The Chameleon VS MLA Loop (
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- Опубликовано: 22 ноя 2021
- We have completed setting up the Chameleon Loop antenna and are now going to test it. It will be compared with the MLA in terms of proficiency, set up, cost, etc.
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It’s good practice to hand-start all screws before using a tool to tighten. It almost appears as though one screw is already tightened and the other is being forced due to misalignment while using the wrong tool for the job. This is a recipe for cross threading. I wouldn’t place the blame on the manufacturer.
Hand treading would not have made a difference. I had to use a tap to clean up the treads. Once that was done, hand threading was possible.
As an alternative to those considering these two rather expensive antennas, consider one of those cheap Chinese eBay MLA-30+ antennas. Mine works great! Like Dave, I also have mine connected to an SDRplay receiver, and I use it for most of my HF monitoring, but it will easily pick up 6M/2M/70cm signals as well - even though the specs say it is not designed for that.
Mine is up only up 10 feet on a cheap PVC drain pipe bought from the local Lowe’s hardware store. Still, this antenna picks up signals from halfway around the world, and it is a better listening antenna than my two other end-fed transmitting antennas. The real benefit seems to be that it is located outside and away from all the RFI noise generated by my house and its appliances. I got that benefit by turning it sideways to the house so that it nulls out the noise coming from things like my computer monitors and switching supplies. My transmitting antenna runs only about 15 feet away from it, but that has not been a problem - probably because it is a non-resonant antenna.
It comes with its own bias-T supply that is powered by a standard 5-volt USB port, but I found the SDRplay receiver’s own bias-T supply works just fine with it and without any signal loss. And if you live in an HOA, the 2-1/2 foot antenna is just a thin wire. It’s nearly invisible.
So, something to consider if one is considering putting up a receive-only MLA antenna with a pre-amp.
-- John, N0BUP
I've mostly used broadband receive loops like this for LF/VLF listening and have found, for that application, getting them around forty or more feet away from any houses helps reduce the amount of noise pickup. The same goes for "active whip" type receive antennas. The Chameleon antenna looks very sturdy. 73 de WB4DW
Dave thank you for all your help and hard work putting together all this content.
I ended up getting the DXE Loop. (Old Pixile Loop). A few months back. From what I’m seeing here all the RX only active Loops are pretty close in performance. For the those of us in the urban areas the ability to null out local electric noise is the main reason for them. Otherwise a LOG (loop on ground) is outstanding on 40,80,160. I have both Set up.
73
de K9AWS
I missed the MLA loop. Did you mean MFJ loop?
Do NOT start screws with a tool. Always use your fingers to ensure that the screw isn't cross-threaded --- else, you will have to chase the threads with a tap
Hand treading would not have made a difference. I had to use a tap to clean up the treads. Once that was done, hand threading was possible.
I just took delivery of the MFJ-1886 active loop 10 days ago. I found out that they were closing their doors due to the owner wanting to retire. Having played with it since then, I am very happy. I found it to also be about equivalent to my Chameleon CHA-PRO active loop, but with slightly better performance above 15 MHz. Because the MFJ-1886's amplifier housing has two holes at it's bottom, moisture that condenses inside the amp housing simply drains out. I wish that Chameleon, manufacturer of the CHA-PRO that I own, had thought about that flaw before all that condensed water inside the amp housing caused my amp to short out. Oh well. I found a solution to it, but I was disappointed in Chameleon's response to that issue.
Dave: Should not the title of this video have been?
The Chameleon VS MFJ Loop? instead of, The Chameleon VS MLA Loop.
Huh, MLA Loop, did you mean MFJ In the title?
Mounting the receive loop antenna vertically makes this antenna directional. Mounting it horizontally should make it Omnidirectional. Would this be a better way to mount it for use with a general coverage receiver?
Dave I wonder if the other equipment next to the Cha loop might have caused the higher noise level then the MFJ loop?
I think I will try to make my own loop with a lna and try it out, I have all the parts, but didn't have much luck with miniwhip at my location, a loop should be better. Also, bloopers at the and are a great idea! :)
Is this the same assistant that built the DX Commander? I have several Chameleon products and all work as advertised with no hardware issues.
I just put one of these up last week and I can tell you that what Dave experienced with the threads was not user error. The plate appeared to have been painted after threading and the paint made its way into the treads. I took the new unassembled antenna and a tripod into the field with me a few weeks ago and was unable to use it because the tripod screw would not thread into the mount. All three of the 1/4 - 20 threaded holes were unusable. I even tried to chase the threads in the field with one of the screws they provided from both directions. Nothing doing. The finish they applied is textured and was noted to be very think. I even tried to pick the paint out of the threaded hole with a sharp pocketknife but could not. As a result, I was not able to use the antenna during my first outing. When I returned from the field, I used a 1/4 - 20 tap to chase the threads and all worked fine afterwards. This should not have been that difficult to install. Chameleon needs to chase the threads after painting or include a tap. Had I purchased this for field day, I would have been very disappointed!
On the positive side, I love the antenna and especially like the fact that the Bias-T is powered by 12-14VDC. That means I can get rid of the wall wart that MFJ and other use. I can power it from my Rigrunner with Powerpole connectors.
Yes a bnc can be very easy to do.the DXengineering crimp bnc ones are easy..it is what i use for coax for my icom 705 antennas
They both look like good antennas.
I have a Chameleon CHA Pro antenna and I love it. But because of where I live, I got moisture condensation inside the amp housing after humidity spells. That condensation caused my amp to short out and not function. When I complained to Chameleon, they claimed I was the only one with that experience and that they sell those loops all around the world. To me, that was a very disappointing response. I eventually cured that problem by fossilizing the amplifier cavity of the box in Epoxy Seal 9000. My problem is now solved and it works great. For what Chameleon charges for this antenna ($570), its my opinion this should have never been an issue.
since they are receive only maybe you should have listened to sw broadcasts at night.
and, maybe i missed it, but should have rotated them for max signal strength?
Dave, did you not reach out to the manufacturer regarding the defective plate?
I just put one of these up last week and I can tell you that what Dave experienced with the threads was not user error. The plate appeared to have been painted after threading and the paint made its way into the treads. I took the new unassembled antenna and a tripod into the field with me and was unable to use it because the tripod screw would not thread into the mount. I even tried to chase the treads in the field with one of the screws they provided. Nothing doing. The beige finish they applied is textured and was noted to be very think. I even tried to pick the paint out of the threaded hole with a sharp pocketknife but could not. As a result, I was not able to use the antenna during my first out. When I returned from the field, I used a 1/4 - 20 tap to chase the treads and all worked fine afterwards. This should not have been that difficult to install. Chameleon needs to chase the treads after painting or include a tap. Had I purchased this for field day, I would have been very disappointed!
I wonder if the consistently higher noise floor on the Chameleon could be due to noise generated by the BIAS-T? Perhaps swapping BIAS-T's between the two antennas (assuming they are both 12V) would be in order. Also, by drilling out that hole for the #10 screw head you have now made a formerly watertight box not watertight, so it will fail prematurely. I agree with other people posting that it appears Callum may have messed up those threads and Chameleon probably is not at fault. Finally, a quick trip to the hardware store would yield the tap to fix the thread issue and wouldn't have cost that much.
Not sure how many seconds the spectrum averaging requires before you get a stable estimate on the display. The back and forth switching would need to wait at least one full averaging. Maybe also see how a nearby beacon is picked up for a more standard reference.
Right, so this is MFJ v CHA
I will wait until the bugs are gone 😉
No bugs, just need to run a 1/4 - 20 tap through the threads. Mine works excellent. I highly recommend.
Either chameleon completely botched that antenna, or your assistant stripped the screw threads. Based on the assembly of your dx commander from your previous video, I would say the issue is your (or your assistant's) assembly technique.
He may have cross threaded it and then tried to force it. He's young. Give him a break. He's learning by doing, same as all of us. 73 de WB4DW
@@douglaswilliams6834 You might be "learning while doing", but do you make a video of one of your failures and then suggest it is due to a manufacturing defect?
@@daveN2MXX You are making the assumption that the problem with the screw was the fault of the assembler. While I agree that may well be the case, neither of us actually know that. It might also have been a manufacturing defect. Chillax, and cut the young fella, and Dave, a break. 73 de WB4DW
@@douglaswilliams6834 You are correct, and Dave does have some other great content.
@@douglaswilliams6834 Thank you! I had a similar experience just last week. I was so disappointed to see how so many supposed experts jumped on the assistant. Apparently, they are experts. I am still looking for their RUclips channels.
WTF? Chameleon won’t replace?
I will never for the life of me figure why companies insist on using Allen keys in lieu of Phillips.
Because they don't cam out?
lol
Your genius assistant stripped the threads
No he did not. I just put one of these up last week and I can tell you that what Dave experienced with the threads was not user error. The plate appeared to have been painted after threading and the paint made its way into the treads. I took the new unassembled antenna and a tripod into the field with me and was unable to use it because the tripod screw would not thread into the mount. I even tried to chase the treads in the field with one of the screws they provided. Nothing doing. The beige finish they applied is textured and was noted to be very think. I even tried to pick the paint out of the threaded hole with a sharp pocketknife but could not. As a result, I was not able to use the antenna during my first out. When I returned from the field, I used a 1/4 - 20 tap to chase the treads and all worked fine afterwards. This should not have been that difficult to install. Chameleon needs to chase the treads after painting or include a tap. Had I purchased this for field day, I would have been very disappointed!
I don't do roofs either so fair play to Callum, He's got more bottle than me
bolt was obviously cross threaded, there's where the fault lies in my opinion. I could be wrong, but the plate appeared to be soft aluminum and not steel as was mentioned. To say Chameleon needs to look at how they thread a hole and not consider the "pilot induced error" in the installation is not fair to Chameleon....in my opinion.
signal to noise. HOW ABOUT YOU ACTUALLY TUNE IN A STATION
Some lessons required on mechanical assembly and the use of tools required. See a fixing bolt being fitted wrongly is not good practice, then blaming the manufacturer... No, no, no ..
Criticizing the reviewer without the facts is a No, no, no! I just put one of these up last week and I can tell you that what Dave experienced with the threads was not user error. The plate appeared to have been painted after threading and the paint made its way into the treads. I took the new unassembled antenna and a tripod into the field with me and was unable to use it because the tripod screw would not thread into the mount. I even tried to chase the treads in the field with one of the screws they provided. Nothing doing. The beige finish they applied is textured and was noted to be very think. I even tried to pick the paint out of the threaded hole with a sharp pocketknife but could not. As a result, I was not able to use the antenna during my first out. When I returned from the field, I used a 1/4 - 20 tap to chase the treads and all worked fine afterwards. This should not have been that difficult to install. Chameleon needs to chase the treads after painting or include a tap. Had I purchased this for field day, I would have been very disappointed!
$400 loop for free to review and destroys it with 20 cent screw I bet that wasn't planned, I guess the hope now is this video generates the funds to cover it... great customer service? Why not call them? Why not just get a simple tap and die set to have the means to fix the problem?
Is there a navy base in your area or military base / airwaves seem to say so ...this would interfer with signals and workability . ...?
Ridgeway, CO is about 700 miles from the nearest Navy Base (San Diego) and over 150 miles from Ft. Carson and Peterson AFB.
@@richranchernot thanks..there signal is strong.