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| Reviews Summary for DX Engineering Baluns |
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Reviews: 36
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $29.95-79.95
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Description: High Power Transmission Line Transformers and Baluns with Patent Pending Maxi-Core™ Technology
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More info: http://www.dxengineering.com/
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You can
write your own review of the DX Engineering Baluns.
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KG1F
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 7, 2008 16:43
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Built like a tank - works great!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I was having really funky SWR problems w/ a multi-band antenna I put up this past spring, the Cobra Ultra-lite (A ladder-line fed doublet). I was using a popular 4:1 balun that only cost $69, and I suspected that was the problem. So I splurged on the DX Engineering alternative (don't remember the exact model number, but it cost $139.), and wow, what a difference. The solid aluminum case feels massive, the construction quality is great. Now I am getting great signal reports, and I've made contacts all over the world on 20, 40, and 80M. This is a great product - definately worh the price premium!
While I am very happy with the DX Engineering product I wrote up in the prior review, I'd like to make sure that there is no confusion about the product that I stated I was getting "funky" results from.
Let me just say that I consider my first choice to have Mighty Fine Junk, and I now know it is worth spending the premium to get the best product for the application.
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WV4R
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 30, 2008 08:44
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DX Engineering BALUNs... Built like a Harley Davidson!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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DX Engineering BALUNs
I first heard about DX Engineering from a long-time hammy radio bud, W1KA/Pat. On the strength of his recommendation AND my personal research I ordered my first one a couple years ago.
Of course I immediately dissected it to See IF it looked as good inside as outside. Without getting into nuts & bolts, the Materials, Design, Assembly look to be first class in every way.
I constructed a full-sized 160m loop and an 80m loop as well as a 75m dipole and my MFJ Analyzer as well as on-air contacts confirmed my choice.
So… I ordered one of each for my antenna project junk box. There was a bit of a lag between the first order and the bulk order so when the non-conductive BALUN hanger arrived I was disappointed it did not fit my first BALUN order. It fit all the bulk order BALUNS. A telephone call to the factory resulted in a new cover in the mail to retrofit my older BALUN. Great customer service, eh?
I have owned DX Engineering BALUNs for almost two years now without a burp.
For materials, design, assembly, performance, reliability, pricing the DX Engineering BALUN series earns the WV4R “FIVE STAR” rating.
73 es God bless, murf/WV4R.
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KC2OYZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 24, 2008 20:51
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Worth the money
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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First of all, I will admit that I never used a balun before, but I have a problematic situation all around - including RF on both RX and TX - and I figured a balun would be worth a try - certainly won't hurt. I knew about DXE and the guys behind it, and I know that particulary when it comes to something like a balun, you need to have the best possible. So I put in a DXE Bal050-H05-A - built solid and rugged, and makes a huge improvement all around - enjoying the radio much more now. Good service on phone too.
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KW4N
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2008 14:36
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Oustanding Quality
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Casing is about 0.0625 material...heavy duty. The edges and the box line up perfectly. The bottom cover holes line up spot on as if they were match drilled. The coax connector has four screws holding it down, not two that you typically see. The ground lug has two flat washers, lock washer and wing nut....no need to go looking. Ceramic connectors are large with wing nuts, two flat washers, and lock washer. Lead dress is neat and solder joints are shiny without burns. The housing holding the cores is mechanically strong and held with heavy tie wraps that are neatly trimmed. Overall, the assembly was done by someone with strong workmanship skills, who cares, and who knows what high quality means. My hats' off also to whoever spec'd this unit and defined the bill of material.
This balun used with 'center fed Zepp' and differential tuner.
See my review of this vendor in the Forums.
'73 DaveB KW4n
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M0MRR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 7, 2008 11:48
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Not all baluns are created equal
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The DX Engineering DXE-BAL050-H10-AT 1:1 current balun proves a point that not all baluns are created equally. This is one big balun using high quality components. I ordered it directly from the manufacture and it took about a week to arrive to me in England. My station consists of an SDR radio, feeding an Acom amp which feeds a Palstar atu. I have a run of 10ft of coax leaving the shack then into the balun. This balun then outputs to 450ohm ladder line which in turn connects to a 135ft multi-band dipole.
I generally run 50 watts but occasionally go to 300 watts – depending on bands and conditions. I am active from 160m through to 10m. The 1:1 balun has proved to be effective at achieving a balanced load to the ladderline / dipole. It has worked flawlessly and has never over-heated. As I mounted the balun outside, I improvised a Tupperware container for it to sit in – this was to negate any inadvertent contact with the output terminals. When I compare my previous product which overheated and caused intermittent problems, I can happily state that “not all baluns are created equally”.
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KE7CRN
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Rating: 2/5
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Apr 5, 2008 20:43
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Great Design, BUT
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I purchased a DX Engineering BAL050-H11C may of 2006. Cast aluminum case with gasket. The Gasket Leaked and the Balun filled with water. I would say good design, but poor quality control in manufacturing. I will be asking for a warranty replacement.
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K5SL
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 27, 2008 09:22
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6:1 -Great Design-Read
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I replaced a homemade 4:1 on my 80m loop with the 6:1. Running a kw I was able to overheat the B-----m. I will tell you this balun is not the donut cores you normally see. After taking the cover off you will see. Very neat work, and well constructed. Guys at work have built their own 6:1 and we always check the balance on each leg. I have the numbers, but let me say the balance is the best we have seen,and it goes up near 40mhz. I haven't been able to get it warm yet. A little more money-maybe, but I am running two 1:1 on my yagi's, and ALL are doing great. The little extra money is worth it. Nice to talk to hams when you call-they back their product also. Buy it and forget it.
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KG4JJS
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2008 05:51
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Fantastic Service
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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First off I had a rather unique setup here using an off resonance loop and called tech support for advice on which balun to purchase.The advice was sound and precise.
The DXE-BAL050-H10-AT which I ordered arrived in fine shape and works very well . I have a way off resonance loop 240 feet of wire only 15 feet off the ground.Tunes up fine using the ldg z100 tuner on all bands and even tunes the 80 meter band except for 3580 which Im sure a little more wire would fix. I have made dx contacts on all bands except 80 10 and 12 meters using phone and only 100 watts the contacts on 80 meters phone have been 59 at around 600 miles at night very acceptable. I would advise anyone to use this company their service and attention to detail is above all others and their baluns are top notch and built to last
Thanks DX Engineering
Oh by the way if you have not tried a loop antenna just do it they work extremely well forget diapoles end fedz g5rvs ect put up a loop you wont be disappointed!
73
Tim
kg4jjs
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W2EH
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 17, 2007 07:23
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Be careful using with OFD
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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A very well built balun, good performance except when used with offset fed dipoles and QRO. I used the DXE-BAL 200 - H10 _ AT 4:1 balun to feed a 137ft dipole fed at the 20% point from one end. Performance was excellent on 80, 40, and 30 meter bands, except that on 80 meters where the VSWR was 1.2:1 the balun would not handle 1475W of CW. For a balun rated at 5KW average and 10KW peak I found that to be annoying. On 40 meters the balun would handle 1475W with no time limit but on 80 meters after about 2 minutes of operation it would go into thermal runaway with VSWR climbing to 5:1.
If you run 400W cw or less, I am sure you will never have a complaint with this balun. If it was feeding a symetrically fed dipole it probably would take 1475W cw. The lower frequencies usually give a balun quite a workout.
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QUANMER
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 27, 2007 05:56
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I got what I paied for
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased the UNADILLA W2AU for Cobra Ultralite wire antenna. The result was not up to expectation at all. It picks up tons of noise and hard to hear the weak signal.
After doing some homework, I go for DX Eng.'s baluns, ( BAL-200-H10AT ), it's like nite & day difference to me! This balun perform like a champ. 60% of noise are reduced, I would buy another one if I would set up another station.
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