Super-Flexible Whip Design
Whether you are looking for a great antenna for shorter range mobile use or a fixed antenna for longer range, then the CHAMELEON V1 HF/VHF/UHF Multiband Antenna™ is the one for you.
As far as the mobile capabilities of the CHAMELEON V1 HF/VHF/UHF Multiband Antenna™, the concept is fairly simple. CHAMELEON V1 HF/VHF/UHF Multiband Antenna™ Super-Flexible whip is designed to maximize the HF wave propagation from short to medium distances from 0-400 miles (0-640 km) while in motion.
The antenna is designed to be flexible enough to allow the tip of the antenna to be bent between 45 and 90 degrees. Which means that the vertical antenna becomes a NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave).
NVIS, or Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, refers to a radio propagation mode which involves the use of antennas with a very high radiation angle, approaching or reaching 90 degrees (straight up), along with selection of an appropriate frequency below the critical frequency, to establish reliable communications in a radius of between 0-400 miles (0-640 km).
Although not all radio amateurs have heard the term NVIS, many have used that mode when making nearby contacts using 160 meters or 80 meters at night, or using 80 meters or 40 meters during the day. They may have thought of these nearby contacts as necessarily involving the use of groundwave propagation, but many such contacts involve no groundwave signal at all, or, if the groundwave signal is involved, it may hinder, instead of help communication. Deliberate exploitation of NVIS is best achieved using antenna installations, which achieve some balance between minimizing groundwave (low takeoff angle) radiation, and maximizing near vertical incidence skywave (very high takeoff angle) radiation.
NVIS is most useful in mountainous areas where line-of-sight propagation at VHF or UHF frequencies is ineffective or when the communication distance is beyond ground wave (more than 50 miles or 80 km) and less than skywave (300 to 1500 miles or 480km to 2400 km).
More simply stated, NVIS communication is most effective for regional use. It can be used to handle emergency communications or simply for fun which the CHAMELEON V1 HF/VHF/UHF Multiband Antenna™ is all about!
NVIS setup from KJ4CSI 