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You can
write your own review of the Array Solutions Baluns.
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K2MK
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 7, 2007 14:10
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AS50-L1 Line Isolator works very well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had some higher than normal SWR on my new SteppIR BigIR on 15 through 10 meters (2:1 at best). Verticals are very sensitive to installation conditions and perhaps my radial arrangement was a bit on the unusual side. The SteppIR engineers thought that there might be some feedback on the coax or perhaps resonant radials. They suggested two things that both worked. First they said install another ground rod near the antenna for a radial ground. I already had one ground rod and the second one did reduce the SWR a bit (to about 1.8:1). Then they suggested installing a choke balun in the feedline upstream from the antenna. I checked with Array Solutions and this is the model they recommended. I bought it and installed it in the shack and it brought the SWR down to 1.3:1.
My non-technical conclusion is that the balun is well made and does the job it is supposed to do. I got a very quick answer to my e-mail to the company from Jay.
When I need some other accessory I will check with Array Solutions to see if they have what I need.
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K8CHD
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 16, 2007 16:39
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I don't have to say "take it from me"
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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New AS-200 tuner balun, new Zero-Five 43 foot vertical, new Begali camelback! Everything written here about quality, service, and performance is dead on. Each one of these products exceeded my expectations in all three categories. Array Solutions gets my "10". (As do the other two).
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W4USR
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 16, 2007 11:56
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Truth in Advertising!!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Up till now, blaun manufactures have tended to be behind the curve of what I call “honest representation” or simply truth in advertising. Representation of the true power rating of their balun. Their designs tend to be derivative, not original. In fact, if one desires to jump into the arena of manufacturing RF baluns, all you need is the closest ACE Hardware store for the PVC tubes and end caps along with some cloths line eye bolts. Oh yes, mail order in some powered iron cores or worse yet, ferrite sleeves and away you go. If you want to be a higher power balun designer and manufacture simply buy larger PVC pipes and end caps and paint the whole mess black. Rate them at some ridicules power capability and wait for the orders.
Over the years I have been one of the fools ordering some of these “new technology” baluns. It is comical to fire up the gud ole Collins 30S1 amplifier watch the SWR climb the longer your fist is at the key. 1500 watts PEP SSB … NO … 1500 watts CW or RTTY. In fact I have had a few of these off-brand baluns actually start the melt down process.
Well enough of the bashing. We all should be relieved to know that the company called Array Solutions is a true RF balun designer and manufacture under the watchful eye of Jerry Sevick, W2FMI and Array Solutions chief cook and bottle washer Jay Terleski, WX0B. Jerry Sevick is the author of books and numerous RF balun articles in QST. Best of all, Jay, WX0B tells the truth about his products.
I now running the Array Solutions balun transformer on two of the mighty Zero Five 43 foot verticals. I also have one of the Array Solutions 4:1 balun transformers up at 70’ on an OFC Windom antenna. Unlike other copy cat off-brand baluns the Array Solution baluns does not flinch at full 1500 watts from the masterful Collins 30S1 RF generator. Cool and steady transforming ratios and performance is peace of mind with Array Solutions baluns. Highly recommended! I wish there was a 10 out of 10 rating! Great product indeed.
Dennis J. Had W4USR
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N3JPU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 9, 2007 06:56
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Great!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Using the W1JR-50-3N on my Force12 9 element 6M beam and it's working great. The optional mounting plate makes a nice secure mount.
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AD1Y
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 12, 2007 08:49
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Very pleased
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Time owned: months
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AS-200-Tuner: Well-built, heavy-duty unit recommended by Tom (ZeroFive Antennas) for his 30-160 meter 50-ft. vertical.
Not only does Jay have no qualms about opening up the unit to take a look at the components, he encourages it. His confidence is well-placed. Quality materials and quality workmanship. A great combination with the ZeroFive vertical.
With this balun, the antenna tunes easily and takes high power on 30, 40, 80, 160 with an ATR-15.
Jay is great, returning phone calls and e-mails promptly and even helping out with a non-balun-related technical issue.
Thanks Jay and everyone at Array Solutions for a fine product and excellent customer service.
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KC8OKG
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 8, 2007 17:39
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Dont hesitate! Buy one.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Does what it says, works like a charm. Built like two tanks in a waterproof enclosure. Handles three times the power I could ever put into it.
Array Solutions builds the highest quality products I have ever seen. Jay and Bob have been so patient and helpful. These guys know their stuff inside and out and put forth products that will last a lifetime. It seems that whatever they sell, its top notch. Check out their website. If they offer it-its the best you can buy at a price thats more than reasonable. Thanks for reading my review. Sincerely, Greg Sarris
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HB9TQB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 1, 2007 06:41
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Great Combination
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I’ve just upgraded my antenna system from an old Hustler 6BTV for a Zero Five multiband vertical - I ordered the 4:1 balun from Array Solutions as suggested by Tom but had it delivered to Tom at Zero Five antennas so both the Antenna and the balun arrived at the same time in Switzerland in one package.
I had the antenna up within 40minutes of delivery.
Performance – for the last 2 weeks I haven’t stopped adding new DX countries with great signal reports busting through pile ups. Compared to my old 6BTV Hustler which I replaced with this Zero Five multiband vertical it’s a different world – Mongolia 5/9 on 40m, India 20m 5/9, Hawaii 5/9 20m and Guinea 5/9 17m.
The SWR on all bands is very smooth - I think the highest SWR is on 17m 1:3.0 which my Yaesu Quadra amp has no problem tuning with the sensitive internal auto-tuner – no problems running the full legal power limit…
Picture of my installation
http://www.birch.ch/shack.htm
Andrew Birch
HB9-TQB
andrew@birch.ch
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N6EDV
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 11, 2007 13:42
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Super Product!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just installed my first Array Solutions 4:1 balun onto my 75 meter inverted V with an AT5K tuner. 15' of 213 to get the RF out of the shack and then ladder line from the balun to the antenna. Tuning has become very smooth and accurate. What an improvement! Way to go, Jay.
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W1FK
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2007 09:59
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W1FK- Array Solutions Custom 12:1 Balun
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I suppose I am one of the few hams using 12:1 baluns. I have used long Vee Beams off and on for 35 years, and have made my own 9:1, 4:1 etc, baluns for lower powers for many years. It's tough to make them truly wideband and flat and lossless. Last year I planted a 100-foot cedar pole in my field. I have installed a Vee Beam 330 feet each leg, 87 feet at top to 25 feet high at far ends. It will go into 600ohm open wire line down the pole, then to the 600:50 ohm balun, then into heavy duty 50 ohm Amphenol 6001 coax 250 feet to the shack. I run a maximum of 1300 watts from my Ten Tec Centurion amp. The current Vee Beam terminates in 200 watt 600 ohm carborundum resistors I purchased from Jay at Array Solutions. Jay recently made for me a 600:50 ohm balun, capable of 1500 watts and virtually flat from 1.8 to 32 MHz. Jay sent me a printout of the balun's characteristics. I checked this on my own analyzer and found it flat, SWR 1.5 or less throughout. Its tricky to wind a high power broadband balun with 9:1 or 12:1 ratios. Jay did a beautiful job. Three heavy toroid cores, beautifully soldered and wrapped and riveted inside weather-tight case. Advantage of terminated Vee Beams is flat SWR over wide frequency range. I will eventually install six wires from the pole, with relays to select Vee Beams in any direction. I will purchase my terminating resistors and other stuff from Jay, a real gentleman, and savvy engineer.
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KE7AMS
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 1, 2007 21:30
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Highest quality Balun
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I was using a DX Engineering 9 to 1 balun that would
saturate on 160 meters running 1,000 watts.
My antenna is a 450 ohm ladder line fed Off Center Caged half wave dipole, with 3 wires and a one meter spacing,for 160 meters.
I talked to Jay, the owner of Array Solutions,
he told me his balun, AS-200 would not saturate on 160 meters as the DX Engineering balun.
Jay was right no problem anywhere on any HF band running 1500 watts.
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