CHA B3D 60'
Two 30 ft wire legs 3.5-54 MHz continuousFor smaller lots, HOA installations, and portable operation where a shorter span matters.
Select this modelBroadband HF center-fed dipole
One clean installation. Wide HF coverage.
One broadband HF dipole. Three lengths.
The CHA B3D is a rugged, center-fed broadband HF dipole for operators who want wide frequency coverage without installing a complicated multiband wire array.
Choose the 60-foot model for smaller lots, HOA environments, and portable operation, or choose the 120- or 146-foot model when space allows and 160-meter capability matters. Install it as an inverted V from one elevated center support or as a horizontal dipole. An appropriate antenna tuner is required on most frequencies.
- HF coverage80-6 m or 160-6 m, model dependent
- Three spans60, 120, or 146 ft
- Two deploymentsInverted V or horizontal dipole
- Power100 W SSB / 50 W CW / 25 W other modes
Choose the footprint that fits the station
Choose your B3D
All three models use the same straightforward balanced-dipole architecture. The difference is the wire length and the resulting documented frequency coverage.
CHA B3D 120'
Two 60 ft wire legs 1.8-54 MHz continuousFor base stations with enough space for a full 120 ft dipole and lower-band operation.
Select this modelCHA B3D 146'
Two 73 ft wire legs 1.8-54 MHz continuousThe longest B3D option for stations that can accommodate the complete 146 ft span.
Select this modelTuning: An antenna tuner is required on most frequencies for every B3D model.
See the complete installation
One elevated center support is enough
The inverted-V configuration lets the B3D operate from one elevated center support while the two wire legs slope toward lower end supports. When three suitable supports are available, deploy the same antenna as a horizontal dipole.
- Inverted V: one elevated center support plus two lower end supports.
- Horizontal dipole: elevated center and end supports.
- Fully extend both equal wire legs in opposite directions and leave some sag.
- Keep the antenna and every support safely away from power lines.
Why choose the B3D?
Wide coverage without a complicated wire array
Broadband operation
Move across multiple HF bands without links, traps, or repeated physical reconfiguration. Use an appropriate tuner to match the installed antenna.
Three property-friendly lengths
Balance available space against frequency coverage instead of forcing one wire length onto every station.
Simple support plan
An inverted V needs only one elevated center support, making the B3D practical where a full horizontal span is difficult.
Base or portable use
The B3D is designed for base-station service, while the 60 ft model can also be organized for portable deployment with suitable supports and optional winders.
Know what arrives
Included and customer-supplied equipment
Included
- B3D matching transformer
- Two equal antenna-wire assemblies for the selected model
- Permanently attached isolation rings
- Wire connectors
- Carabiner
- Matching-transformer eyebolt
Customer supplies
- Suitable center and end supports
- Paracord for suspending the center and wire ends
- Compatible 50-ohm coaxial feed line
- Appropriate antenna tuner
- Weatherproofing material for a permanent outdoor connection
Complete product reference
B3D specifications
- Product type
- Balanced broadband center-fed HF dipole
- Supported installations
- Inverted V or horizontal dipole
- B3D 60 frequency range
- 3.5-54.0 MHz continuous, including 80 through 6 meters
- B3D 120 and 146 frequency range
- 1.8-54.0 MHz continuous, including 160 through 6 meters
- Tuning
- An antenna tuner is required on most frequencies
- Typical SWR
- 4:1 or less; frequency, wire length, configuration, height, and site dependent
- Power - SSB phone
- 100 W maximum, ICAS
- Power - CW
- 50 W maximum, ICAS
- Power - digital, RTTY, AM, FM, and other modes
- 25 W maximum, ICAS
- Antenna-side coax connection
- SO-239 socket on the matching transformer
- B3D 60 dimensions
- 60 ft maximum total span; two 30 ft wire legs
- B3D 120 dimensions
- 120 ft maximum total span; two 60 ft wire legs
- B3D 146 dimensions
- 146 ft maximum total span; two 73 ft wire legs
- Wire construction
- 16-gauge tinned-copper Kevlar-reinforced PTFE insulated wire
- Installation tension
- Fully extend both wire legs with some sag; do not pull them taut
- Permanent installation
- Weather-seal the coupled coax connectors against water intrusion
Operating limit: Prolonged transmissions or power above the published limits can damage antenna components.
Published guide measurements
Compare the three B3D SWR references
These guide plots demonstrate the broadband character of each model. Installed SWR changes with frequency, height, geometry, surroundings, feed line, and location; verify the completed antenna with an analyzer and tuner.
Documented additions
Support, analyze, tune, or service the antenna
- CHA CFM 34 HD: portable carbon-fiber mast documented for erecting inverted-V antennas such as the B3D.
- CHA SA-1: compact SWR analyzer for checking the installed antenna.
- CHA URT-1: remote outdoor antenna tuner.
- CHA EXTRA WIRE: replacement or alternate-length wire; two equal EMCOMM SERIES wires are required to form the dipole.
- CHA coax with integrated RFI choke: documented in 50, 75, and 100 ft lengths, with the choke installed at the antenna.
Availability and the exact selected product option still control what can be purchased.
Coverage & Pattern
See how the documented B3D installations radiate
Open the reviewed 2D and interactive 3D patterns for the exact modeled B3D configurations.
