true base station or portable stealth antenna.

The antenna covers 10M to 80M and is 75' long. It’s composed of a 25' matching section and a 50' radiator. To eliminated possible RFI the antenna is attached to a UNUN 1:1. Because of the 25’ matching section the antenna can be directly connected on the antenna tuner with the provided 1’ jumper cable (RG-8X) (recommended).

The antenna can be installed in different configurations such as:

Horizontal
Vertical
Sloped
Inverted “V”
Inverted “L”
Horizontal Loop
Vertical Loop
Vertically twisted around a fiberglass or wooden core


Because of its particular design the Zepp antenna can be installed on the edge of a wooden fence, in a tree, on a house rooftop in a loop pattern, in an attic in a vertical loop pattern, twisted around a flagpole or even directly on the grass (with limited communication range and performance).

When rolled in a bundle the antenna can easily fit into a lunch box, backpack, suit case or any other handbags. The deployment time is between 2 minutes to about 10 minutes depending of the chosen antenna configuration.


ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency: 10M - 80M
Power: 250 W SSB
RF Connection: PL-259
Input Impedance: 50 Ohms
VSWR: Subject to configuration
Pattern: Subject to configuration
Polarization: Linear
Height: 75’ (50’ radiator - 25’ matching section)
Weight: 2 lb.
Mounting Configuration: None
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00244.2
KF7NLV Rating: 2012-03-23
Great for MARS and more! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Carl and the Chameleon Team were very helpful in chosing an affordable yet MARS effective antenna. So far the Zepp has suppased my expectations. I have finally completed my MARS station! Chameleon recommended a NVIS configuration and it worked perfectly in my QTH. First Time NET control has heard my report without it being relayed. Yet I am able to play on this weeks QSO 20m party bouncing back an forth between a ZeroFive Vertical and the Zepp for the best effect.
K1ROY Rating: 2011-10-11
so easy even I could do it! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
works well on 40 and 80 meters. Not bad for me on 20 meters either. Tunes up on all bands 10-80 but doesnt do quite so well down on 10 or 12 meters but gets better the lower in frequency I went. Very easy to install as I have it installed on a slight slope mostly horizonta up about 30 ft coming out of a 3rd floor window and going out into the woods with the end of the 75 ft wire up in a tree about 25 ft off the ground. I am terrible at putting up wires but any dummy can have success with this end fed zepp!
ROB1955 Rating: 2011-06-23
So far this is the easiest to install and use PERIOD! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I’ve received my new Zepp directly from the folks at chameleonantenna.com two weeks ago and so far I’ve used it at home and while backpacking. Now this little baby is completely different from what the guys at chameleon antenna are usually producing. I already own several of their antennas and so far this is the easiest to install and use PERIOD!

No need to install counterpoises, radials or ground system. The antenna doesn’t require any special support or equipment. I don’t even use a coax cable with it. I simply connect the small jumper cable in my tuner and I’m on the air under 5 minutes.

Backpacking is literally a charm with this antenna because when rolled in a coil the space required to store the antenna in the backpack is not bigger than a raincoat.

At home this antenna is literally invisible because the Zepp is either following the top edge of my fence or it’s installed at 45 degrees between my shack the tree in the yard at about 35’ to 40’ high. I got 59 or 59+ reports all the time! Tune fantastic on everything between 10m and 80m (flat swr). Cannot ask for better for the price ($99).

You need an antenna for emergency
You want to do a dirty antenna installation that works all the time
You want an antenna to carry under your car seat
You want an antenna that will follow you everywhere (hotel, fishing trip or at work)
You want an antenna that is invisible

Then you need the Zepp. HIGHLY recommended PERIOD!
W4GRJ Rating: 2011-06-21
Works great - very easy to put up Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently used the ZEPP at a Homeland Security Exercise with great success. Installed the insulator end on a 40' mast then angled it down about 45 deg. Ran RG8x 50' to the transceiver. Used it with great success on MARS freg from 4mhz to 8mhz and on 14.300 maritime net. We used a FT897 with a LDG tuner. The antenna tuned to virtually flat SWR....we got great signal reports.