The Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop Antenna, Part 1.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 18 сер 2021
- First impressions of the Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop (CHA-TDL) with a test at the park, NVIS on 40 and 80m using only 5W. Surprising performance so far. There will be a part 2 of course at another location using upper bands, WSPR, maybe JS8 and one whip on the Hybrid-Micro. Stay tuned...
Buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/gilg
Shirts and mugs: teespring.com/stores/radio-pr...
Help this channel: / radioprepper
Send Bitcoins to: bc1qc5jq4dxt7359sh80lkv9v8rlsgnh322hmn6xyc
Facebook: / radiopreppers
Radio Preppers Forum: radiopreppers.com
Subscribe on my alternate platform:
odysee.com/@RadioPrepper:d
DISCLAIMER: The Radio Prepper logo (depicting a microphone) is indeed inspired from a famous flag created in 1775. It is NOTHING BUT a symbol of freedom and independence. It does NOT imply support to any political group. It does NOT imply, represent nor support any ideology with an intent on harming anyone. Freedom means freedom from persecution based on any human trait or belief such as, non exhaustively, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or nationality. The Radio Prepper channel is a technology and science channel with a focus on preparedness and use of radio technology for disaster relief and small group communications in times of need. It is apolitical and open to anyone sharing the same interests. Send Ethereum : 0xe7cC2e415E0D2d1De91604B2b693f124dfBCf9B8
Send Litecoin : LYwDy55mZSeb1Czx6JUiTS5YkqjfmWKK5H - Наука та технологія
Wow that shorty Loop working in 80 allowing a 5w QSO in Phone is amazing. Mercy Gil. 73. Another great Chameleon product
Had an absolute blast with this antenna. Small enough to pack, easy enough to set up.
Well done Gil.
73
Julian oh8stn
Thanks Julian. I got a few derogatory comments on this... Some people don't seem to realise that without a lathe you can't make that stuff yourself, and that it's mostly made in the US at US wages, not China. They also seem to believe that someone is going to knock on their door and force them to order one... Bizarre...
@@RadioPrepper They might want to see how its made? ua-cam.com/video/Xhuf5NB3FDU/v-deo.html
@@RadioPrepper don’t worry about the derogatory comments, some people are just unhappy with the life they have.
Nice one Gil! Excellent antenna, I am really surprised it works so well. Also great to see the G1M raising eyebrows, it's an excellent little rig. 73s, Jan - M7HNK
I had to buy my own Chameleon TDL after seeing this video last year. I’ve used it quite a bit and I have to say it has become my go to portable antenna.
Hey radio pepper you doing a great job great video to chameleon antennas awesome really easy to put together and get on the air with like it a lot thank you for sharing it I got to have one now 👍
Merci Gilles pour la présentation de cette Delta loop... 73"🤝 Good Dx/fabien
Well that was very very cool contacts thank you for sharing it I got to get something set up thank you again 👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks Gil, another stellar review!
Your results are amazing. I am sitting here with a Wolf River Coil inside my condo and all I here is silence! Same conditions and you are working Europe. Great antenna. Thank you for this video.
Working Europe from Europe...
Looking fowerd to Part 2! Nice review. Chameleon makes a great antenna.....pricey yes.....but one good point is you are actually getting 3 different antenna configurations with the CHA-MPAS!
Excellent review, thank you for the detail in your video
Pretty cool antenna. I love portable kit antennas
Very good review, Gil. Thanks
Part 2 is in the works!
nice too see the g1m getting some air time.
Gil, I have the Delta Loop, and it’s a pretty good antenna to have in my set up. Looking forward to part 2 =) Thank you es 73!
73s mon amis encore une bien belle vidéo bonne continuation et bonne fin de semaine 👍👍👍
I was able to make a Franken-tenna like this. I used Wolf River Coils Otophone, two 102 inch CB whips, a Chameleon Micro transformer and a jumper at the bottom and a 13 foot jumper at the top of the whips. I got about 1:1.5 SWR on 20M and made a contact between Southern California and Western Washington. I am next going to try to use the coils to see if I can adjust the antenna length for different bands.
Good job Gil ... keep going :)
Thanks Ayoub, I hope you are well.
thats a strange antenna! Good to see the Xeigu perform well.👍
It would also be great if you would do a review of the Chameleon CHA Inverted V using the same parts from this antenna.
Gil, I was inspired by this and your other Delta loop videos to made a 10M Delta Loop out of the Otophone from Wolf River Coils. I used two 102 inch solid CB whip antennas, two of the shorter coils, a 13 foot jumper between the whip tips (I used Mueller 20amp clamps) and a 2:1 Balun I purchased on ebay. I works great and I make local contacts on 10M nets.
I also tried the using Alpha Antenna's Alpha Match on one leg (removing the balun and replacing one coil) and using a jumper to connect the two whips at the bottom. I got 20M coming in well.
Excellent!
I am very happy to hear you using French. I should learn a few phrases to allow QSOs (at least basic ones) in French. Cheers! W0XO
This once again makes me want to try a resonant delta loop for lightweight field operations, but those are very large and require two conveniently placed trees with no trees in between. I could spend all day looking for a suitable antenna location. 😀
Just one mast in the middle, tip up, fed on the side...
I was happy you pointed out that at this price point you shouldn't have sub-standard parts; and the price point is high, very high. I bought one of these antennas and was almost ashamed that I paid that kind of money for an antenna. I have purchased radios that didn't cost as much as this antenna. That being said, this antenna works very well, is quick and easy to set up. I use mine on a tripod. I don't do ground mounted for anything. FWIW: I also don't use a tuner. If the antenna isn't resonant, I don't use it.
The quick and easy setup is the key for this antenna indeed.
perfect presentation of the product and perfect vıdeo ...thank you GIL... 73... DE TA3LE...
Might have try it again on G90
Thx Gil, Seems Chameleon and Alpha both have a very similar product on the market these days. Nice video as always, and a nice surprise to hear my friend @07:50 A92HK, anyhow , 73 Gil, ciao
Alpha has been copying everything Chameleon Antenna has been doing. The real difference is in performances and quality manufacturing!!
Especially quality...
Hi Gil - thanks for the glimpse at the TDL. It certainly does work, but that broadband, flatish SWR profile speaks volumes about how efficiently it works. The 5:1 unun must have significant broadband loss to provide that SWR and those losses will surely be compounded by ground losses, given how low it is mounted. The non-resonant loop is attractively engineered, for sure, but there are more efficient options at a fraction of the cost. Still, nice to see you out and having fun with it!
I wonder about that, but the proof is in the pudding.. The thing is, the length of the loop not being a full or half wave but being in the middle of HF will offer a few-hundred-Ohms impedance, which divided by, presumably five, will approach 50 Ohms no matter what... So I am not sure those losses will be that much...
Gil - as I understand it, the unun used here is a clone/variant of the matching network used in the CHA-250b antenna. Martin, G8JNJ, has written up his experience with experiments using this unun. Very interesting. The TDL is a non-resonant loop on the HF ham bands. Modelling its impedances on HF will show that they vary greatly band to band and can’t be simply transformed to the SWR’s shown without significant power loss in the unun contributing to the low SWRs. The loss is why the transformation is so flat across HF. Not necessarily a bad thing, but at QRP you need to minimise how much of the RF ends heating the union or the earth worms. Just my 2c worth. It’s all good fun and we’re lucky to have so many antennas to play with.
Definitely, and it sure does seem to work. NVIS on 80m using 5W would not work with a bad antenna.
The special event German station had you as Foxtrot 2..
Hola 👋
Parece una interesante antena 🧐, tengo el balun Chamaleon y dos telescópicas MFJ, voy a probar a fabricar el soporte y hacer experimentos 🧪 🔬
Gracias 🤩
73
Muito legal antena parabéns amigo vídeo
Very interesting. I have a 3D printer, wire, toroids, magnet wire, antenna wire, a Decathlon store nearby (fishing poles), SO239, etc. So I'm kind of thinking of DIY... 73 EA5HQ
I was thinking the same thing, and I bet it won't cost us $355! :D
@@PaulGrahamM0PGX Right. The main part to reproduce would be the "magic" inside Chameleon the matching transformer. This is an NVIS delta configuration. VK3YE Peter did a nice video on delta loops for low take off DX. And, Peter being Peter, for sure his setup cost no more than about $10 (assuming you already have a squid pole).
I disagree. It's not cheap but most of their stuff is top notch. They pay US wages remember. Good news for you, nobody is forcing you to buy one...
@@RadioPrepper Indeed. I have one of their loop antennas and it works very well and it is built very well. The parts they machine themselves are done in USA on a multi-axis CNC machining centre that probably cost more than a house. However, the loop I bought was not at all cheap, even when I bought it on a trip to USA and therefore without sales tax and European dealership markup. Plus there are some mods that I have in mind for the loop to improve it - specifically the extendible tripod leg thingumy that they surely bought from China is fiddly and doesn't fit in the bag - 3 bits of GRP tube with threaded fittings will be better (but surely would add at least $100 to retail price).
@@RadioPrepper I wouldn't go as far as to say it's a rip off, because you can see what you are buying, but $355 for that (which would likely translate to around £355 here), well, I'd rather save my money and have fun making my own :)
Ordered an additional whip with the hub kit two months ago and had the same issue. Definitely not the same quality as the first whip I purchased from them. Besides the base of the whip not being crimped the sections aren't tight when extended like my other one. I did call Chamaeleon but they didn't entertain my concerns. I own quite a few of their products so expect quality. I must say everything I own from them is exceptional and highly recommend Chamaeleon antenna.
You should resend you email because that issue ONLY happened with an handful of unit we receive less than 1.5 month ago.... We made a batch of 2,500 of them BUT about the first 20 to 35 units went out BEFORE the proper glue/crimp was applied. It happened at the same time we were packing everything to move to the NEW location.
Had a QSO with Angela Merkle? lol 73 de AI5DD
Very interesting measurements data! I'm working now on the antenna project with 2X5m MFJ whips in the similar configuration, so your experiment is just on-hand with me! The spike is a problem though, since it dictates what location one can or can not choose for the operation :) Not very "millitary" or "emcomm" approach from the manufacturer :) Thanks and 73! Linas LY2H
As mentioned, they are many other ways to mount the antenna..
You can use the CHA JAWMOUNT, CHA UCM OR A TRIPOD!
Hey Gil very good video! What is the propagation pattern when feed at the bottom like that?
I haven't looked it up but I think a bidirectional bubble broadside to the antenna.
I don't know who I like more: Inspector Jacques Clouseau, Alizee, or Gil? Regardless, Vive la France! Thank you for the Statue of Liberty.
LOL, if only we had some here... Liberty that is... Rarer by the day...
@@ouijim Ham Radio operators also contribute to useful knowledge of US History -- excellent!
I suggest Loctite 242 or 243.... It leaves no mess, as it's anaerobic, just wipe off the excess... GW7UNV
For portable quick deployment work (or even at home) it's hard to beat an EFHW 49:1 and 40 meters of wire. Simply throw one end as high as possible in a tree, slope it to the ground BOOM, all bands 80-10 with low SWR and high performance
True, if there is a tree or you have a mast.
Besides all of the technical achievements, I like how it is like a set of rabbit ears and they go world wide.
Efhw has been and will be my favorite antenna forever. But you know, like experimenting with different stuff all the time.
I don't mind PL-259 as I mostly use 100 Watts with the FT-891 a super radio with super receiver.
I love my MPAS 2.0, have CAP HAT, great DX antenna really, amazes me, I set it up for on the front lawn and only take it sown when I want to work portable. Get from Ireland to North/South America regularly on 20m, even got to Australia.
Still surprised I can have ssb contacts into the UK on 80m, adding radials rose swr on 40m but I noted an improvement in performance.
I wonder would the delta loop give me as good DX or would it be better for NVIS ?
Better than a vertical whip for NVIS..
Another fine video Gil. So I'm trying to figure out, other than maybe NVIS, what is the use case for the TDL over the rest of the MPAS system? Honest question. Thx and keep up the good work! 73
Well, I would expect performance to be a bit better..
Excellent video. My CHA TDL just arrived yesterday. I can't wait for the rain to stop so I can get out and test it out. One thing that I am interested in, and maybe you can test it out, is I saw another channel set up the CHA TDL but they had a number (maybe 6 or 8) radials hooked up to it. I know the manual suggests using the 25 foot wire that is used in the loop if you set it up as a ground mounted vertical, but there is no mention of using radials for the Delta Loop configuration. I wonder if this will help or hurt the SWR ... especially on 80M.
I am not a fan of radials. Some people want to put them everywhere. Not all antennas need them. A delta loop does not. Sorry, I won't. Too much trouble for portable operations IMHO.
@@RadioPrepper Yeah, every other video I've seen, as well as the downloaded instructions, make no mention of a radial or counterpoise but I figure I'd ask someone who has one up and running. Thanks for the quick reply.
Now with this, I'm pretty much set for my QRP setup. I'll be using either the CHA TDL or the CHA ENCOMM IIIp in a bag for versitility.
Using radial will change the radiation pattern of the antenna. Not needed here.
Greetings,
Would you recommend this for use w/ KX1?
I have the Added 80/40/30/20 set up. Wondering if this antenna would be use full on 80/40
If you have a tuner yes. I think an EFHW would be more efficient, but very long.. If you don't have the space this one will do.
6:17 lmao
Hi Gil, Great video. Thanks for the review. Wonder how it would work on a mast 25' or 30' up. Hey, try it on your sailboat. Take care. John N6NRO
Very well no doubt! We'll see what I can do for part 2...
Salut. Super la vidéo. L'antenne semble être de très belle facture. A priori la marque n'exporte pas en dehors des USA. Dommage. A bientôt 73 de Nouméa
Yes we do!! We ship worldwide!!
Besides obvious tuner, any cool, simple tricks to making it a bit more happy on 40meters, even 80meters?
Not that I know of. Only trick is to place the tuner at the antenna.
My CHA Delta Loop arrived with one loose whip base. So loose it just fell off. However, I have been told that Chameleon are supplying me with a replacement. Securing it with epoxy will just increase the electrical resistance in to the whip itself, so that isn’t going to happen. At this price you should not be expected to repair the antenna on arrival. Anyway, I will update you when I receive the replacement.
On the plus side I have used the antenna with the one whip plus a radial and it has worked well. Very well.
Great, but you really don't need a radial..
I suppose, if there is enough coax, then the single whip vertical can escape without a radial. I will try it, with different coax lengths. Cheers.
Chameleon have been very good in promising me a prompt replacement. They, and DX Engineering, have been very helpful so far.
Chameleon did me proud in replacing the defective whip, which arrived by courier, across the Atlantic in just 3 days. So customer service by Chameleon and DX Engineering was 110%. I have now used the CH TDL for two days, and like you, am very pleased with it. Perfect for POTA, specially where there are no trees.
Good to know thanks.
I would like to see you install it on your boat :)
At the dock maybe, it would not be practical under way..
73' la Pl est une 259 et pas une SO239 .
Nice video. Late to the party, but wondering if there an easy way to use the hub for V configuration dipole?
I don't see why not...
@@RadioPrepper would still need way to attach coax unless use hybrid mini/micro- do you think that would make it an OCF dipole? 🤔
Sort of yes.. Worth a try..
I guess it's a good antenna for a quick portable setup, but SWR is not good at all. I would get a little nervous if my antenna had a SWR around 2:1 On the other hand, the results with just 5W are not bad.. Thanks for sharing Gil. 73
I stop at 2.5:1, no problem on SSB or CW. Digital or AM/FM, below 2:1... I use a tuner up to 3.5:1. Higher than that, I'll use another antenna.
She said F2
Excellent !! 👍 Merci Gil. 73. Jacky 14FRS119
Interesting as always Gil, thank you!!!👍 By the way, any experience (or coming video?) using same antenna mobile?!? Stay well & "radioactive"".
You can only use it stationary, certainly not driving...
@@RadioPrepper TNX for answer Gil! Yes,ofcourse stationary!!! We are not in US...😊
Why don’t you take the connector off and put you own BNC connector on?
Just get a cheap adapter!
DK80ZUSE ouch what a painful call sign for a special event
Bonjour Gil,
L'ingénieur, entrepreneur et inventeur a construit le premier ordinateur il y a quatre-vingts ans, d'où l'indicatif d'appel spécial (DK80ZUSE). Les politiciens aiment être sous les projecteurs ou au micro en de telles occasions. D'autre part, il existe également des programmes pour changer votre voix. Si c'est un faux, alors ça s'est bien passé.
Je pense que la carte QSL peut montrer si c'est vrai.
Merci pour vos vidéos.
73
Wolfgang Stüpfert - DK5PB QTH Kaiserslautern, uniquement QRP / Portable
Did you podt pt 2?
Hi, no.
I just purchased one and finding out how good it is.@RadioPrepper
I own an MFJ version of those whips and it's a POS in my opinion. One of my sections came lose and I hadn't even used it frequently. When I deploy it, I wrap some electrical tape on the loosened segment.
No idea if they are the same...
@@RadioPrepper I understand Chameleon does not manufacture the whips. Likely they’re the same as MFJ. The two Chameleon whips I received with the TDL kit were defective. Would only extend about 10’ because the top few sections were jammed down into the others. The very top little ball tip was completely recessed. Chameleon took care of it. Good customer service.
Great video Gil! However, Chameleon positions itself as a premium product manufacturer with prices to match. There should NOT be instances of failure as occurred with your whip. Of course, "stuff happens" but it's disappointing.
Agreed.
That station copied you as F2WBY, bet it didn’t get QSLd. But on this delta loop, do you think you could make it work with the CHA Mil Whip +Ext vs those SS whips? I have the V1 Mil Whips and have been thinking about picking up a set of the V2 as backup since I have come to rely on the mPas system so much.
This Delta loop config though is enticing, not on a summit like you mentioned, but for a campsite. No counterpoise to trip over.
I’m also wondering if I could use my Buddipole shock cord whip as well.
And I would buy another Hybrid Micro in a heartbeat if they offered a BNC option and a 25-35’ length of BNC coax with the chokes.
The fact it covers 6m is interesting too.
I need to stop watching your channel :-)
Thanks and going to find part 2 - de W1ND
LOL. Yes, it skould work but I wonder about the weight...
She says F2 not 4 …
Gil, thanks for the video, thumbs up, but *only* for your effort and the video. And about the antenna: I find it difficult to express myself politely and civilly about the (imo) totally overpriced products of this arrogant US company, I am convinced that you for yourself would perhaps buy only one single product from their range and that this company is on the left if you would not get the products for free, so that this company gets a wide range of advertising cheaply. All the best wishes to you, Dietmar, DL4HAO
Honestly I do like Chameleon; not everything they produce but their antennas do what they say they do and are more rugged than the competition, otherwise I would say so. I have no problem pointing out problems, as you saw in this video. Bottom line is, nobody is forcing you to buy their stuff. For me, it's expensive, but for lots of people it isn't. They build a lot of stuff in-house at American wages too, something to consider. If I lost my Hybrid-Micro, I would buy/pay for another one with no hesitation. It is that useful. Personally I am always happy to see a honest business doing well. That is probably more of an American view than a European one...
Do you know, WHO the operator of callsign dk80zuse was? Her Firstname was Angela. She is the chancellor of Germany (Angela Merkel). Congratulation for this VIP-QSO.
73
Wolfgang Stüpfert - DK5P
Somehow I doubt it...
Lol 😂
Wouldn't that antenna be better off higher? You can buy those whips (on ebay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383892753169) for a tiny fraction of that. G7VFY
just "T" a coax from a dummy load and connect a cheap chinese 5m telescopic whip,does the same for a fracton of the price!
I doubt that very much. Could you try it and film it?
Buy BNC Adapters
I have plenty.. Adaptors add losses.
Very expensive
the chicadas are noisy
the coil is just a poorly designed supper lossy unun to give the look of a broadband antenna,its a big dymmy load with a big price tag.
Did you watch the video?
What?? I'm sorry Gille, I can't share your enthusiasm for this antenna. For US $355.00 that SWR should be alot better than that. Those SWR figures are really not very good. According to your graphs, the best SWR points are not even within any ham bands. You seem to be happy with the SWR of 2:1 but you're getting half your power reflected back and when running QRP, you can't afford to loose so much. Yes, you were able to make some contacts but I have been able to make similar contacts as well using a random piece of wire, when conditions were good. I've had better SWR using a 148 foot (45.1104 metre) piece of wire.
SWR means little as far as radiated power and at 2:1 losses are 11%, not 50%. www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/SWRLOSS.htm
What frightens me is the pretty good SWR across the wide spectrum. This means that the magic balun is made inefficient on purpose (to keep the SWR low). Think about a dummy load...
Did you miss the 80m contact using 5W LSB?
What does a contact on 80m with 5W proof? Don't get me wrong, but a contact is not a measurement.
The only kind of measurement could have been using WSPR with two antenna systems running in parallel and compare the average SNR. Everything else is just reading a cristal ball.
Thanks anyway for the video Gil, nothing personal, I just don't understand why so many hams take a contact as a proof. The conditions play a much bigger role than the antenna or the RF output power.
This is my chance to say something about the word impedance. You always say it wrong. The first 'e' is pronounced as the 'ea' in 'beast'. So it sounds like impeadance.
Just a hint. I really like your videos and almost watched all of them. This is positive critisicism, not to bully you but more to help. Really appreciate your efforts and videos.