Chameleon Antenna MPAS & Yaesu FT-891
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 жов 2018
- Hello Operators
In this video we are operating portable with a popular portable vertical antenna. This time it is the Chameleon MPAS Modular Portable Antenna System.
All Cooms gear for this deployment:
- #Chameleon #MPAS
- Chameleon MIL EXT
- Yaesu FT-891
- 120w PowerFilm FM16-7200
All this gear makes up one version of my HF Go-Kit for digital communications. That includes the antenna, the HF Radio, portable solar panel, the lithium iron phosphate battery pack , and the Raspberry Pi used for amateur radio digital modes like JS8Call, wsjt-x, fldigi, ..
The Chameleon MPAS is a "easy to deploy" quick to setup portable antenna system. It is definatey not a yagi, but it is a lightweight, easy to carry, SHTF friendly and very reasonable compromise for rapid deployment scenarios.
The MIL WHIP is made from aluminum tubing. It has multiple sections and it's held together with a rugged stretch cord. it's very similar to the multi section whip antennas used my the military. for this video the Whip and the whip extension are used for more efficiency.
The portable Ham Radio Station gets it power from a DIY 10ah LiFePO4 Battery pack, a Genasun charge controller, and PowerFilm Solar 120w folding, flexible panel. This is same system I use for portable off grid power and comms in the solar powered field station, and Amateur Radio emergency communications in the field.
Rig control, and software are all running on a Raspberry Pi 3B+. The Raspberry Pi is running Raspbian Stretch. Software running on the Pi are: PAT WinLink, FLDigi, WSJT-X and JS8Call.
The Raspberry Pi takes NTP time source from a U-Blox USB GPS dongle. This allows accurate clock timing for digital modes relying on an accurate clock.
The entire ham radio station fits in a hand carried pelican case.
As many of you know, I am primarily a digital mode operator, focused on extended field communications. Please keep that in mind with this configuration.
73
Julian #oh8stn
video url: • Chameleon Antenna MPAS...
Mentioned in the video
- Easy to Deploy Portable Vertical Antennas:
• Easy to Deploy Portabl...
- Ham Radio with a Raspberry Pi:
• Ham Radio with a Raspb...
- Yaesu FT-891 Info & Tutorials:
• Yaesu FT-891 Info & Tu...
- DIY LiFePO4 10ah battery pack for Ham Radio:
• Ham Radio Battery Pack...
- PowerFilm FM16-7200:
• PowerFilm 120w FM16-72...
- Ham Radio Off Grid with OH8STN
• Off Grid Ham Radio wit...
- Better Power Distribution for Portable Ops
oh8stn.org/blog/2018/11/03/be...
Support the channel
- Drop a buck in the tip-jar www.paypal.me/oh8stn/1usd
- support the channel with Patreon / oh8stn
- Visit my Amazon influencer page www.amazon.com/shop/oh8stn Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. - Навчання та стиль
Awesome video and overview of your set-up. Thank you for all the great content. 73! from the Pacific Northwest
And thank you for stopping by. You know your channel is also an inspiration. You and Beth are like Heroes, so seeing your comment here is very much appreciated
OH8STN - thank you 🙏 sir ... humbled by your kind words. Love your channel and content. My biggest problem on UA-cam is I have too many channel that I follow and I am horrible at leaving comments. I really appreciate what you are doing for the ham radio community as well as sharing the adventure of taking an awesome hobby out into the great outdoors 👍🏻 73
I love the details! E.g. notice how he doesn't just screw the extended whip in the base, but has it departed separated from the rest at the first joint. This will keep your threads alive for a long time. Using your equipment very often will not destroy it, but train you to not destroy it! Thank you Julian.
73 DJ6KR
Truly excellent setup, Julian, thanks for sharing!
Great video Julian! Thanks for putting these videos out. They really inspire me to work portable more often.
I always enjoy and appreciate your videos and information contained in them. Thank you.
Thanks for the time, effort, and expense that went into the Off Grid Solar Powered Ham Radio Field Station
project. Those videos, as well as others on your channel, have been a great learning tool for me. I'm
assembling the components I need for off grid solar powered communications, not there yet, but I am
enjoying my project.
Hi Eric. Remember it's a process. Even if you have the money to invest and get it done in a day, we probably shouldn't. Learning about each component and slowly building up our kit helps us understand each components and how it works Within our solar powered system. Anyway if you have questions, don't hesitate to post them.
Now for the good part, thanks for the kindness and the comment, it's very much appreciated. In fact comments like these drive me forward 👍
That's a great setup, I really appreciate your efforts. Thank you.
Outstanding mate. Being near a big chunk of water is always a great benefit. Also being able to operate without gloves is a big plus. Many thanks for all your efforts have learnt a great deal from your channel. Larry M3 MPD Uk RAYNET.
Yes, I do like your stuff so you and Eric both are getting my sub. I get needing to support the good content creators on here. Just getting back into the hobby after being away so long not only did I let my ticket expire but they dropped all code requirements apparently as well. Darn it, I was always able to make the excuse to myself it didn't make since to get into HF or portable field ops with just access to 10m phone. Now all of that has changed and now I have zero excuse not to be passing my General test next week. No, the FCC has not updated yet so I do not know my new call but I will be a KX4___ it looks like. Excited to be getting into both HF and QRP field work as it has always interested me. I may be a year late on you posting this one however you got me and I have been checking out your list of awesome HAM videos the passed few days. Now I am here to stay. Thank you and keep up the awesomeness!
welcome back to the hobby. Yes many things have changed over the years. Right now is an excellent time to be coming back actually. lots of innovation with rigs, weak signal work using software, qrp radios, ... It is truly amazing.
@@OH8STN what brought you to Finland and the greater whiter north? You do not sound local and have more of an American accent but your call is not North American is it?
Rock and Roll Julian, YOU! are awesome.
Hey we love you here in Atlanta Georgia thank you for sharing yes I have your notification right here buddy thank you
Great video as always Julian. Quality is expensive, but damn those panels are pricey.
In this case it's the portability and redundant modules which cost. It was painful but necessary for me. Thanks for the comment though, and the kindness. It's always very much appreciated
rock'n'roll - every video an eyecatcher. Thanks Julian
Pretty soon I'll have to get one of those Codan Military radios to impress you all 😀
@@OH8STN Good quality, but really heavy. I have a Codan NGT-SR, a civil version. Works perfect with pactor.
you make great videos . Thanks you
Thanks for that. I really enjoy videography. Doing it for my other passion ham radio it's just a dream. 👍👍👍
good job Julian 73
I am a big fan of resonant antennas since I operate QRP when I’m portable. For what you are showing looks to be a good idea to use a hybrid micro for its ability to use a tuner. Thank you for sharing.
I agree the resonant antenna is always the best bet for performance. The only problem I've had is deploying the resonant antenna when I'm out portable. That's why I like a different variations of an infant whether random wire, or half wave.
Thanks for the comment 👍👍👍
Thanks Julian! It's all about simplicity! 73 de K2CJB
Looking good Julian! 73
Great video and informative. Like the flag on your cart too. Rock on.
Thanks for the kindness. Home is always home no matter how far away 👍
Thanks Julian!!!
You're very welcome 👍
Liked, Shared, Subscribed and Equipment Architecture Used. KO4KHO ft-891 User
Hi Julian,
Excellent video explaining your entire setup. 73 WB3BJU
Thanks for info.
No problem
Nice video.
Thanks Robert
Nice video!
Thanks for sharing 👍73 from PU2RBH
Thanks for the nice video. May I suggest another possible type of field station for those of us that like to help public service events. We use 2m HTs and drive to our destination in a car. Another situation is a longer term situation where after some disaster such as a forest fire or hurricane we have to set up for a week to provide communications with an HF rig. We would probably have our car along.
Absolutely. In fact I have a VHF UHF emergency communications inspired video incoming.
Thanks Julian. Due to the weatherproof aspect of the Chameleon line of antennas, the reasonably light weight, etc. I think this is going to be my go to system. A bit off topic, but what were you final findings on the paktenna system?
Another great video! Thanks for sharing it! KD9JEO 73's
The cart you use to haul your gear is slick. Care to share a link to it? Thanks for all the great content. Have been loving the JS8Call content as well.
Thanks and thanks 👍
Here's my article on the trailer
oh8stn.org/blog/2018/07/04/increasing-mobility-portability-when-man-portable/
The CHA MPAS is a great "system antenna" with flexible deployment options. I can get it up and running in less than 5 minutes. Too bad the Yaesu engineers forget to include a built in tuner on the FT-891. I tend to use other radios that have a built in tuner with this antenna system. You have also that its rugged and doesnt mind being deployed in the mud. Tks 73
Yeah the kx3 would be a nice radio for this antenna. Perhaps the mcHF.
Have a look at this post. Itsm gets better with additional counterpoise wires. oh8stn.org/blog/2017/07/17/chameleon-mpas-swr-sweep/
It appears that you might be using the CHA 50' COAX with integrated RFI Choke. Do you suggest using an
RFI choke at the top of the feed line? I am considering adding the Cha RFI Choke to the top of my coax.
nice vids man OH3BPY 73
Do you ever use the cap hat with the mpas? Is there much of a difference with or without?
Hi Dave. I haven't had the luxury of the cap hat yet. Maybe some of the other users might be able to offer some comments or insight
Is there a rfi choke inside the foot of the antenna or you have one in the coax cable at the foot of the antenna ? Not so importend in nature i know but i will use this antenna at Home also
I have the choke built into the cable portable and at home.
OH8STN thank you
@OH8STN this may be a stupid question, but do you connect your radio / turner to an Earth connection at all?
It's not a stupid question. The short answer is "not in the field". The radio, the tuner, the Raspberry Pi and audio interface, are all grounded to one another. The only path to Earth in this video is through the Spike.
OH8STN thanks for the speedy response! I was thinking that might be the case.
Just moments ago I've purchased an FT-891, z100 plus, and MPAS thanks to your recommendations. So keep up the good work and great videos! 73
Are you still liking the Chameleon Antenna MPAS? Or would you get another portable vertical? I'm looking for a vertical antenna for my IC705.
I've been testing the mpas 2.0 with the Icom ah705. This is an extremely nice combination. I like the mpas because it's easy to deploy. For 40-6M I use the basic mpas and a few counterpoise wires. When I want to do 160, 80, 60, 40, add the extension . It has worked extremely well.
@@OH8STN When you deploy the MPAS 2 for 40-6, do you use an ATU? Thanks for replying.
It depends on the configuration. Take a look at the user manual for the npas on their website and check the SWR plots. I'm kind of extreme about SWR. I prefer allowing the tuner to keep the radio happy.
ciao!
Ciao Walter 👍
Again, what was the solar panel ?
Info is always in the description, but here you go. The big one is a PowerFilm FM16-7200 120 watt, the smaller one FM16-1200 20 watt.
Hope that helps.
@@OH8STN Thanks. I will be in your area in a week or so, VK2ALF
@@terrymac9570 I purchased a much smaller panel from a Polish distributer.
@@terrymac9570 I purchased a R-14 and paid 1126 PLN, 262 €
@@terrymac9570 Supplier was : Auto Radio Serwis Henryk Uliński