Chameleon F Loop BASIC Review - POTA Powerhouse or Big Zero?

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Great video. Getting outdoors and on the air is the way to go. 👍👍

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you!

[@moga864]

Absolutely a beaut of a park you had reserved! I haven't activated a park in seven months and am itching to manage a pile. Will try my hand at a CHA MLA to cut down on deployment time of aerial wire antennas and increase time spent enjoying the outdoors. Fairly psyched about the prospect after watching your video! Eleven hour trip time, wow. My fav park is less than two hours away and I haven't been at all this year. Enough is enough. I've taken a new perspective on the subject. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you for your comment! I used to think 3.5 hours was a long way to go to visit a park, not any more 😀 Hope you get out there soon.

[@KD9ZHF]

I've never activated a park, but I want to now. This will be my first summer as a ham.

[@Swamp-Fox]

Glad the magnetic loop is working out well for you! I need to follow your advice and get out of the shack, get outdoors, and get on the air!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great video and what an amazing spot to play radio! I've been happy with the results from my AlexLoop. Lower bands tend not to tune as easy or perform as well, but they do work. The portability and ease of setup do come in handy for some of my adventures though.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi Mike, thank you for the compliment and for your insight! Chameleon has reached out to me to suggest there could be an issue with the coax. I'm going to look into that.

[@VE6LK]

Excellent video Tracy. Typical of these small loops they perform well to 14MHz but not so well below. 73

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you! I might need to update my findings, I've had a communication from Chameleon suggesting there might be an issue with the coax as I should be able to get a 1:1 match on 40. 73 from VE3TWM!

[@wa5azqhamradio]

Great activation and a wonderful spot to do it! Experimenting is the name of the game. Keep up the great work! 73!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you and 73 from VE3TWM!

[@neubert500]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

love the sgc2020 thank you

[@hamradioattitude9712]

very cool love those loops😁

[@va2dv1]

This sgc 2020 was designed by the same guy as the Index Lab qrp+ I believe

[@radioastronomy2001]

Great video. This antenna will do great using digital mods. For 40m you may need to use longer element 13-14 feet long (experimentation is needed). You can probably use it on 80m too with loop large enough. Keep in mind that the thicker element you use the more efficient the antenna.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Tom! Good points. Looking forward to our next portable operation.

[@MrTonyd1954]

New to ham radio. By longer element do you mean the length of the coax? If so: from where to where? Thanks

[@radioastronomy2001]

@@MrTonyd1954 The length of the loop antenna itself (in this case coax since the antenna is made of it). Essentially, you want to have around 1/10 of the wave length. So for 10m band the loop would have 1m in circumference, for 20m band 2m and so on. Optimal loop antenna for 40m band would have around 4m in circumference. Also the thicker the element the more efficient the antenna 2-3 inches are recommended. Because of practicality people use smaller less efficient antennas. There is a plethora of online loop calculators. They are easy to find and to play with. Good luck.

[@Chameleon_Antenna]

I’m not sure which combination of LMR-400 coax radiator and coupling loop you’re using but you should get close the 1.1:1 with the right combo on 40M. Also keep the RG58 coax straight along the telescopic mast and in the center.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you very much for the information. I was using the 92" coax radiator and the 6.5" coupling loop. This is what I received with the used loop I purchased. Is that the proper combination for 40m?

[@Jubileeos]

Small transmitting loops are great antennas for restricted spaces and qrp(you get the performance of a dipole in much smaller package). If you are only running on a single frequency they are a pleasure to work with. They become a nightmare if you want to search and pounce though. You have to tune again every couple kilohertz due to their high Q.

[@satexas520skyjacker]

if you had a choice of only 1 antenna to work 10-40 meters what would be your antenna of choice for portable use

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Definitely a 40-10 resonant endfed.

[@nr3rful]

If that loop is like my MFJ Q-loop it is not ment for 40

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Chameleon has reached out to me suggesting there is an issue with the coax I am using. I need to figure that out.

[@MN8015HQ]

What software are you using on the iPad?

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

HAMRS

[@barrygkx]

Great, interesting video. Barry, KU3X

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

A mutual friend suggested I rib you about the magloop...but nahhh.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hmmm...who could that be😂

[@mblogler]

RIP VA3KS

[@gaptastic]

$500? No thank you!

[@hamradiodxportable2953]

YB7SQX EXCELLENT VIDEO

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you! 73 from VE3TWM.