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Reviews For: RAK 1:1 Balun Type BL-50A

Category: Antenna parts, accessories, incl. baluns, hardware, etc.

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Review Summary For : RAK 1:1 Balun Type BL-50A
Reviews: 3MSRP:
Description:
Electrical Rating:
Band Width 1.8 to 30Mhz continuous.
Power Rating 2Kw PEP 1Kw CW.
Impedance 50ohms.
Transformation Ratio 1:1,Less than 0.2db.
Tensile Srength 250kg(60%down)Horizontal.
150kg(60%down)Vertical.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1535
K6PS Rating: 2023-03-08
Excellent Japanese Quality and Design in a Balun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a really solidly built balun, not one of those Frankenstein designs cobbled together with Home Depot PVC parts. I am writing this in March 2023 and there does not seem to be that wide spectrum of baluns available like in the "old days". I recall buying Blue Bencher made baluns for about 10-25 dollars.

Anyway, this little jewel is completely sealed, and the SO-239 is extremely high quality. Think of an ultra solid extremely durable black hockey puck with an SO-239 and that about summarizes the RAK balun.

Yeah it matches well, and I only run about 200 watts. Performance however is not just assured by an excellent balun. I have found that good antennas can work without a balun, but this thing just makes it easy. You'll probably see these at Estate Sales as they will outlast the owner. hihi. If you see one just buy it.
VK3EMJ Rating: 2010-01-02
High Quality Balun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of these. The first is circa 1988 and has stood the test of time perfectly. I was so impressed with its durability that I jumped at the opportunity to pickup another 2nd hand unit in 2009 for portable operation.

The BL-50A is a fully sealed unit and as such is inherently weatherproof. No rubber seals, silicones or other such weatherproofing needed.

These were sold locally in VK/ZL by Dick Smith Electronics years ago when they serviced our amateur community.

If you need an inexpensive 1:1 balun that has very high resistance to the weathering, I thoroughly recommend this unit.

The only design deficiency to my mind is the lack of a vertical support hole or hook. It was not necessary in my installation, so I am not marking it down for this. I can imagine for centre mount point installations, this might be overcome by using a small piece of weatherproof rope between the horizontal support holes as a vertical attachment point.

Michael Weinstock
VK3EMJ
ZL1PO Rating: 2005-03-26
Primo ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one installed on a homebrew half wave single wire dipole with links for 80m/40m which is used for field comms.This has given trouble free operation over a ten plus years.Another is installed at home QTH as the centre feed point for a two wire dipole on 80m and 40m.This has been in use now for 9 months.The original baluns hardware did not show signs of terminal corosion but the newer one has so I replaced with stainless steel.As most balun manufactures specify keep the antenna tuned for resonance,keep the tuner in the cupboard and you should not have a problems.