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CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO 

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Introduction 

Thank you for purchasing and using the Chameleon Antenna

TM 

Hybrid - Mini / Micro Portable High Frequency (HF) 

Antenna (CHA HYBRID-MINI or CHA HYBRID-MICRO).  The CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO antenna system is designed 
to be the most versatile, high performance, and rugged portable / manpackable HF antenna available - similar to 
those  used  by  armies  worldwide.    The  base  system  is  comprised  of,  either  a  CHA  HYBRID-MINI  or  CHA  HYBRID-
MICRO portable base and 60 feet of wire.  Available system options 

(sold separately)

 

include a 10’8” m

ilitary-style 

collapsible  whip  antenna  (CHA  MIL  WHIP),  a  6’6”  collapsible  extension  (CHA  MIL  EXT)

,  and  a  high  efficiency 

capacity  hat  (CHA  CAP  HAT).    The  components  of  the  CHA  HYBRID  -  MINI  /  MICRO  antenna  system  provide  a 
continuum  of  portability  and  performance  to  meet  your  communications  requirements.    Operators  that  already 
have a CHA V1, V1L, or V2L mobile whip can also use them with the CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO base, although 
the MINI and MICRO bases are for stationary use only.  You can even combine a CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO base 
with two CHA MIL whips, two CHA MIL EXT whip extensions, and a Chameleon Antenna

TM 

Jaw Mount and Tripod to 

create  a  34’6”  portable

  horizontal  dipole.    The  integral  broadband  impedance  matching  network  transformer 

allows  broadband  antenna  tuning.  The  antenna  will  operate  from  1.8  -  54  MHz  (including  160m 

  6m  amateur 

bands)  without  any  adjustment  with  a  wide  range  antenna  tuner  (the  shortest  configuration  has  limited 
performance below 3.5 MHz).  The CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO is perfect for military, government agencies, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS), Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Amateur Radio 
Emergency  Service  (ARES)  /  Radio  Amateur  Civil  Emergency  Service  (RACES),  Salvation  Army  Team  Emergency 
Radio Network (SATERN), First Responders and especially for Emergency Preparedness.  It is also the antenna for 
hams  that  enjoy  camping  and  hiking  or  those  living  in  apartments  and  condominiums  or  developments  with 
homeowners  associations,  deed  restrictions,  or  CCRs  (Covenants,  Conditions  &  Restrictions).    The  CHA  HYBRID  - 
MINI  /  MICRO  is  configurable  to  facilitate  Near-Vertical  Incident  Sky  wave  (NVIS)  communication  and  is  totally 
waterproof.  The  CHA  HYBRID  -  MINI  /  MICRO  antenna  system  requires  a  wide  range  antenna  tuner  or  coupler.  
Antennas  built  by  Chameleon  Antenna

TM 

are  versatile,  dependable,  stealthy,  and  built  to  last.    Please  read  this 

operator’s manual so 

that you may maximize the utility you obtain from your CHA HYBRID - MINI / MICRO antenna 

system. 
 

HF Propagation  

HF  radio  provides  relatively  inexpensive  and  reliable  local,  regional,  national,  and  international  voice  and  data 
communication capability.  It is  especially suitable for undeveloped areas where normal telecommunications are 
not available, too costly or scarce, or where the commercial telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged 
by a natural disaster or military conflict.   

Although  HF  radio  is  a  reasonably  reliable  method  of  communication,  HF  radio  waves  propagate  through  a 
complex and constantly changing environment and are affected by weather, terrain, latitude, time of day, season, 
and  the  11-year  solar  cycle.    A  detailed  explanation  of  the  theory  of  HF  radio  wave  propagation  is  beyond  the 

scope of this operator’s manual, but an understanding of the 

basic principles will help the operator decide what 

frequency  and  which  of  the  CHA  HYBRID  -  MINI  /  MICRO  configurations  will  support  their  communication 
requirements.   

HF  radio  waves  propagate  from  the  transmitting  antenna  to  the  receiving  antenna  using  two  methods:  ground 
waves and sky waves. 
 
Ground waves are composed of direct waves and surface waves.  Direct waves travel directly from the transmitting  

Содержание CHA HYBRID MICRO

Страница 1: ...Hybrid Portable HF Antenna CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO Operator s Manual California USA WWW CHAMELEONANTENNA COM VERSATILE DEPENDABLE STEALTH BUILT TO LAST ...

Страница 2: ...CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO Page 2 ...

Страница 3: ...ole 16 Recovery Procedure 17 Troubleshooting 18 Specifications 18 Accessories 23 Chameleon AntennaTM Products 24 References 26 Be aware of overhead power lines when you are deploying the CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO antenna system You could be electrocuted if the antenna gets near or contacts overhead power lines All information on this product and the product itself is the property of and is proprietary...

Страница 4: ...e RACES Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network SATERN First Responders and especially for Emergency Preparedness It is also the antenna for hams that enjoy camping and hiking or those living in apartments and condominiums or developments with homeowners associations deed restrictions or CCRs Covenants Conditions Restrictions The CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO is configurable to facilitate Near Vertica...

Страница 5: ...ost due to ionospheric loses The OWF which is somewhere between the LUF and around 80 of the MUF is the range of frequencies which can be used for reliable communication If the LUF is above the MUF HF sky wave propagation is unlikely to occur The HF part of the Radio Frequency RF spectrum is usually filled with communications activity and an experienced operator can often determine where the MUF i...

Страница 6: ...p An Isolation loop is permanently attached to the Wire Connector f end the CHA HYBRID MINI Antenna Wire b and both ends of the CHA HYBRID MICRO Antenna Wire d Carabiner The Carabiner is a removable pear shaped stainless steel hooks with a spring loaded gate Plate 2 Antenna Wire e Insulator ...

Страница 7: ...na Shackle assembly see plate 3 consists of a shackle bolt and nut It is attached to the top of the Hybrid Base a Antenna Configurations Using the supplied components the CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO can be deployed into a number of configurations Seven configurations some configurations require optional components that are sold separately see table 2 are Configuration Ground Short Medium Long Directiona...

Страница 8: ... requires two supports that will enable the ends of the antenna to be raised to a height of 10 12 feet and 60 feet apart A counterpoise wire with a length of 50 to 55 feet is recommended If a counterpoise wire is not used the coaxial cable must be 25 to 100 feet in length as the shield of the coaxial cable provides the counterpoise Use the following procedure to install the Horizontal NVIS configu...

Страница 9: ...milar knot tie another long length of Paracord to the Insulator e or Isolation Loop c at the end of the Antenna Wire 12 Using a throw weight or some other method loop the Paracord over the other support 13 Raise the end of the Antenna Wire to a height of 10 to 12 feet such that the Antenna Wire is not quite taut and secure it to the support using a Round Turn and two Half Hitches Extend the Counte...

Страница 10: ... the CHA Coaxial Cable assembly to the UHF Socket g on the Hybrid Base Raise the Antenna 8 Using a Bowline or similar knot tie a long length 50 feet or more of Paracord to the Insulator e or Isolation Loop at the end of the Antenna Wire 9 Using a throw weight or some other method loop the Paracord over the support 10 Raise the end of the Antenna Wire to the desired height and secure it to the supp...

Страница 11: ...I CHOKE and coaxial cable or the Integrated RF Choke end of the CHA Coaxial Cable assembly to the UHF Socket g on the Hybrid Base Raise the Antenna 8 Using a Bowline or similar knot tie the end of a short length around 4 feet of Paracord to the Carabiner 9 Drive a Stake into the ground near the location closest to the radio set and tie the Paracord from the Hybrid Base to the Stake using two Half ...

Страница 12: ...ICRO Manpack Vertical configuration Best ground wave communication occurs when the radio set is located in a clear area and the whip antenna is vertical Refer to plates 1 and 3 for the following steps 2 If attached remove the Antenna Shackle k from the Hybrid Base a by loosening the nut on the Antenna Shackle and then unscrewing the Antenna Shackle from the Antenna Connector h Store in secure plac...

Страница 13: ...f ground mounted One to four counterpoise wires 25 feet in length should be used You may also use the supplied 60 foot antenna wire as the counterpoise All of these counterpoise options can be quickly deployed and will provide good performance The antenna may also be attached to a standard 3 8 mobile mount on a stationary vehicle No radials are required when mounted on a vehicle An antenna tuner o...

Страница 14: ...tion is fully seated onto section below until the whip is fully extended 10 Connect the CHA MIL WHIP to the CHA MIL EXT by carefully screwing the 3 8 base stud into the top section until finger tight Extend the Counterpoise 11 Extend the counterpoise wire along the ground in any convenient direction The end of the counterpoise wire can be secured to the ground with a tent stake 12 Perform operatio...

Страница 15: ...pecial configuration designed to provide good NVIS propagation on lower frequencies It is predominately omnidirectional and also provides medium range sky wave propagation on frequencies above 10 MHz You can mount it on a stationary vehicle which has a tilt able 3 8 mobile antenna mount not supplied or any fixed support on which you can clamp the CHA JAW MOUNT and will enable the antenna to be rai...

Страница 16: ...he middle section 8 Connect the CHA MIL EXT to the Hybrid Base by carefully screwing it into the Antenna Connection until finger tight 9 Extend the CHA MIL WHIP by unfolding the sections of the whip starting with the section above the bottom section and ensure each section is fully seated onto section below until the whip is fully extended 10 Connect the CHA MIL WHIP to the CHA MIL EXT by carefull...

Страница 17: ...ated onto section below until the whip is fully extended 9 Connect the CHA MIL WHIP to the CHA MIL EXT by carefully screwing it into the top section until finger tight Extend the Counterpoise 10 Extend the CHA MIL EXT by unfolding the middle section of the extension fully seating it onto the bottom section then unfolding the top section and fully seating onto the middle section 11 Connect the CHA ...

Страница 18: ... the radio set to the antenna tuner or coupler 7 If still not operational replace Coaxial Cable assembly Most problems with antenna systems are caused by the coaxial cables and connectors 8 Connect a Multi Meter to the Antenna Wire to check continuity Replace assemblies that do not pass a continuity check 9 If still not operational replace Hybrid Base a Specifications Frequency all configurations ...

Страница 19: ...psed o CHA MIL WHIP with CHA MIL EXT 17 ft 4 in extended 29 in collapsed Weight o CHA HYBRID MINI 1 5 lbs o CHA HYBRID MICRO 1 lbs o CHA MIL WHIP 1 lbs o CHA MIL WHIP with CHA MIL EXT 2 lbs Personnel Requirements and Setup Time one operator less than 15 minutes antenna wire less than 5 minutes whip Figure 9 SWR by Frequency Graph ...

Страница 20: ...CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO Page 20 Figure 10 Manpack Vertical Far Field Plots 7 MHz left 14 MHz right Figure 11 Portable Vertical Far Field Plots 7 MHz left 14 MHz right ...

Страница 21: ...CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO Page 21 Figure 12 Tilted NVIS Far Field Plots 3 7 MHz left 7 MHz right Figure 13 MIL WHIP EXT Dipole Far Field Plots 7 MHz left 14 MHz right ...

Страница 22: ...CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO Page 22 Figure 14 Horizontal NVIS Far Field Plots 3 7 MHz left 7 MHz right Figure 15 Sloping Wire Far Field Plots 7 MHz left 14 MHz right ...

Страница 23: ...s a must have accessory for use with the HYBRID series antenna bases It is highly portable and enables easy ground mounting of the HYBRID series antennas Tripod This heavy duty antenna tripod can hold equipment up to 15 4 lbs Compact and light weight weighing 5 5 lbs this 10 ft tripod will give you years of service Made of Cold Worked Carbon with special design locking system and double braced leg...

Страница 24: ...less steel flat washer o One 3 8 stainless steel split washer Wide range antenna tuner or coupler Required for most configurations Flashlight Multi tool Throwing weight and string Mallet SWR Power Meter Multi Meter Small canvas or nylon bag to store antenna components Chameleon AntennaTM Products The following products are available for purchase at Chameleon AntennaTM Go to http chameleonantenna c...

Страница 25: ... portable or man pack radios requiring compact but rugged antenna systems Its design has been borrowed from similar antennas utilized by many armies all over the world The CHA MIL is very hardy sturdy and portable being collapsible Un mounted the entire antenna length is less than 29 The 5 aluminum sections are hold together by a piece of 1 8th inch US GI MIL SPEC shock cord The CHA MIL Whip and a...

Страница 26: ...e HF communication where rapid deployment and simplicity of operation is essential but compactness is primordial The antenna will operate at all frequencies in the 1 8 54 MHz band without any adjustment with most modern external antenna tuners No masts or guying are required CHA TD Tactical Dipole The CHA TD Tactical Dipole Antenna has been designed as an add on for the CHA HYBRID MINI MICRO The C...

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