You killing me!!! Mike, I am a loyal Chameleon user, using only their antennas. The 40M coil is now on my list. Still need the SS 25 too-but have the SS17, which I havent yet used in the POTA performer configuration yet-built it, just havent gotten out! And, nice Stormy Kromer!!! Love mine!
I appreciate Chameleon's efforts to make already available Chinese products several times more expensive, but no amount of "but it's better and American made" will make me want to spend that much more money.
As P.T. Barnum said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time". Common Sense is not common. You my friend have it.
I want to like Chameleon stuff, but they seem to be sending all the UA-camrs free stuff for reviews, so we all see it and want it, but then us common folk end up paying an arm and a leg for it. I realize it's good quality and all that, but who has that kind of money? :(
I do buy my fair share of gear from Chameleon and other manufacturers. My feeling is that Chameleon chooses to spend their marketing dollars through influencers than to buy expensive magazine ads.
Nice review. I just don't see the value proposition in most of Chameleon's stuff. It's nice but all their products just seem like bling for hams to show off how much they can afford to spend on things that could otherwise be acquired or self-built for a fraction of the cost.
All that's missing are UNUN modules (e.g., 49:1, 9:1, 5:1 & 4:1) that would appear similar to the 40M coil, but with a banana plug terminated ground wire dangling out the side. Simply screw in an UNUN module on top of the CHA Blank, plug the UNUN module's ground wire banana plug into a banana socket on the puck, and then screw in a whip or connect a wire antenna on top of the UNUN module.
You get what you pay for. Chameleon products are built like tanks! If you can’t afford it, it’s not Chameleon’s fault. I’ve talked with these folks many times. They’re a small company that puts out good products. That’s why the military uses their products. Their products are made in the USA and they have great customer service. I personally don’t like going into the field with a question mark on how good my equipment is. It makes up 80% of my portable/moble equipment. No issues whatsoever. Buy the Chinese version for less and be happy with yourself. Drink a beer. Life is a choice.
Yes. You can buy the same thing, great quality, but not as "Pretty" for about $25.00. 40 Meter coil that will work as good or better for half the price. Yes, it's a little bigger. The smaller Chameleon coil will most likely have a higher "Q" which is not better.
@KB9VBRAntennas ha! I'm only half joking. I get that they're small batch made and not some fly-by-night poor quality stuff, but woof, the price is the high side of steep for most of their products. Appreciate the review and details, nonetheless, Michael!
@@KB9VBRAntennas That is going to be one expensive coil set up. I'm sure it would work, but a coil designed for use up to 80 meters will cost less than one Chameleon 40 meter coil.
Been using insulator, 40m coil with ss25 and 21" spike. Using my own homemade box in place of Cha Blank. But once back in stock I'm getting blank 👍 I'm going to test my setup with the Icom AH-705 tuner and IC-705 tonight 😈
54403 over here. I went down the rabbit hole of "Ham Radio" I came across some of your videos and saw that u are from Wausau. Where would I go locally to find out more about this?
The only thing you are stacking with this kit is $100. bills to buy the thing. Grossly overpriced. Buy the 17' or 25' whip and then use the many lower priced options to get the exact same performance for about $180. including the whip. Yes, I know, the quality is good. So is the quality of the lower priced options. Get the whip and lower priced options and you will still have enough money left over to buy another good piece of kit for your radio enjoyment. Amazing how many reviews Chameleon can get when they give free stuff to UA-camrs. Most who won't say anything negative for fear of not getting the next free products. Anyone with an IQ over room temp. can figure out the juice is not worth the squeeze.
@@RatchetFWD True, you could buy several of their antenna kits or buy from other sources or make the same thing and also buy another HF radio with the money you saved. That's what I did. I know, too much common sense. I have more than enough money to buy from Chameleon. It's because I don't buy from Chameleon or other sources that are overpriced that I have the money.
@@KB9VBRAntennas Correct, but as an operator you see an excellent review like what you have done and you want to order the full set, so you have all the components. You don't want to order a whip, a puck, pay shipping and then wait for the blank to get back in stock and then maybe get the counterpoise, the spike, pay shipping again, etc. Chameleon has been releasing pieces and then the part sells out. They haven't had the full BV kit in stock since September. Not sure what the issue is, but as a consumer wanting to try this setup, it's frustrating.
The other elephant in the room-and a perennial question with Chameleon-I feel is the price. I’m disappointed this didn’t come up in your review, which felt more like a product placement, Michael. It seems like these products do meet a need and are well built, but $274 for all three accessories certainly gives me pause, especially when I can make do without them. Ultimately, the market decides, of course, but I wish Chameleon could make more of an effort to meet the budget conscious. Their recent line of cheaper “basic ununs” is appreciated. I appreciate your channel very much, Michael, and respect that you were completely up front about your freebies from Chameleon. Never lose your independence!
I tend not to discuss price in reviews, nor do I list the price of an item as a positive or negative for two reasons. First, pricing is fluid and my videos tend to have a long shelf life. Acknowledging the price is a sure way of making the video dated. Second is that price is a value consideration and while one viewer may feel an item is overpriced, another may feel it’s well within their budget. I let the viewer independently decide if the value matches the price.
I'm guilty of forking out the extra cash. Maybe what I need to do is get the whip, build the rest myself, and integrate it all together. Issue there is I ordered the whip (It's in stock) back on 12/5 and they can't tell me when it's going to ship. Always been a good experience, but not this time around.
Chameleon is damn expensive. But also good quality. It would be nice to get stuff as individual parts instead of needing to buy large kits I don't want
Chameleon certainly has some nice accessories.
I like the idea of the isolator, that could come in handy.
You killing me!!! Mike, I am a loyal Chameleon user, using only their antennas. The 40M coil is now on my list. Still need the SS 25 too-but have the SS17, which I havent yet used in the POTA performer configuration yet-built it, just havent gotten out!
And, nice Stormy Kromer!!! Love mine!
Stormy Kromer rules!
Your reviews are awesome. The info is right on point! I also enjoy how you also provide suggestions on configurations. Than you.
I appreciate Chameleon's efforts to make already available Chinese products several times more expensive, but no amount of "but it's better and American made" will make me want to spend that much more money.
As P.T. Barnum said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time". Common Sense is not common. You my friend have it.
I want to like Chameleon stuff, but they seem to be sending all the UA-camrs free stuff for reviews, so we all see it and want it, but then us common folk end up paying an arm and a leg for it. I realize it's good quality and all that, but who has that kind of money? :(
Right! I was down for that coil if it was $50 bucks but $90 is way beyond what I’ll just do it myself for.
I do buy my fair share of gear from Chameleon and other manufacturers. My feeling is that Chameleon chooses to spend their marketing dollars through influencers than to buy expensive magazine ads.
Yes, but do you count yourself among that number? If so, I’m not sure you should call this a “review,” then…
If u do reviews u should buy the stuff
If you’ve watched more than a couple of my reviews, you will know that I am honest, forthright, and independent with no hidden agenda.
Nice review. I just don't see the value proposition in most of Chameleon's stuff. It's nice but all their products just seem like bling for hams to show off how much they can afford to spend on things that could otherwise be acquired or self-built for a fraction of the cost.
Cool add ons about time. 😉
All that's missing are UNUN modules (e.g., 49:1, 9:1, 5:1 & 4:1) that would appear similar to the 40M coil, but with a banana plug terminated ground wire dangling out the side. Simply screw in an UNUN module on top of the CHA Blank, plug the UNUN module's ground wire banana plug into a banana socket on the puck, and then screw in a whip or connect a wire antenna on top of the UNUN module.
A 4:1 would be nice. Make an easy rubikov with the ss25
@@stevet7522 A 49:1 would be nice too. Make an easy half-wave vertical for 15 m, 12 m or 10 m with the SS25.
Michael. Excellent review and operations video. What is the purpose of the cloth?
You get what you pay for. Chameleon products are built like tanks! If you can’t afford it, it’s not Chameleon’s fault. I’ve talked with these folks many times. They’re a small company that puts out good products. That’s why the military uses their products. Their products are made in the USA and they have great customer service. I personally don’t like going into the field with a question mark on how good my equipment is. It makes up 80% of my portable/moble equipment. No issues whatsoever. Buy the Chinese version for less and be happy with yourself. Drink a beer. Life is a choice.
The 40M coil appears similar in size to the Buddipole mini-coil, but perhaps more robust than the Buddipole coil.
Wait, that blank is seriously $132?
Yes. You can buy the same thing, great quality, but not as "Pretty" for about $25.00. 40 Meter coil that will work as good or better for half the price. Yes, it's a little bigger. The smaller Chameleon coil will most likely have a higher "Q" which is not better.
Agreed. I bought very similar from ali******s for $18. I'm for buying USA but not at 7x the cost.
$90 for the coil? Whats it made out of? Unicorn blood?
Close. CNC machined parts
@KB9VBRAntennas ha! I'm only half joking.
I get that they're small batch made and not some fly-by-night poor quality stuff, but woof, the price is the high side of steep for most of their products.
Appreciate the review and details, nonetheless, Michael!
@@TomSwartz you are paying American workers to make a quality product. It is going to be more expensive than paying slave labor wages.
Nice ànt
ඇන්ටෙනා
Nice video, liking the Kromer (from MI u.p.)
It’s part of the northwoods uniform.
Curious about your tripod. Do you have a favorite? Thanks much. Rick, KJ7JKR
Stacking two 40M coils combined with a 25ft whip will likely get you on 80/75M.
It possibly could. I may give that a shot
@@KB9VBRAntennas That is going to be one expensive coil set up. I'm sure it would work, but a coil designed for use up to 80 meters will cost less than one Chameleon 40 meter coil.
Been using insulator, 40m coil with ss25 and 21" spike. Using my own homemade box in place of Cha Blank. But once back in stock I'm getting blank 👍
I'm going to test my setup with the Icom AH-705 tuner and IC-705 tonight 😈
Why It won't work any better. And here I thought I'd found someone who saved a bunch of money and still got the same performance.
@johnk23705 for space saving and portability in pack vs box
54403 over here. I went down the rabbit hole of "Ham Radio"
I came across some of your videos and saw that u are from Wausau.
Where would I go locally to find out more about this?
The only thing you are stacking with this kit is $100. bills to buy the thing. Grossly overpriced. Buy the 17' or 25' whip and then use the many lower priced options to get the exact same performance for about $180. including the whip. Yes, I know, the quality is good. So is the quality of the lower priced options. Get the whip and lower priced options and you will still have enough money left over to buy another good piece of kit for your radio enjoyment. Amazing how many reviews Chameleon can get when they give free stuff to UA-camrs. Most who won't say anything negative for fear of not getting the next free products. Anyone with an IQ over room temp. can figure out the juice is not worth the squeeze.
Chameleon has the boutique top shelf stuff, good fit for some.
Not us commoners. 😅
@@RatchetFWD True, you could buy several of their antenna kits or buy from other sources or make the same thing and also buy another HF radio with the money you saved. That's what I did. I know, too much common sense. I have more than enough money to buy from Chameleon. It's because I don't buy from Chameleon or other sources that are overpriced that I have the money.
Elephant in the room - out of stock for a while now.
Just the Blank Adapter. The other two items are available
@@KB9VBRAntennas Correct, but as an operator you see an excellent review like what you have done and you want to order the full set, so you have all the components. You don't want to order a whip, a puck, pay shipping and then wait for the blank to get back in stock and then maybe get the counterpoise, the spike, pay shipping again, etc. Chameleon has been releasing pieces and then the part sells out. They haven't had the full BV kit in stock since September. Not sure what the issue is, but as a consumer wanting to try this setup, it's frustrating.
The other elephant in the room-and a perennial question with Chameleon-I feel is the price. I’m disappointed this didn’t come up in your review, which felt more like a product placement, Michael. It seems like these products do meet a need and are well built, but $274 for all three accessories certainly gives me pause, especially when I can make do without them. Ultimately, the market decides, of course, but I wish Chameleon could make more of an effort to meet the budget conscious. Their recent line of cheaper “basic ununs” is appreciated. I appreciate your channel very much, Michael, and respect that you were completely up front about your freebies from Chameleon. Never lose your independence!
I tend not to discuss price in reviews, nor do I list the price of an item as a positive or negative for two reasons. First, pricing is fluid and my videos tend to have a long shelf life. Acknowledging the price is a sure way of making the video dated. Second is that price is a value consideration and while one viewer may feel an item is overpriced, another may feel it’s well within their budget. I let the viewer independently decide if the value matches the price.
I'm guilty of forking out the extra cash. Maybe what I need to do is get the whip, build the rest myself, and integrate it all together. Issue there is I ordered the whip (It's in stock) back on 12/5 and they can't tell me when it's going to ship. Always been a good experience, but not this time around.
Chameleon is damn expensive. But also good quality. It would be nice to get stuff as individual parts instead of needing to buy large kits I don't want
You can buy the individual pieces.
@@mediocreman2the white matching part of the mpas lite? Not sure what its called