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| Reviews Summary for Balun Designs Mod III 4:1 Tuner Balun 1-30 MHZ 4 KW |
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Reviews: 3
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $77.95
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Description: This balun, when combined with a tuner, offers excellent broadband flexibility. It's unique because the design offers the advantages of both a current AND a voltage balun. If you use ladder line or twin lead for your antenna, this balun can be installed remotely allowing you to run coax to your tuner while keeping the efficiency and matching characteristics of the ladder feedline for your antenna.
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More info: http://www.balundesigns.com
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You can
write your own review of the Balun Designs Mod III 4:1 Tuner Balun 1-30 MHZ 4 KW.
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W2XS
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 11, 2008 17:21
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So far so good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have always thought that using an unbalanced tuner with a balun was not a good way to connect to a balanced antenna like a CF Zepp. I have continued to use a Johnson Matchbox on all bands from 160 to 10. (I modified it for 160 m). However, I recently added an Elecraft K3 to the shack with its built-in tuner, and really wanted to use the tuner since the settings are remembered from band to band and QSY is extremely easy.
I bought the Balanced Designs Tuner Balun Model 4124t rated at 4kw. Testing results show that it comparable to the Johnson Matchbox in terms of balance from 80 to 10 meters, and seems close on total current flow too. I used the MFJ 835 Balanced RF Current Meter for testing.
I have now tried the Johnson Matchbox, the Balun Designs Tuner Balun, the Elecraft BL2 balun in 4:1 and 1:1 positions, a 4:1 voltage balun from an old Ultimate Transmatch, and a direct connection (no balun). I had thought that the Johnson Matchbox was unbeatable, but the Balun Designs is pretty close. Initial reports on 80 meters indicate that there is no difference in the signal at the other end of a QSO between the Balun Designs balun and the JMB. (More testing is needed).
The Elecraft balun is good but it got warm to the touch on some bands. Directly connecting the ladder line to the rig resulted in very poor balance on several bands. I would not have seen this if I did not have the MFJ 835 in line as the matching was perfect (1:1 SWR on all bands). The JMB is excellent but, of course, it's a manual tuner. The voltage balun worked OK on 160 to 20, but had very poor balance on the higher frequencies. (Again, the match was perfect, but the MFJ meter showed very poor balance on the high bands).
I posted the results on my website which you can get to via QRZ.com.
So, at least for the time being, I am using the Balun Designs balun as the primary interface to my Cobra Ultralite antenna ( www.k1jek.com ). Changing bands with the K3 and KAT3 is a push of the button and the matched settings are remembered without the need to transmit. The shack is much cleaner without the manual tuner, external power/SWR meter, Palomar Tuner-Tuner, and all of the interconnecting cables that were needed. Time will tell if I feel the need to go back to the JMB, but right now I am having fun (except for the poor band conditions!).
73, John W2XS
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K4MO
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 25, 2008 05:52
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Superb Product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased a Nye Viking MB-IV-A tuner that had no balun in it. After a bit of research I purchased a Mod III 4:1 4KW balun from Bob with no enclosure. I installed it inside the Nye Viking and it works perfectly and looked great. This is that balun that Bill Nye should have installed at the factory in his tuners. I couldn't be happier with the product or the service. I don't think you can go wrong with any of Bob's baluns.
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WA2DGD
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 2, 2008 13:51
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Well built, Excellent support, Works well.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently put up a 125 foot doublet fed with 600 ohm ladder line and was having difficulty with loading on 80M and lots of rf in the shack. I was feeding the ladder line to a short length of coax with a bead balun on the coax, then to a LDG AT 200.
I spoke with Bob, described the situation and he recommended the Mod III 4:1 balun. I installed the balun inside where the feedline entered my house, and then a short run of coax to the LDG tuner. It loads well on all the bands and eliminated most of the problems caused by rf in the shack.
Bob was very helpful and I am satisfied with the final results.
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