CHAMELEON ANTENNA SPIKE-MOUNT Instructions manual

Portable Antenna Spike Mount

(CHA SPIKE MOUNT)

Operator’s Manual

Nevada - USA

WWW.CHAMELEONANTENNA.COM

VERSATILE – DEPENDABLE – STEALTH – BUILT TO LAST

Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Parts of the Spike Mount .......................................................................................................................... 3

Spike Mount Installation ........................................................................................................................... 4

Preventive Maintenance ........................................................................................................................... 5

Recommended Accessories ...................................................................................................................... 5

Chameleon AntennaTM Products .............................................................................................................. 5

All information on this product and the product itself is the property of and is proprietary to Chameleon
AntennaTM. Specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

CHA SPIKE MOUNT Page 3

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing and using the Chameleon Antenna

TM

Portable Antenna Spike Mount (CHA SPIKE
MOUNT), see plate (1). The CHA SPIKE MOUNT is an innovative new product built exclusively by the skilled
machinists at Chameleon AntennaTM. It is a precision fabricated heavy-duty stainless-steel stake with a fitting for
attaching the CHA Hybrid HF antenna base and a counterpoise. It is rugged and highly portable and enables easy
ground mounting of the Chameleon Antenna

TM

HF Modular Portable Antenna System (CHA MPAS) or Hybrid
Portable HF Antenna (CHA HYBRID MINI/MICRO). The CHA SPIKE MOUNT is an essential accessory for these two
antenna systems.

Plate 1. Chameleon Spike Mount with Hybrid Micro and Counterpoise.

Parts of the Spike Mount

The CHA SPIKE MOUNT is comprised of the following components, see plate (2):

a. Ground Spike - 13 ½” stainless-steel rod with tapered end.
b. Mount Fitting – attached to top of the Ground Spike (a) and has the Threaded Socket (c) in the top and

Counterpoise Knob (d) on the side.

c. Threaded Socket – recessed 3/8” x 24 threaded socket for attaching the CHA HYBRID MINI/MICRO.

CHA SPIKE MOUNT Page 4

d. Counterpoise Knob – Knurled knob with bolt used to connect counterpoise wires.

Plate (2). CHA SPIKE MOUNT Components.

Spike Mount Installation

The CHA SPIKE MOUNT is highly portable and easy to install. Follow the instructions below to install the CHA SPIKE
MOUNT. You will need a plastic tent peg mallet or a rubber mallet (although a plastic or rubber mallet is best, a
metal-faced hammer is also acceptable).

1. Select a location free from large rocks, tree

roots, and overhead obstructions or
hazards.

2. IMPORTANT: Ensure the CHA HYBRID

MINI/MICRO is not attached to the CHA
SPIKE MOUNT.

3. Push the tapered end of the Ground Spike

(a) into the ground.

4. Firmly strike the top of the Mount Fitting

repeatedly with the mallet until the Ground
Spike is 10-12 inches into the ground (1-3
inches remaining above the surface) ­depending upon the firmness of the ground
and length of the antenna. CAUTION: Do
not strike the top CHA HYBRID
MINI/MICRO, as this will damage it.

5. Attach the HYBRID MINI/MICRO as shown in

plate (3). Tighten by hand.

6. Unscrew the Counterpoise Knob (d) by

turning counter-clockwise. Place the lugs of
the counterpoise wires over the
Counterpoise Knob bolt. Reinsert the
Counterpoise Knob bolt into the threads on
the side of the Mount Fitting and tighten by
turning clockwise until snug.

Plate 3. Hybrid Micro Attachment to Spike

CHA SPIKE MOUNT Page 5

7. Extend the counterpoise wires. 8. This completes installation of the CHA SPIKE

MOUNT.

Preventive Maintenance

After use, detach the CHA HYBRID MINI/MICRO and Counterpoise Knob (d) from the Mount Fitting (b). Rinse the
CHA SPIKE MOUNT with water to remove dirt and grit, especially from the Mount Fitting threaded sockets and
Counterpoise Knob (d) bolt threads. Spray a light lubricant, such as WD-40, into the threaded areas and reinsert
the Counterpoise Knob.

Recommended Accessories

The following accessories are recommended:

1. Counterpoise Kit – Available from Chameleon Antenna

TM

. The system will create the ground-plane needed
for the MPAS or CHA HYBRID MINI/MICRO vertical antenna. The kit contains four 25’ radials on line
winders and four tent stakes for superb portability. Each radial has an isolation ring on one end and a
connection lug, for attachment to the CHA SPIKE MOUNT, on the other end. The system will greatly
increase the efficiency of a ground mounted vertical antenna over a single counterpoise wire.

2. Coaxial Cable Assembly - Available from Chameleon Antenna

TM

. A 50’ coaxial cable assembly made from

RG-58A coaxial cable. The cable has PL-259 connectors at each end and an integrated RFI isolation choke.
It will improve the performance of the MPAS or CHA HYBRID MINI/MICRO antennas by keeping Radio
Frequency (RF) energy from travelling back along the shield of the coaxial cable.

3. Plastic Tent Peg Mallet – Available from almost any store selling camping gear. A lightweight solution for

driving the CHA SPIKE MOUNT into the ground.

Chameleon AntennaTM Products

The following products are available for purchase at Chameleon AntennaTM.
Go to http://chameleonantenna.com for ordering and more information.

CHA P-LOOP 2.0 - The CHA P-LOOP 2.0 was designed
with portability, ease of use simplicity, ruggedness
and high performance in mind. Unlike any other
similar antennas on the market, the CHA P-LOOP 2.0
is made with premium materials that are precisely
manufactured and assembled in the USA! This is an
exciting new product from Chameleon Antenna.
Easily deployable HF magnetic loop antennas, also
called small transmitting loops, have been routinely
used for many years in military, diplomatic, and
shipboard HF communication links, where robust
and reliable general coverage radio communication
is a necessity. Covers 7.0-29.7 MHz.

CHA F-LOOP 2.0 – The CHA F-LOOP 2.0 was designed
with portability, ease of use simplicity, ruggedness
and high performance in mind. Unlike any other
similar antennas on the market, the CHA F-LOOP 2.0

is made with premium materials that are precisely
manufactured and assembled in the USA! Easily
deployable HF magnetic loop antennas, also called
small transmitting loops, have been routinely used
for many years in military, diplomatic, and shipboard
HF communication links, where robust and reliable
general coverage radio communication is a
necessity. Covers 3.5-29.7 MHz.

CHA WINDOM 40 – The CHA WINDOM 40 Antenna is
designed for 40, 20, and 10 meters. Amateur Bands
from 60 through 10 meters can be operated using an
antenna tuner. Built with the portable operator in
mind, it is very light weight, easy to set up, and
comes with a military-style pouch.

CHA EMCOMM II - The CHA EMCOMM II Antenna
has been specially designed for backup emergency

CHA SPIKE MOUNT Page 6

HF system or permanent installation. The integral
broadband impedance matching network allows
broadband antenna tuning.

CHA SKYLOOP - The CHA SKYLOOP is a 250' full wave
loop antenna cut for 80M. With the help of an
antenna tuner, the CHA SKYLOOP will cover all the
bands between 80M and 6M.

CHA Hybrid Mini – Portable HF Antenna Base - The
CHA HYBRID-MINI Base is the portable version of the
regular HYBRID. The unit can be differentiated by the
color of the lid and the base connector, which is
black instead of gray. The HYBRID-MINI is also
smaller and about 50% lighter than the regular
HYBRID. An external antenna tuner is required to
provide a low VSWR. The connector provided with
the antenna is a SO-239 sealed. The entire unit is
also waterproof. The HYBRID-MINI will serve as
impedance transformer matching network and will
greatly reduce the VSWR at the load for the
following antennas: V1, V1L, V2L and MIL.

CHA V2L Mobile Antenna - The CHA V2L is a rugged
multiband HF antenna designed for smaller vehicles.

CHA VHF/UHF Magnetic Mount Mobile Antenna ­The CHA VHF/UHF is a simple but great dual band
antenna for 2M and 70CM.

CHA MIL Whip - The CHA MIL whip is a broadband
(28 to 54 MHz) monopole antenna designed for
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 CHA HYBRID-MINI Base perfectly
complements the capability of the CHA HYBRID ­MINI / MICRO.

CHA MIL EXT Whip Extension - The CHA MIL EXT
whip has been designed to offer maximum

portability and performance for those already using
the portable CHA MIL whip for man-pack antenna
system. This collapsible antenna extension needs to

be used with the CHA MIL to create a 17’4” long

portable antenna. When combined with any HYBRID
series antenna bases the CHA MIL EXT will operate at
all frequencies in the 1.8-54 MHz band without any
adjustment with most modern external antenna
tuners.

CHA TD Tactical Dipole LITE - The CHA TD LITE
(Tactical Dipole LITE) is a HF broadband antenna
specially designed for portable HF communication
where rapid deployment and simplicity of operation
is essential but compactness is a primary
consideration. 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 is a HF broadband antenna specially
designed for portable HF communication where
rapid deployment and simplicity of operation is
essential. The antenna will operate at all frequencies
in the 1.8-30 MHz band without any adjustment with
most modern internal antenna tuners. It is ideal for
use in conjunction with modern, digitally configured,
HF communication transceivers where features such
as ALE and frequency hopping require true
broadband capability. The antenna will work
successfully supported by trees, masts, the tops of
vehicles or any convenient object or structure. The
CHA TD can also be used without antenna tuner, as
the SWR will stay under 2.5:1 between 10M and
80M and under 2.75:1 on 160M.

CHA FT-817 BRACKETS 2.0 – CHA FT-817 Brackets
are built exclusively by the skilled machinists of
Chameleon AntennaTM. It is a military-style pair of
precision fabricated brackets and high quality
carrying strap for the popular Yaesu FT-817 series
portable QRP transceiver. The CHA FT-817 Brackets
will ruggedize and help protect your FT-817 from the
many hazards of field operations.