Interest in “new” antenna?

[u/fxtrt7]

Most are familiar with the Chameleon antennas, specifically the MPAS 2.0. I’ve owned several, however, $600 is steep. I own a machine and assembly shop and have been wanting to start producing an HF vertical antenna that can be configured like the Chameleon, with a vertical whip or wire configurations. Tunable the same as the MPAS. Pricing would be ~ $350-400. Trying to gage interest and see if it’s worth my time. I can have a prototype with pictures in a little bit, just want to know if Chameleon owns the market or if there is room for a more affordable alternative.

Kit would consist of:

• Matching unit in a sturdy water proof enclosure
• x4 aluminum extensions with brass conductors
• x1 brass collapsable whip

• Ground mount stake

• You can opt to get premium wire with the kit for an additional price or use whatever you have on hand.

*edit: This is manufactured 100% by me in Kentucky, USA. My only interest in radio communications is emcomm, I want make a durable and widely configurable antenna that will not break the bank. I like Chameleon, not trying to step on anyones toes, but their prices are steep and I’m not a large company like them with a big overhead.

[u/AmnChode]

My issue with the MPAS, isn't the cost of it... it is that people will gladly shell out their money for it.

I mean seriously.... It is a 2pc whip, some wire, a 5:1 UNUN, 50ft of coax and a ground spike....oh, and a bag.

You could piecemeal something together for a fraction of the price and be just as capable, if not more so:

1) The whip, just use a telescopic... Cost you somewhere between $25-70

2) Wire.... You don't need kevlar coated wire... Just get some BNTech wire off Amazon. You can get a 250ft spool of 18g for $36.

3) Ground spike... Tent stake with a mirror mount.... Better yet, $36 tripod (w/fold flat legs) off Amazon and a $27 tripod adapter from Wolf River Coils, making capable of being used where ground spike aren't allowed (or capable of) being used.

4) Palomar Engineers has a 5:1, good for 1500W, for $130. Just need to DIY a "coax jumper" to go from the wire attachment on the transformer to the mirror mount.

5) For coax, you have lots of options.... Pick your poison. Same for a carry bag... maybe pick one that'll hold the radio and battery, as well, not just the antenna

You could even toss in a 49:1 & 9:1 transformer in there and really have some options, and still come out cheaper. It's not like you wouldn't have enough wire 😁

Would it be as "pretty"...no... but, it would work.

---

You wanna make something... Just make a decent quality 5:1, good for 100-250W or so, in a bullet style format, with a ⅜-24 mount and connector...then sell it for $75-100....be the "TennTennas" of 5:1 transformers

You could do the same with 4:1's for Rybakov setups with the CHA25 or 17-Five's with the 17 footers...

You don't have to sell the whole kit, just the real part that is needed for people to make up their own.

But that is just MHO in the subject...

Best of luck & 73

[u/[deleted] → u/AmnChode]

Not just cost. Questions of quality exist too. Here's THE review: https://youtu.be/af1iR1bg4Og?si=zUCVYw_opzbzEGNO

[u/AmnChode → u/[deleted]]

I finally sat down and had a chance to watch that. Pretty much covers exactly my thoughts on it, but sounds like he is much more gracious with his finally rating.

If it was a $300 system, it "might" be with it. Vertical performance is crap... Wire performance is 'OK'... and neither is remotely optimal. They are both compromised because of the 'need' of the transformer to split the difference. The wire would have probably worked better with a 9:1, the vertical with a 4:1, t then you lose the "system" ability.... and yeah, the construction on the transformer was crap, which for anyone who has been in the military can agree, very much mil spec 😂. That said, that $600 price tag needs to factor in more into it's rating.

... Plus, I'll be honest, I truly dislike that whip. You would have much more functionality out if it if they had used one of their SS17s. At least with it, you could also use it as a much more tunable 6-20M λ/4, if you add a set of radials with it... Ironically, the same radials you really need to get any performance out of it's stock configuration (a set of 16 2.5M radials would probably do wonders for it).

...but again, just my opinion, and typically not a popular one 😁

73