Extended portable operations
Use a substantial wire loop when the site can support a roughly 50 ft installation and the station plan values antenna geometry more than the smallest possible packed footprint.
Coming later this yearNow in production. Pricing and ordering will open after final release approval.
Large Wire Tactical Delta Loop · 120 ft portable inverted-delta antenna
Put a substantial closed-loop radiator into the field with two controlled choices: a broadband CHA HYBRID path or a remotely tuned CHA 4:1 BALUN + URT1 path.
A larger portable loop for operators with room to use it
Raise 120 feet of wire from one central support station
The CHA LW-TDL is built for planned portable, preparedness, and field-communications sites where a compact whip is not the only priority. Two CHA CFM-34 masts spread from a CHA HUB in a V to carry the upper corners of one 120 ft closed loop. The completed antenna occupies roughly a 50 ft diameter area.
Instead of improvising a transformer and tuner combination in the field, choose one complete electrical path before deployment. The HYBRID version connects directly to a CHA HYBRID-MICRO or HYBRID-MINI. The BALUN version connects to a CHA 4:1 BALUN and CHA URT1 for tuning at the antenna.
- Radiator120 ft closed wire loop
- FootprintApproximately 50 ft diameter
- SupportTwo CFM-34 masts in a HUB-mounted V
- Two versionsHYBRID or 4:1 BALUN + URT1
See the complete installation
One loop geometry, two documented feed systems
The deployment drawings show the antenna scale, wire route, support concept, and component order. Final product photography and the customer quick-start will replace these engineering illustrations before launch.
Choose it for the operating site—not only the band list
The LW-TDL earns its space on deliberate field deployments
Preparedness and regional communication
The lower-band normalized references favor high-angle radiation in the documented geometry, making the system relevant to regional and NVIS-oriented planning when propagation supports the path.
Remote-tuned field stations
Use the BALUN + URT1 version when tuning at the antenna and changing frequency from the operating position are part of the station architecture.
Choose another antenna when: the site cannot safely accommodate the loop perimeter, two mast paths, tripod, clear feed area, and the required public and electrical clearances.
Understand the deployment before arriving on site
The wire and supports form one controlled inverted delta
- Plan the siteReserve approximately 50 ft of clear diameter around the central tripod and identify the antenna plane and safe perimeter.
- Build the support VInstall two CHA CFM-34 masts in the CHA HUB on the specified heavy-duty surveyor-tripod support.
- Route the closed loopUse the two floating isolation rings at the upper corners and keep the two terminal ends together at the lower feed point.
- Connect one feed pathUse either the HYBRID termination or the 4:1 BALUN + URT1 termination exactly as supplied; do not combine the two.
- Raise, inspect, and verifyControl wire tension, preserve clearances, inspect every support point, and confirm the completed system at low power before operation.
Reference geometry: the controlled model uses two approximately 34 ft sloping sides, an approximately 52 ft upper span, and a feed point about 4 ft above ground.
Choose the electrical path first
The terminal style identifies the correct version
Broadband path · 80–10 meters
CHA LW-TDL-HYBRID
Two 3/8 in ring terminals connect the loop to a CHA HYBRID-MICRO or CHA HYBRID-MINI. The documented operating scope is 3.0–30.0 MHz. A suitable tuner may still be required on some bands or frequencies.
Choose this when: a passive broadband matching unit and the station’s normal tuning strategy fit the field plan.
Remote-tuned path · 40–10 meters
CHA LW-TDL-BALUN
Two #10 spade terminals connect the loop to a CHA 4:1 BALUN, followed by the CHA URT1 remote tuner. The documented operating scope is 6.5–30.0 MHz.
Choose this when: tuning at the antenna and frequency changes from the operating position matter more than minimizing system components.
Do not create a third path: a convenient adapter or connector fit does not approve another matching unit, terminal type, or direct URT1 connection.
Complete product reference
Key specifications
- Product type
- Portable 120 ft closed-wire inverted delta loop
- Conductor
- 20-gauge yellow insulated wire
- Nominal loop geometry
- Two sides approximately 34 ft each; upper span approximately 52 ft
- Reference feed-point height
- Approximately 4 ft above ground
- Reference upper-corner height
- Approximately 25.9 ft in the ideal 34 / 52 / 34 ft geometry
- Deployment area
- Approximately 50 ft diameter, plus appropriate safety clearance
- HYBRID frequency scope
- 3.0–30.0 MHz (80–10 m); tuner may be required on some bands or frequencies
- BALUN + URT1 frequency scope
- 6.5–30.0 MHz (40–10 m)
- HYBRID-MINI maximum
- 500 W SSB; 100 W all other modes
- HYBRID-MICRO maximum
- 100 W SSB; 25 W all other modes
- BALUN + URT1 maximum
- 120 W SSB/CW; 30 W digital modes
- HYBRID terminals
- Two 3/8 in ring terminals; 15 in and 6 in terminal leads
- BALUN terminals
- Two 16–14 AWG #10 spade terminals; 6 in terminal leads
- Corner and endpoint hardware
- Four isolation rings and four aluminum carabiners
- Support architecture
- Two CHA CFM-34 masts in one CHA HUB V on a heavy-duty surveyor tripod
- Pattern reference bands
- HYBRID: 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 m; BALUN + URT1: 40 through 10 m
Frequency and mode-specific power values are product limits, not a promise that every radio will accept the installed impedance without tuning. Always verify the completed station.
Know what arrives and what completes the station
Included equipment and required companion components
Included with either LW-TDL version
- One completed 120 ft loop-wire assembly with the selected terminal style
- Four isolation rings and four aluminum carabiners installed as the loop support interfaces
- One Surveyor-HD heavy-duty tripod adapter
Required for either version
- Two CHA CFM-34 carbon-fiber masts
- One CHA HUB
- One suitable heavy-duty surveyor tripod; not sold by Chameleon Antenna
- A safe site with the required footprint and clearances
Complete the HYBRID version with
- One CHA HYBRID-MICRO or CHA HYBRID-MINI
- A compatible feed line
- A suitable station-side tuner when required by the selected band and installation
Complete the BALUN version with
- One CHA 4:1 BALUN
- One CHA URT1 remote tuner
- The coax, DC power, control, and choke arrangement required by the current URT1 guide
Adapter identity: the supplied product documents name the included adapter “Surveyor-HD.” Do not substitute CHA SURVEYOR-A unless the final LW-TDL guide specifically authorizes it.
Development testing behind the two versions
The SWR sweep supports the architecture—not a universal match promise
In the recorded 8/13/2026 installation, the CHA HYBRID-MINI 5:1 UNUN produced the broadest measured SWR response of the tested 5:1, 4:1, 2.5:1, and 1:1 paths. Its sweep remained below approximately 2.5:1 through the marked 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, and 12 meter bands in that test.
The 4:1 BALUN was selected for the URT1 path because it better matched the tuner’s input requirement, provided the required unbalanced connection, and helped suppress common-mode current reaching the tuner. Site, wire geometry, ground, feed line, weather, and nearby objects can change the installed result.
Coverage & Pattern
See the reviewed 2D and interactive 3D patterns
Nine native NEC-4.2 references cover the documented 120 ft inverted-delta geometry from 80 through 10 meters. Use them to understand normalized pattern shape by band—not to predict installed SWR, efficiency, realized gain, or range.
Before choosing the system
Common CHA LW-TDL questions
Is the LW-TDL the same antenna as the CHA TDL?
No. The LW-TDL is a 120 ft wire loop supported by two CFM-34 masts. The CHA TDL uses a different radiator set, loop length, support geometry, and packaged configuration.
Does the HYBRID version need a tuner?
It may. The documented range is 3.0–30.0 MHz, but the product documents explicitly warn that some bands or frequencies may still require a suitable tuner.
Why are there two wire versions?
The terminal assemblies match two different electrical systems. Ring terminals serve the HYBRID-MICRO/MINI path; spade terminals serve the 4:1 BALUN + URT1 path.
Are the CFM-34 masts and tripod included?
No. The documents list two CFM-34 masts, one CHA HUB, and a heavy-duty surveyor tripod as required companion equipment. The Surveyor-HD tripod adapter is listed with the LW-TDL wire assembly.
Can the BALUN version cover 80 meters?
Not under the documented product scope. The BALUN + URT1 version begins at 6.5 MHz and is presented as a 40–10 meter system. The HYBRID version carries the 80–10 meter scope.
Do the NEC patterns predict my exact station?
No. They show normalized shape for the controlled reference geometry. Your feed line, matching unit, ground, nearby objects, support materials, losses, and exact erection will affect the installed antenna.
