Chameleon F-Loop Magnetic Loop Antenna - First Impressions
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2023
- I recently acquired a Chameleon F-Loop 2.0 Total package and am ready to take it out on its maiden voyage (err...trip to the park).
Join me as I put this famous compact ham radio antenna to the test. - Věda a technologie
With 10 watts from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached Hungary and Austria from inside my living room. With 20 Watts and outside I've actually reached Moscow, Russia. This thing is surprising and I love the fact that I can make contacts from inside my apartment. I almost completed a contact with a station in Italy with 8 watts during a heavy thunderstorm from my kitchen. You're gonna enjoy this one. Good luck and 73 from KN4MXZ
Outstanding! Thank you for sharing your results. 73 from VE3TWM.
Did you make QSOs on CW or SSB ?
I use an alexloop hampack magloop, its super simple to setup and as you have shown, just tuning to where you can hear works well with the SWR. With the 705 I'm on 5-10W power and have had no problems making contacts with it, the fact with POTA I can publish my frequency and it nulls out other parts of the band really helps with the telephony contacts. I've even manage 1 or 2 SSTV contacts into Europe - the only downside of a magloop is that it makes me lazy to want to even try any other antenna - it just works and works well. I did some directonal testing on one POTA activation and did find that E/W N/S made a difference with contacts into spain / portugal stronger than those to germany/poland, so the directional null does have an effect. Maybe worth 'proving' on your trip when you go North - if you can get some long path DX to the North ! As ever thanks for the great videos tracy, I've not had any time for going out to do radio, but look forward to when I can again, your videos always inspire me to 'get out the shack' :)
Great info, thank you! Hope you can get out soon.
Very interesting video sir. I sure will be waiting for your future additional test on this magnetic loop. Thank you.
Thank you! Definitely more to come.
Thanks for the first look. It would be great to see some a/b testing with another antenna or two.
Thank you for your comment! Good idea, I'm planning on doing just that.
Super cool hearing you make contact with the USS Kidd. It is a great battleship and a pretty big spot in the landscape of Baton Rouge. I have grown up in Baton Rouge and every time you head downtown you will more likely than not get a great view of it. The Baton Rouge radio club hosts events from there several times a year. Likely with the original equipment.
Thank you Tracy for your video. This helped me master the tuning method on a nearly new “Cha F-loop 3.0 Total” that I recently acquired. I was able to make contacts in Oklahoma, Kansas and, most surprisingly, Serbia on the 20M and 15M bands, using only 20W of power, from my less than ideal suburban yard. I believe I will use this antenna frequently due to its quick installation and small footprint.
You're welcome! Enjoy it, it's a surprisingly effective antenna.
Always a pleasure to watch your videos, nice table, I use the same one!
Thank you! That table is one of my favourite pieces of camping gear.
I have known people with loop antennas. They have similar comments like yours. It does have a high Q, and that is both a bad point and a good point. Congratulations on your purchase!
Thank you!
I have an AlexLoop that I purchased at an estate sale. After some practice (and they do take some getting used to), it's worked well for me on multiple POTA activations (5-20W, SSB). I've even been able to use it for FT8 from a hotel room a few times. It's a compromise, like any antenna, but there have been some ideal use cases for it. It's very portable (light and takes up little space), has a small footprint, and has some benefits of directionality and nulling out unwanted signals (like TO said in his comment).
Hi Mike, thank you for chiming in! I appreciate hearing about your experience.
Tracy! Nice, I have the same antenna setup and speaker stand...
HI Tracy, Thank for that I do have 1 aswell and is very pleased I use it from inside the only a armlenth away and is very happy, 73, good luk on the trip,
Pieter
Thank you for your comment, Pieter! 73 from VE3TWM.
I've been wanting to build a loop, but never have gathered all the right parts and since Ms. Ellsworth left us hanging, have given up on better understanding of the device. While it's not my "style", I might be ready to purchase a ready-made one. I hope my Elmer (RIP) forgives me for such a non-ham move. He was a real builder of things and taught me lots. This one looks good.
Oh good gravy. I'm back into the parts shopping mode, I can figure it out. But thanks for the video and on the air time with such a loop.
Hi Wade, thank you for your comment! I don't build my antennas, so take that for what it's worth. RIP to your Elmer.
I bought this loop in the Plus edition because I love the Aluminum radiator. This antenna works great from Alaska, so much so that I invested in the power compensator for this loop and I love it! Hope you get to enjoy this antenna system as much, if not more, than I have. 73's AL9G
The CHA POWER COMPENSATOR is a great add on to more than double the output power!
Thank you for your comment! Nice to hear you have had success from AK. 73 from VE3TWM!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have a couple of magnetic loop antennas in my inventory. One has seen quite a bit of use, a PreciseRF SOTA model. It will handle maybe 10w or so and packs into a small attache case for transport. Deployment does not take long and it is rated for 10m to 40m.
I doubt it is efficient on 40m, but I have made contacts on 40m with this antenna. I also tune by listening and then check with an analyzer or the internal SWR meter on the rig.
They are great antennas if you are running a frequency. Mine is used for POTA activations where deployment of an antenna with a larger footprint is impractical.
They are not so great if you're chasing other activators and changing frequency often. They are too fiddly for that, in my opinion.
I have the same problem with the tunable vertical antennas, like the WRC. They are great for running a frequency and OK for chasing on the same band. But they are not band agile. They require operator intervention to change bands when chasing other stations.
For chasing I prefer a broadband antenna and will live with the reduced antenna efficiency. I'll take the improved efficiency (heh) in my deployment in exchange for less radio efficiency. (Boy, that is a mess!) Maybe I'm just lazy, but when after a SOTA/POTA activator I want to make the exchange and move on.
So, magnetic loops have their application and are often a good choice when the situation favors them. Plus they are interesting as a completely different approach than what we usually use.
Have fun with that one, Tracy. 73 de AG7TX
Hi, thank you for your interesting comment! 73 from VE3TWM.
Tracy, if I didn't have two loops already the Chameleon F-Loop, P-loops, and Marzoni would probably be my top picks. I have a MFJ-936B deluxe wire small loop tune that use for portable work occassionally. I made wire loops out of 8awg speaker wire, both conductors. I also a MFJ-1788 40m-15m autotune magloop that broke and haven't been motivated to fix.
As a QRP and low power SSB phone operator I like to hunt and pounce the bands. All the tuning around wore me out, so I've landed on an EFHW 80m-10m antenna as my goto antenna.
I do love being able to null out local QRM with both high and low angle radiation of magloops. They are fairly efficient. If I were a digital operator a magloop would be my goto portable antenna.
I had hoped to permanently install the MFJ-1788 at my condo, but to null out the QRM from the HVAC units beside my condo but I would have to place the antenna in front of my condo which is not acceptable.
Good luck and keep up the great videos.
The null on a magloop is probably only 5° wide of 8dB-10dB nulling.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing that.
Hi Tracy,
I love my homebrew magnetic loops.
They working from 10 to 40m with just an diameter of 0.85 meter.
Have fun with your Chameleon Loop👍🏻
73's DG4RBS Stefan
Hi Stefan, always nice to hear from you! Thanks for your feedback regarding MLA's. 73 from VE3TWM.
Thanks for sharing, great ant. Bet it's fantastic near the sea. I worked a uk stn who was using a loop and 50w.
73 zl3xdj.
One day I'd like to try operating from the seashore! 73 from VE3TWM.
I am always impressed with the performance of these loops. 73 de w8nsi Jim
Thank you for your comment, Jim! 73 from VE3TWM.
BEAUTIFUL 💯😍👍
Hi UG, thanks for your comment and take care my friend!
I just purchased this one - and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for sharing. I tried this very F-Loop last year. I was really intrigued by the magic of the loop antenna. Didn't work out so well for me... spent too much time tuning. Just not the right antenna for my low level of patience.
Completely understood...an antenna is a tool that must be suited to the application.
Miss Burlington. Lived near Center Park off of Guelph Line close to the Mall.
Nice area!
Interesting, I plan to operate a HF loop as my only space is a balcony. I see that tuning iterations are inevitable. Also, considering the low efficiency (typical 20% or less, i.e. loss of ~6dB..) I am wondering if regular contacts with loop antennas on both sides have ever been reported. Tnx, 73
Thank you for this very interesting video, best regards 73 from sp9rl
You're welcome! Thank you for your comment and 73 from VE3TWM.
Quite impressive! Looks like a good buy for you! 73 de K2CJB
Thanks Chris! 73 from VE3TWM.
Wonderful video. Can you share the dimension of the main loop and driven loop, I plan to make one for 20 meters and 40 meters, thanks. VE7QAD, 73
Hi Tracy, I enjoy your videos. I just purchased the Cha F-Loop 3.0 DIY Kit this morning and can't wait to get it and put it together. I would like to know more about your speaker stand and adapter you got. I'll probably be try to set up my mag-loop in a similar way.
73, kb9rcr
Hi, thank you for your comment. I'll show my setup in an upcoming video, thank you for the suggestion. Have fun with that new loop! 73 from VE3TWM.
Hello Tracy! I have the same setup! I bought a stage speaker stand for my antenna. Found a video where they were building a step motor with remote control to rotate the antenna. I'm getting ready to do that. Wondering now if I can modify the tuning knob by a remote setup as well? Where there's a will, there's a way! 73 from KO4OAJ in Kentucky!
Nice setup you have there! Thank you for your comment and 73 from VE3TWM.
The loop has a sharp null, directly thru its plane. Think of it this way. The loop "slings" RF away from it, just as a bicycle slings water when you ride thru a puddle. If you would have pointed the "axle" of the bike wheel, directly towards Colorado, you would likely not have been able to work them. I've been using my magloops since 2012. Many cases, I've gotten better "5 numbers" by rotating the loop 45* - 90*.
Thanks for the tip, more practice is required.
Did you experiment with the directivity of the loop and did you notice any difference considering the null-point of the loop. How about the low noise compared to verticals or wire antennas ? 73 ON4VP
Not yet, but those are great exercises for me to play with. More to come and 73 from VE3TWM.
Where can we have a cap made like yours? Cool.
I wish I could tell you. I've had the cap for many years and don't recall the source.
Not hearing the other guy in the same park on the same band - the benefit of a Hi-Q antenna - they are great for nulling out unwanted signals, but they require some effort to get that reward. Some people love 'em... some don't.
Hi Steve, nice to hear from you! Still trying to figure out how much I like this one.
@OutdoorsOnTheAir I'll be using mine with the g90 or the x6100 - both have a continuous SWR Sweep that would make tuning the loop a breeze. I tried it with my 705 yesterday, and while I cpuld get it to work, the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.
the aluminum arms are a real pain to put on. i wish they would would have a PL-259 connection.
Interesting point!
Get the remote tuner
I'm thinking about it 😀
73's🎙KD9OAM🎧📻📡
73 from VE3TWM!
Looks like you got a great bargain with that antenna. Seems to work very well. Interesting video.
M. (N1QGM)
Thank you for your comment!
Hi Tracy many thanks I have 1 and realy do enjoy it works very well, Pieter, ZL1PDT
Hi Pieter, glad to hear you are enjoying yours! 73 from VE3TWM.
It's almost impossible for me to use HF in my condo as I have so much noise here it isn't funny (shut my power off and it was still there LOL). Bought the F Loop total, and it has brought me MANY hours of fun back on HF portable with my Icom 705. I found the aluminum loop is the best to use...snagged Italy and Northern Ireland on 17 meters. You got a good deal on a great antenna! 73 from New York!
Thank you for sharing your experience with this antenna! 73 from VE3TWM.