Comparing the Chameleon Antenna CHA SS17 and the Ali Express BD7IBI Collapsible Vertical HF Antenna

I do a quick review of the Chameleon Antenna CHA SS17 and the Ali Express BD7IBI Collapsible Vertical HF Antenna and provide information so you can decide which you should own and use.

Here is one of several stores on Ali Express which sell the BD7IBI -- I have no affiliation and cannot guarantee any part of your interaction with Ali Express. You can search BD7IBI directly on the Ali Express site rather than use the link:

Here is where you get the adapter from M10 to 3/8 X 24:

AMAZON LINKS TO PRODUCTS IN THE VIDEO:

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#HOAHam #ChameleonSS17 #BD7IBI #HOAAntenna #HamRadio

[JimV-gtog]

HI Bob, I watched this and your Single Ground Radial System for ALL Your Portable Antennas: POTA, SOTA, Back Yard Portable videos. I purchased the Ali Express BD7IBI, thread adapter, antenna mount, 20 ga radial wire, clamps and ring adapters. I modified a camera tripod to put it all together. I was able to get low SWR on 20, 17, 15, and 10 meter.
Took it out today for a Park activation. I'm in Connecticut and received signal reports from Calgary, Alaska, Russia, Spain and France, as well as 150 US contacts at today's POTA. Very happy with the results. I POTA with a friend that has the Chameleon 17' whip and the BB7IBI has performed as well or better than the Chameleon, for a 3rd of the price.
Thank you for putting the equipment links in the videos!

[stephensussman-fort]

I own both the Chinese whip and the Chameleon, and have used both successfully over the past few years in my portable setups. They both have held up very well. I prefer the Chinese whip because it is lighter and retracts to smaller size. But you cannot go wrong with either one. Thank you for an intelligent and insightful comparison of these whip antennas.

[DawnPatrol-cerk]

I’ve spent WEEKS looking for this adapter, hallelujah for you! Gosh what a relief …. Gotta wonder why this is so hard to find when it’s what they have standardized themselves on

[MakeDoAndMend]

Hi Matey I have used the M10 aerial on and off portable for over a year. Top section is very thin and bends easily so I tend not to use it. As I make my own bottom loading coils I find the M10 thread ideal as plenty of M10 couplers are cheap and easily available. I never use a ground stake but a Selfie lighting tripod as in my videos. I do use ground wires laying on the ground. Each ground wires 5metres long. Get great results. Swr tuning is sliding section of the aerial as loading coils do not have taps. For more info if you are interested you will find it all in my playlist. Cheers from Mick/George in the UK 🇬🇧

[KEMAK]

Fine Business on sharing a link to the adapter which also shows the thread sizes needed!! Prior to seeing this chapter on your channel I went through the search for an adapter and found them, in stainless steel, at McMaster-Carr. I enjoyed watching your presentation.

[prephampaul]

I have the CHA TDL with two of those whips and both of them have separated (spins inside now and can pull out from it) from the part that screws in because they must only be glued or something, not the quality I expected from Chameleon. (I have only used it 4-5 times). It is still usable but just irritating that it was not solidly fused with the base. I may grab a couple of these BD7IBIs just because of their cost but the Chameleon whip itself is definitely more sturdy so with any kind of more than a breeze wind the Chameleon will remain stiffer for sure. Great review, thanks for posting!!

[fredlomax]

Fantastic and detailed comparison. I had been curious about this antenna after some threads on QRZ. I've been using the MFJ-1979 whip for quite a few years with good success. The threads are slightly worn after hundreds of uses, but it still works fine. Thanks again for great review.

[beowolfso.]

After watching your video, I decided to order just one BD7IBI. The shipping was very quick.
Rather than ordering the adapter, I opted to use a 10mm 1.5 tap on the CB antenna mount (Nut portion). Worked like a charm! fits perfect and tightens hard. There's absolutely no wiggle on the antenna. BTW only tap half ways down. This way you'll have 10mm on one end 3/8 on the other.
Thank you for the informative video.

[TheSmokinApe]

I the MFJ 17' SS whip and it looks identical to the Chameleon, I also have the Ali antenna with that exact same adapter. For me perfmance is similar and the Ali set up is much le$$... guess which I prefer? Great job with the video as always HOA!

[JReed]

I bought 2 of the BD7IBI whips to use as a rotatable dipole using a MFJ ham stick dipole center. Currently have them set up for 10m and they work great. I have no illusions about them being as good quality wise as the Chameleon whips but for what I was wanting to do I was able to get 2 for less than the price of one. I will say they are better than I was expecting for cheap Chinese units. If treated with reasonable care they should last me a long time. You are right about the Snake Clamp adapters, they are the way to go!

[Swede__DJT]

Greetings from Sweden!
You, Sir, just got yourself a new subscriber and a like 🎉

I got two of them for little more than a year now and they are still free from corrosion and hasn't broken.
I heard some have had them break at the base and/or top.

With AliExpress i guess some sell these with even less quality.
But i always buy from sellers marked with the CHOICE tag.
Then you run less risk of counterfeited counterfeits. 😅

[BLACKHEAT]

I am glad you found the BD7IBI, I will use these to make (what some call) a lazy loop. I have the Cha Delta Loop and will replicate that with these two whip (minus the hybrid mini) and use all 4 whips and connect them by clipping a wire (thinking about making 20' wire) to the whips with the BU-45c from Digi key (same one from your radial video but copper), making a square or rectangle. I didn't want to spend the extra money on buying 2 more SS17 for this experiment. Thanks again for your research.

[potaactivator]

I have two SS-17's and the MFJ-1979. Surprisingly, both SS-17's have a problem with some of the sections collapsing on each other after repeated use. I have to use a thin self-fusing tape to keep those sections in place. I have used the MFJ-1979 heavily and, while the top section is slightly bent, it has been a champ. As far as the BD7IBI? I may have to give it a try.

[Siskiyous]

Thank you for bringing this alternative to our attention. The SS17's crimp is still just one, though back a bit. The use case for me is as paired horizontal dipoles. I have seen how much the SS7 bows in the horizontal orientation, how much does the BD7 bow in comparison? That crimp style of the SS17 could make it more rigid, but it might be theory instead of practice.

[philhayward]

Thanks for the video, I found it very helpful. About a month ago I decided to purchase one of these antennas and without a second thought I opted for the BD7IBI. Why, because all up the price to me here in NZ is NZD$32 freight included. The SS17 is NZD$114 to purchase, but then the shipping is quoted at NZD$208 or USD$127. Shipping out of the US often costs us more than the purchase price. Why is that when the Chinese can ship the item for next to nothing? It is a shame, as US products are losing sales, not becaue of quality but due to the exorbitant shipping costs. Cheers ZL2VTH

[CoveiraoPS]

Good comparison. I hope ham would make more videos like this, we have to spread the news about cheaper gear to fight the extremely abusive prices of ham radio equipment

[mspicela]

Thanks for the video! this is the first of yours I have watched. I am going to get one.

I'll keep watching more of your videos, but what is the easiest way to mount it? I see you posted a link to a clamp on mount, which I assume I can use with a tripod. Any other recommendations, maybe for something that just uses a ground stake? I've only used wire vertical antennas on tree branches so far.

[golda_rabinovitz]

But I miss measuring the swr on both antennas?

[Michael-ewkj]

great review. I live in a 4th floor condo with a 23ft balcony. would I be able to use either one of these.

[conorturton]

I make nothing from the differences in the signal report on A/B testing because both are going to be 1/4 wave ground plane verticals with exactly the same amount of gain and any variability between antennas is to do with changing conditions. The only difference performance wise between the two will be the Chameleon will have a very slightly wider bandwidth due to the telescoping sections being larger diameter.