Stealth HOA Antenna # 5: Chameleon Antenna F-Loop 2.0 IN THE ATTIC with REMOTE TUNER from the SHACK
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- Опубликовано: 29 мар 2023
- Stealth HOA Antenna # 5: Chameleon Antenna F-Loop 2.0 IN THE ATTIC with REMOTE TUNER from the SHACK
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Nice information Bob. Just an idea… I use my MFJ-259B with an antenna switch next to the rig to tune my MLA. That way I don’t transmit while tuning and avoid accidentally exposing my finals to high SWR. It works great. I use a PreciseRF HG-3 Pro as my MLA. Best 73s. Dan K1YPB - On the air since 1962
Thanks for this recommendation. I actually just recently started using this method myself...definitely my preferred method.
Neat thing about an antenna in the attic is no worries about the crazy lightning we get during the wet season down here 👍
Exactly Mike; that's what I like about all of my attic antennas!
@@HOAHamRadiodo you ground the attic antennas? Looking at this as a solution for my HOA here in North Texas.
@@jpb5385 My attic antennas run through my single point utility box, which manages my shack RF ground. I explain it in this video; perhaps this may help -- ruclips.net/video/VwatH7cxr8Q/видео.html
Cool option! Fwiw, my 20 meter dipole was in the attic of our beach house on the Oregon coast. Took direct lightning hit. Attics are little protection from lightning, but not having it high in the air is probably a plus in FL. Nice video! 73 zzz
Thanks for watching and commenting J. Mark Andrews. Lightning....we can prepare, but we can't control.
Fantastic video! Shows EXACTLY the advantages of using the CHA F-LOOP 2.0 (or 3.0) setup in the attic from an urban QTH! The MAX power limit for SSB is 25W! Great job!!!
And here I've been missing out on the extra 5 watts, but not anymore. Thanks for that clarification! I've gone from wanting to test this in the attic, to, THIS IS STAYING IN THE ATTIC.
@@HOAHamRadio Thanks for the great video. One question: how long was your power cable from the antenna to your rig? Did you say your's was 50 feet long? I think Chameleon says it's a 20 foot maximum for the F-Loop 3.0 tuning unit, which wouldn't be long enough to reach my balcony. But a max of 50 feet, together with the Power Compensator, would open up all kinds of possibilities!
@@Amnesiacize I am using a 50' cable between the remote control in my shack, and the remote tuner on the F-Loop in the attic, and it is working fine. This is the set up you saw in my video.
@@HOAHamRadio Terrific! Was that an off-the-shelf cable,
or did you have to cobble it together? Much appreciated. 73
@@Amnesiacize Here is the cable I ordered and am using; it is actually 60' amzn.to/3nKzOhy
Hey Bob, great video! I have the Chameleon CHA F-LOOP 3.0. You mentioned the only challenge with this loop - the band switch. It's too bad Chameleon didn't have a way to remote control everything with the new remote. Great antenna though and I bought my 3.0 with the remote at the same time. 73. Joe W7BWA
Yep on the switch. I'm sure you'll enjoy the 3.0 set up. Real quality gear.
Great video Bob. I'm curious though where you sourced your junction box and chase...they make really nice clean work of exterior cabling...something I'd like to do with my rat's nest on the side of my house. I'm not finding anything like it at Lowes and Home Depot
Thanks CDW. Here's a link (affiliate) to the chase amzn.to/3M7DlPc and the box is from DX Engineering -- www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ue-2p I'll be doing a video on the DC Engineering box in a few weeks; part of the Shack Build Out Series.
Good show
Thanks
My pleasure Bovine Excrement; I feel like this may become one of my favorite attic antennas.
Great video, thanks for sharing! FYI, with the stock loop we can use it with the Power Compensator, then bring the power up to 60W SSB, 30W CW.
The CHA POWER COMPENSATOR (which is BACK in STOCK) can be used with either the LMR-400 coax radiator or the 1" aluminum radiator loop!
Thanks for watching VE2FGJ; I'm going to run it without the compensator for a while to get the feel for how well it does, and then add it in a couple of months. Really happy about this addition to my attic antenna farm.
I haven't tried 80m with the aluminum loop yet, but I always figured you'd have to put on a second loop as an extension to get down to 80m (using coax cable) if it remains true, then going down to 80m wouldn't be a walk in the park. Nice video, thanks.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'll give it my best effort and see if I can get anywhere with 80 -- no matter what antenna (compromised) I use in the HOA, 80 meters has never been kind to me.
@@HOAHamRadio Up until a month ago I had 2 F-Loop 2.0's. One has the one piece aluminum loop for the higher frequencies, while the other one had the doubled coaxial loop for 80m (picked it used for $180). Both had a quick release attachment for a camera tripod, so it only took a minute or two to swap 'em out and go to 80m. The Loop was indoors, inside the shack for easy manual tuning, and I was able to check-in on several local and statewide nets with only 10w (IC-705). I ended up selling the 80m configured F-Loop to add cash to fund another radio. I also have stucco on one side of the shack and it sometimes seems to act like a reflector on a beam antenna (pointed at the stucco side of the outer wall increases signals in the opposite direction). Regarding the null: The only difference I found when rotating the loop (besides the stucco) has to do with the horrible electrical interference I get in our Townhome. The null allowed me to knock down my S7-S9 noise level to approx. S3 which allowed me to actually hear the stations I never could before. Otherwise it seems to have no effect wherever it's pointed to talk DX. It seems like it's working well for you in the attic, and desperate times (HOA) calls for desperate measures, but in adding up the cost of the F-Loop, then adding the aluminum loop and a power compensator, I would find it hard to justify the $300+ cost of the remote tuner - but I have it in the shack so it's a non-issue. One last thought - The F-Loop is rated for 25w SSB. I subscribed to your channel after viewing your video and look forward to seeing what you come up with next. 👍
@@thestonerguy5276 GREAT information, thanks for sharing. With this being a new use case for me I'm sure I have a lot to experience and learn from. My mag loop has gone from occasional use to daily, and I'm excited about it! If the HOA ever makes me take down my nearly invisible endfed, I feel like I have a great option completely out of sight.
Hey sir, I saw once that magloops are used horizontally (circle is visible if looking down on the antenna). I wonder if you would get more distance in this way. Thanks!
Levy, I've heard the same. Its on the long list of things to try. Thanks for watching.
Hi Bob - great video on the old F-Loop 2.0. Have you ever considered using the CHA power compensator? I’d be interested to see the difference in contacts you could make with it as compared to what you have now. Thanks for the awesome content you create…. Bill, KC2KNA
I own one, and I've considered it a hundred times. Its about getting the time to get to it.....so much ham, so little time.
Thanks for another great video. I have attic antennas too. One problem I'm dealing with is noise. It's pretty high on 40 meters. I'm currently using a linear loaded doublet which isn't as noisy as the endfed I have, but still noisy. Do you have issues with noise?
Yes, yes. The attic antennas have much more noise due to proximity to all the utilities. I don't know a way around it. I was surprised the F-Loop wasn't too bad. Haven't tried 40 yet, so not sure what I am in for there... But, that's on the list of experiments.
nice video. I was thinking of doing thew same. Do you have a tile roof or asphalt shingle?
Asphalt shingles, no aluminum insulation in the roof. Its a compromise, but when its all you have, then it becomes awesome.
Thanks for the video! Excited to see how you like the F Loop. Trying to decide if I should finally get one, with our restricted setup as well. Looking forward to more videos. 73, KK7JCJ
Thanks for watching KK7JCJ. I'll do some follow-up videos but they are months away. All my attic antennas are noisier than my outside antennas, which is to be expected.
I'm pretty happy with this new set up. If you are going into an attic like me, keep in mind you need to flip a switch between 40 and 20.
Beware of stucco exteriors. Stopped my CHA F-Loop dead in it's tracks. No fault of the antenna - the wire behind the stucco makes a great faraday cage!
You confirmed my suspicions Floyd. Thanks for watching.
@HOAHAM
Bob! Thanks for this. I am deciding between a micro outdoor roof to fence line install, or this awesome loop antenna in the attic. Wood construction home, wood siding, OSB board wall supports, no chicken wire, asphalt shingles.
I could in theory also hang the micro in the attic, but this loop antenna is intriguing to me. My front home wall, has a decorative window in the attic. I could mount the loop to face the outside center of this window.
My questions are hard to answer, but here goes. Do you think hanging the micro 30 foot antenna in the attic would result in the same gain as the loop in the spot I mentioned? If I plan to mount a 2m/70cm antenna up there also, is there any concern of interference? Mounting the loop, would it require me to access the attic to change anything at the loop?
First, there could be interaction with any attic antenna with another attic antenna. That does not stop me from running both, I just choose NOT to have those two separate radios on at the same time so I do not have interference or cause damage to either radio.
Second, I would ALWAYS choose a wire antenna over a loop antenna for many reasons. Loop is directional and high Q compared to a wire. I show the Loop cause I want people to understand it is indeed an option. A wire antenna is preferable outside, but can work in the attic -- I have done this.
Third, the Chameleon Loops do require flipping a switch on the unit to get from higher bands (10 - 20) to lower bands (40 and down). So you would need attic access to do this. I leave mine in the position to work 10 through 20.
@@HOAHamRadio Thank you so much for your reply. I’ll stick to my wire antenna. Is it necessary to ground an antenna that is ran inside an attic directly to a radio room?
@@ernestoluzan Yes, I treat all inside antennas just like outside antennas. They go through my same panel than has lightning and grounding protection.
I would question its success as NVIS as I have tried the exact same antenna for NVIS with poor success. You need the right FoF2 layer in place along with a high radiation angle. The CHA Loop offers a lower radiation angle making DX contacts in single and multi hops easily available. This is a robust and efficient loop and very well made like stuff should be. The remote tuner is a game changer making this ideal for HOA but for anyone having the need to have the loop away from the operator.
VE3IPS thanks for watching and the detailed comment. My NVIS comment was an expectation, not actual experience. The remote tuner is a game changer. I need more time with this and broader use, but so far this has opened an entirely new use case for my mag loop.
@@HOAHamRadio YES, catch you on 20m and in the pile ups. Good for you buying a quality product
Nice job on the video! You are fortunate your QTH allows you the flexibility to explore so many antenna options. Great QSO by the way! 73 KE8UFQ
Thanks for watching and commenting Stephen. My HOA isn't too bad. The grass gets cut while I sip coffee from my easy chair, and play on the radio.
What is the "compromise" with a loop antenna?
Good question!
TO, it all depends on what you are comparing to, right?
The null, that seems to me as the single thing I've wondered about, and will soon prove out.
Dunno...ask K8MRD. Apparently small transmitting loops don't work.
@@HOAHamRadio right, that could be an advantage!
@@temporarilyoffline I see what you did there... Disadvantage in one use case may be an advantage for another!
I would like to suggest that amateurs use either a VNA or an antenna analyzer in place of the rig for the final tuneup and NOT transmit on the air. I see far too many QRM carriers as of late. Nearly all have access to these inexpensive devices, so there is no longer any excuse to key up on the air to check for resonance.
I appreciate that feedback WECB640 and understand your perspective; I too get annoyed by QRM.
I use analyzes on my portable set ups for wire & verticals; any practical suggestions here for using the VNA with a loop without having to constantly connect / disconnect coax to get a reading as you move accross a band?
Nice antenna! HOAs bother me.
Thanks for watching Rob. HOA's aren't for everyone, that's for sure. I've lived in 5 different ones in my life, 1 was TERRIBLE and the stereotype of what everyone hates, 3 were tolerable, the 1 I'm in now is awesome.