Ham Radio - Chameleon MPAS with MIL EXT extension, in the vertical configuration
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- Опубліковано 1 кві 2019
- Continuing with my look at the Chameleon Modular Portable Antenna System. Still in the vertical configuration, but this time with the optional extension installed.
chameleonantenna.cartloom.com...
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I generally stay on 40 and 20 and have similar experiences. I use a painter's pole to clamp the jaw on so I'm 15 feet or so above ground. Glad you're finding it to an acceptable set up. Best feature in my opinion is the portability. Keep the good videos coming. Really enjoy your easy going style and your knowledge on the topics you show. W0YVY...
Just caught this video. I have this setup that I used for our last RV a lot, I put it on a 16’ painters pole that I was able to mount on a receiver mast mount that I used on our rear bumper. Worked great. Last year was our first season in our new Airstream and there is no spot to mount it and I’m not modifying our Airstream under warranty. I really want to find a way to bring this back into the mix, it goes up so easy and I always made contacts.
Excellent video. I have the very same Cameleon kit as you demonstrated and also nave the MIL whip extension. I've used it very successfully with the vertical and found all the points you've made about bands and tuners to be entirely correct with this antenna system. The counterpoise works best if it can be elevated and it does seem to be directionally biased in my experience. I bought a couple of extra counterpoise wires and have often used them together either directionally opposed or in a y configuration. I often clamp my antenna to an aluminum utility trailer which elevates the loading coil about 3 feet above the ground. I then attach the outboard end of the counterpoise wires to 1 foot long pieces of stainless steel conduit driven into the ground. This has proven to be a pretty effective setup for 20, 40 and 80.
I love my mpas. I use the end fed wire through most of the winter here in New England. The end of the wire is probably only 20 ft off the ground but it works well for me in the area I'm in. 40m and 20m are definitely my best bands with it. Great system. I use the wip out camping and that has served me wonderfully as well.
Thank you it was nice to see this antenna performance. It makes me think.
You may want to try the capacitance hat (which fits between the whip and the extension). It's another optional part of the MPAS kit, and it "lengthens" the antenna. It seems to help on the lower bands without messing with the higher bands. The downside is once assembled, it doesn't pack away easily.
Interesting results for the antenna. Looks like a good all rounder. 73
Very nice review Kevin thanks
Thanks for the information Kevin, because I am into antennas! Randy. California.
I have been looking at the Chameleon MPAS antenna. Looks like I need to have a tripod with it. I still like the fact that I can change bands quickly without having to adjust coils.
Very interesting stuff. I guess the WSPR map shows the direction the counterpoise was pointed to maybe? 73
I didn't bother to check for a correlation there. I'll pay attention on the next similar testing.
Hi Kevin how are you?
Hey I remember a camping trip to Florida Keys where I used my Chameleon mpas vertical WITHOUT the counterpoise and the SWR were 1.8:1 in 40m as long as I contacted the counterpoise it went up to 3.5:1 swr. Try to do the same measurements without the counterpoise and check. The braid of the coax longer than 25 feet acts as the C.poise. thanks for your awesomes videos.
Chameleon antennas are great
Great video and thanks for showing that comparison with your radio working the same station. Your link didn't take me straight to this antenna (looks like it's Chameleon website problem, not yours) but it appears to retail for $497. Does that sound right?
Thanks for the video Kevin. I have been using this vertical set up for a couple of years off and on and I usually cut counterpoise wires for the band I'm using. How many counterpoise wires do you use and how long? You mentioned something about 30 feet? I would rather not swap out counterpoise wires every time I change bands. Regards! Steve/KG7VCL
Interesting video. I have this antenna but not the extension. I will get the extension soon. What about radials - should they be on the ground or elevated?
Do the spike if used works also as ground? I like the antenna with the extension. Counterpoise needed? Just looking for a very simple set up, so I can grab and bring on the go too. Also, as simple as using it with the spike. Thanks.
Great vid Kevin....i have a request for a video. A very confusing topic is choosing the correct rotor for your antenna set up. Wind sq ft, K factor...any help would be great...thanks AGAIN.....KB8YBG JIM
Sorry Jim, but I have no experience with tower setups and rotors, so I'd only be guessing.
For the MPAS lite it looks like you will need a tuner. Can you resonate the antenna without it? Thanks.
It has an odd 5:1 balun that keeps SWR at or under 2:1 over most of the ham bands. It does eat power to do so though. Not really a great antenna for QRP.
@@loughkb wow. I’m curious how is it that it takes power from the radio? I’m guessing it Hass to work harder? If this is not a good antenna for QRP, any Recommendation for a quarter wave ground plane antenna Where I don’t have to lift the radios.
@@frankwc0o A 16 or 33 ft. end fed half wave using the 49:1 balun works great for low power and high power comms. It can be oriented vertically also.
Rockport? Close to the Gulf of Mexico. Salt water helping?
Kevin, what sort of device were you using to take those swr scans, if you don't mind my asking?
A blue mini VNA. I did a video on it awhile back.
Greetings from Essex County, England!
I'm thinking of mounting my MPAS on the side of my first floor window, could i have the counterpoise wire hanging down to the ground against the wall or would it need to be at an angle?
In advance, many thanks for your time.
Best regards, 73
Manny
2E0HJN
It could be hanging down. But you definitely want the radiating element of the antenna out away from the building.
@loughkb Thanks!
I guess that the balun is sealed and @ $500 you're not going to open it to find out.
Have you done any ZΩ measurements with low sigs and a dummy load to establish the turns ratio?
It was an odd 5:1 balun with two sections. I ran across a german web page where a guy tore it down. One interesting thing on his page was thermal I/R photographs he took while transmitting. It got quite warm, converting a lot of power to heat.
I gutted mine and replaced it with a 9:1. I need to use an antenna tuner with it now but it performs a lot better on air.
Hi KB9 very interesting video. I tried a vertical for a time but couldn't hear anyone, I can contact a few in America with an inverted V just up a tree although I am surrounded by Mountains I have a clear path across the pond. GWO.
Fender Blues Try a DxCommander Vertical. Its a vertical fan dipole. Check out his channel where he talks about it. “DxCommander”
ExcLLENT
Very good data thanks much de wb8idy Swansboro Nc 73
Hell-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o....K.L. !
I probably need to peek at some of your older videos of the RV setup, but do you have a mobile rig by the cockpit for when you're in transit? As I see it, you could pretty easily ditch (or sell) the Chameleon transformer and permanently mount a remote tuner like an Icom AH4 (which, if I recall, is optimized for tuning short mobile whips) back by the ladder. Then you could mount a quarter wave CB whip at the back for HF while mobile or parking overnight, and raise your mast (or use the CB whip as the base of an inverted L) longer-term.
My family and I were full-time RVers when I was somewhat younger, but sadly we parked the rig permanently and bought a house before I ever got into HF. I must say, you're currently living my dream! 73 de WA4FET
Back at the ladder, I have a weatherproof box with a 9:1 UNUN, and an SO-239. Both with independent coax runs to the radio desk. I'm thinking about putting a right angle on my PVC mount back there that's connected to the 9:1. Then I could quickly thread on one of the whips when I'm parked somewhere to get on the air in no time.
A 102 inch whip and a antenna tuner probably works better
Maybe. The broader the mismatch the tuner has to deal with will correlate to the degree of loss in the tuner. Could be a wash.
What about FT8 😆. .....Just kidding