TACTICAL DELTA LOOP from Chameleon Antenna| K7SW Ham Radio
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2023
- 🔹geni.us/AAfYkHZ CHA TDL Antenna
🔹geni.us/7DB3 CHA PORTA-MAST
🔹Receiver hitch tightener geni.us/0q2To
This antenna is ideal for camping or temporary installations and can be used in a town-home or other house with a small yard or antenna restrictions. This antenna operates on all amateur radio bands from 3.5 to 54.0 MHz (80-6m), but is most effective on the bands from 10.1 to 54.0 MHZ (30-6m).
The Tactical Delta Loop will also provide acceptable shorter range Near-Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation on the 3.5 to 7.0 MHz bands (80 - 40m) making it a useful backup EMCOMM antenna or for amateur radio operators (hams) involved in disaster preparedness.
An antenna tuner or coupler is required for operation on the amateur radio bands from 3.5 to 7.0 MHz (80-40m).
Using my affiliate links in this description to purchase items seen in this video, costs you nothing more and helps to earn a small commission for the channel that supports making more Videos like this.
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This is the first video of yours I have seen. Great video. Perfect real world explanation and description of your set up. I really appreciate it.
I finally got to get mine out into the field with my 710 Field.
The TDL is cheating! But i love it!
Excellent explanation thank you friend 73s
Very welcome
I have this antenna and it is a cloud warmer unless you can get it up in the air at least 20 feet in my experience. If you are going to mount it on the ground you might as well just use the vertical.
Great video, Kevin. I am re-watching this almost a year later as I plan to experiment with the CHA TDL for ground wave, local communication. It was fun hanging out last year at Quartzfest. 73 de KT7RUN
Thanks Gaston. It was fun for us as well. I really enjoyed meeting you.
I am still interested in trying out that distance between us like you had talked about last year. 73 Kevin
@@hamradiowithkevin I am up for NVIS any time.
Just set up the new TDL for the first time this morning. Had a 5x5 (both ways) QSO with a gentleman in England...15M band, 10W, I'm in Alabama. Very pleased. 73
Fun to setup as well
Kevin, thoroughly enjoyed our conversations, the tips you provided, and the opportunity to meet you in person. Seeing your work ethic and methodology in getting that antenna tested and the video recorded was good for me. Thank you. 73 de K0WHW @Bill-HRT
BILL !
It was fun hanging with you around the camp fire. I learned some good stuff from you too, and enjoyed meeting you.
I look forward to meeting up again.
All the best . 73 Kevin
Looks like a decent setup. Thanks for shsharing. I hope to be at quartzfest next year
Thanks Steve, it would be fun to go again and meet up
Fantastic job with the video Kevin, I really like that mast. Great cameo by Chuck 👀
Hey Ape thanks man. Chuck needed something to do, so I put him to work.
Love your presentation style - you make everything sound so easy. I think the Chameleon TDL will be my next antenna - already have some of the parts.
With a 25 foot metal mast - you should have a perfect counterpoise/lower dipole for 20 meters to 28 meters
Excellent idea to try. Thank you
I love my TDL. I've worked all over the U.S. with the vertical config on 10m. I've worked Japan, South America, and Europe with the inverted delta loop configuration, always ground mounted, 10 to 40m, from Arizona. I run a Icom 7300 barefoot. I've run my X6100 QRP with it and made contacts in WA and Canada. Unfortunately, it's not done well trying to do short range NVIS.
I find that interesting as in other tests I've seen on this exact antenna, it's a cloud warmer on 40 and 80 meters. It does not have the take off angle for any real DX on the lower bands. I think even Chameleon says it's much more of a NVIS antenna on the low bands. Between the 5 to 1 transformer, lousy SWR and coax, you are lucky if this antenna is putting out 30 watts at the wire with a 100 watt transceiver. What few people say in videos (a few have, check out Chucks review, not the same antenna, but the same transformer and basic operation) is that the Chameleon antennas with the 5 to 1 transformer are a broadband design and therefore not as efficient as other designs. And with that design, there are big losses in signal strength due to the 5 to 1 transformer and higher SWR. If you need a broadband antenna for something like ALE and not having to mess with tuners, there is a use for them. Known point to point contacts at closer in distances would be another one of them. For best signal strength, a resonate antenna will always out perform a broad banded antenna. It's not that it's a bad antenna, on the contrary, it's a very good antenna for a few very specialized uses. DX is not one of them. That is not to say that you cannot make DX contacts with one. You can, but far fewer than with a resonate antenna. There is a price to pay for being broad banded. There are other company's who make these types of antennas. They do not market them very much to the amateur crowd. Chameleon is the only company who markets these type of broad band antennas heavily to amateurs. All I can say is to check very closely what your goals are with the needs you have and your expectations. For most amateurs, the design of a broad band antenna is not something they need. Too many compromises. Yes, some of the Chameleon antennas set up very fast. But so do many of my resonate antennas. Look at all the channels that do POTA videos. Many of them test the antenna, but very few use them after the test. They are using resonate antennas and there is a reason for that. If you are happy with this antenna, by all means enjoy it. You will make contacts. You'll also miss contacts, and that's a shame.
Where are you located when you did this? Would be helpful to know.
I operate from the driveway of a suburban home and, a postage stamp size backyard in a urban housing development, both in metro Phoenix. We're about 1,100 feet AMSL, nothing special.
👍Thanks for video. It would be interesting to see a model of radiation pattern for the antenna to see how it compares to a full wavelength delta loop.
I have several Chameleon antennas. I use the MPAS 2.0 a *lot* for POTA activations. I can up and running in 15 minutes and recovery is about the same. It is particularly useful in areas where I either can't or don't want to put up a wire.
An instance was my recent activations of Washoe Lake SP. There's too much snow to get away from the cul-de-sac, so I use the MPAS 2.0 and run the counterpoise next to the pavement on top of the snow.
Dave, those are excellent scenarios that you described. Learning how to get faster and make it easier is always fun to me.
Hi Kevin. I pulled the trigger today and ordered the 25' Chameleon Porta-Mast, top mount, one ground sleeve, wheel mount, hitch mount and the top mast adaptor. Thanks for the excellent video you did explaining the system. I told the good folks at Chameleon that you were the reason I found out about it and eventually purchased it..... Really looking forward to more portable operations and using it while RV camping; once the snow has left up here in Ontario. 73 Brent
Good choice! You could tell my excitement with using it, I suspect you're going to enjoy how functional it is . Thank you for letting them know at Chameleon it is appreciated. 73
@@hamradiowithkevin You're very welcome. The sales/shipping lady is so friendly; she took the time to watch your video and said she really enjoyed it. Btw, is your dog a boxer? She looks like a great dog. I have an 11.5 y/o boxer...... best dog I've ever had.
Sadly my buddy, a pit bull mix passed away last year @ 11 years old. He was part of our family for sure.
@@hamradiowithkevin I'm so very sorry Kevin, he was a good companion. I'm in a smilar situation now; my boxer will be 12 y/o in June. She's got lots of health problems right now but still enjoys her daily walks. So hard.......
Let me know what you think about this type of antenna, is this a portable antenna that would be useful to you ?
I got a TDL as well. Made some ground radials for it to run as a vertical. I have a couple sets of 25ft (4 radials per terminal) and one set of 66ft.
Haven't tried the 66ft radials yet, but having the 2 sets of 25ft radials on as a vertical helps with the gain compared to just one. The SWR will change when more radials are added.
Nice demonstration Kevin, You make lifting that mast look easy. I was impressed with that mast for sure.
It was all made easy with your help that time 😉👍
Great video. I have to check out that hitch mast!
Throw in your go-kit a roll or two of yellow caution or crime scene tape, to protect your perimeter.
Hey, I love that idea. Thank you
@@hamradiowithkevin My preference is the crime scene tape, something like 14 bucks on amazon for a thousand feet.
The only time a Ranger stopped and asked me about the Tape,
I explained it was truly a crime scene, since it's a crime how much my radios have cost me.
Its Better After The Ground Rodd Is Inserted In To The Ground / Earyh TThen Just Make A Slatwatter And Pour It Around The Area, It Will Make The Grounding Effect Much Better, Thats How I Do It When I need Grounding For My Antennas And The Results ARE THERE @! There Is A Audiable Diference
Great video. I'm not so impressed with the antenna, but I love that mast. Exactly what I've been looking for.
Will be perfect for my 2 element 10/11 meter yagi.
Great video! I got my TDL with high hopes of solving my NVIS problem, however it didn't do well in the smaller backyard I have in my HOA. I don't know if it is due to proximity to my rod iron fence in back or the house or the fences (55'x35' yard). I will try it at some point out in an open area and probably have better luck. I DO however still love this antenna for its portability and setup ease!!
Yes, trying different locations would be a really good test. Keep in mind that the antenna is directional. Sometimes, rotating can help
Great video Kevin. It is great to different antenna configurations and options. How large of diameter mast can you put into the mast hitch?
Thanks David. This specific receiver hitch mount is for a 3" mast.
I disagree about the TDL not being a DX antenna. I have it setup in Florida in my HOA backyard and have made DX QSOs all over the US, Europe, Caribbean, and Australia and short range in Florida, It does not disappoint. great antenna. I will say that 40m is not bad and 80m not so good (I’ve yet to figure this one out yet).
ts not rocket surgury!,think in terms of its size compaired to the wavelength on those bands,needs the lossy coil to turn the reflected rf into heat for a impeadance match,so piss poor overpriced dummy load for 40+80m.
How would that mast be for a semi-permanent or permanent installation?
Wooooow amazing....that's a frigging amazing Antennna Setup, Kevin! Gosh...and there was really strong Wind blowing. you did an excellent Job as always. And YFUG again learned something new from you. TNX a bunch & happy Sunday...and say hello from me to Fire Chief Chuck KK6USY. 73 de DK5ONV 💯🔔🔔🔔🙋♂
Thank you UG. I will tell him.
I am glad I was able to share something new. 73 and ask the best
Did I miss the SWR readings in the elevated TDL configuration? Ok it's at 12:12
That's why I'm re-watching.
What's your thoughts?
Which performs more gooderestest? < Don't judge me because I'm smart enough to make up new wirds🤣
CHA TDL or LEFS 4010
The 4010 does not require a tuner and the TDL does. You might decide based on what gear you have to accommodate that.
I"ve made QSO's to Spain, Ukraine, and Moldova. 100 watts with an Icom 7300. The antenna is setup on my upper deck using a tri-magnet from MFJ with weights holding it down from the wind. I live in a HOA and I can take it down so it doesn't look "permanent." I recommend it.
Thank you for sharing that story. 73
Is that Chuck?
If someone is looking for DX the MPAS would be better, I have the MPAS 2.0 with CAP HAT and have no issues getting DX @100 w on 20,17,15,12 and 10m. Regularly get from Ireland to North, Central, South America and hit Australia a couple of times.
On 40m performance suffers though I've made it to the Middle East. On 80m I've made it to the UK a couple of times which surprised me.
Very nice
The CHA TDL can be converted into a MPAS Lite by simply using one SS17 as vertical while using the 25' long wire as a directional counterpoise.
I'm trying to decide if the TDL and 25 ft mast would beat my MPAS vertical on a Buddipole mast for DX. I can normally put the vertical up about 8-10 ft. You mentioned the TDL was not a strong DX antenna. Would the MPAS in vertical be better suited in comparison?
@@RobPetty622 Let us know how it works if you do it.
I elevated the MPAS 2.0 and it didn't work too well but I didn't have tuned radials which probably didn't help, on the ground they don't need to be tuned.
Could I ask which hitch mount you are using?
This hitch mount is the Chameleon specific mount. It comes with a protective sleeve inside that seems to protect the mast. And it is aluminum, so it is light weight.
So, winding the coax around the mast doesn't cause any issues with induction?
I have not experienced adverse operating experiences in the times I have set the portable station this way.
@@hamradiowithkevin Ok, that's good. Thanks for the video :)
It’s a nice setup if you have unlimited funds to throw at it. Between the TDL & the mast you’re probably looking at close to $1,000.
.
@@hamradiowithkevin huh?
I built a ground mounted delta loop with a 4:1 balun for about $50 (antenna and balun homemade) and it would easily keep up with this one.
How often do you use the TDL?
When fast antenna setup is required and not many trees available.
I am antenna-prohibited where I live.
Awesome! Sounds like a blast!
Thank You for the test of this antenna Kevin. Though set up is pretty quick, the 5 to1 transformer is not very efficient. You lose approx. 50% of your signal in that transformer due to it's design right from the get go. Then you add the high SWR, especially on the lower bands and as you stated, you have low performance antenna. The broad banding may be of use to a small number of people, but for myself, I'd much rather use something that is resonate and get the best performance possible. For the price, the performance is just not there. A low dipole for NVIS will outperform this antenna as will a Random Wire or a EFHF for the higher bands for a fraction of the cost. Same for a vertical such as the Silver Bullet or Buddistick if you don't have high points to attach wire (or even a 17' whip in a simple ground mount, low cost and great performance 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20 meters). The word "Tactical" is so over used. All of these antennas can be described as Tactical and also set up quickly. The Chameleon antennas offer great quality, but I question the performance vs. dollar value. Lastly, you needed a very expensive H.D. pole to elevate this antenna. A inexpensive pole could be used with the other antennas mentioned in this post with a resulting big cost savings. Keep up the good videos Kevin !
All excellent points John, I appreciate you sharing. 73 sir.
I've worked Japan, South Americas, dozens of DX with the TDL and 100 watts SSB from Arizona. The antenna was ground mounted. I love this antenna.
I've made DX contacts with marginal antennas also. It's much easier with a resonate antenna. It's also much better for the person on the other end because your signal is not in the noise floor. It's not so much about the few DX contacts you made, it's about the one's you missed. Even a properly hung resonate dipole out in the field is a compromised antenna, but it's still about two "S" units better than a antenna designed to be a broadband antenna with the 5 to 1 balun. It's just plain old physics. If you are pleased with the results you are getting from your antenna, that's all that matters to you....Enjoy !
I like too break wind. 🤣