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Reviews For: Balun Designs 4:1 balun

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

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Review Summary For : Balun Designs 4:1 balun
Reviews: 37MSRP: 54.95
Description:
2kw current balun based on Jerry Sevick's (W2FMI)proven design. Provides good matching for multiband and off center fed dipoles.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.balundesigns.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00375
KB8YIJ Rating: 2012-12-12
The Best Out There Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Won't waste words if you want the best balun made get one of these you wont have a problem.
VE7MTW Rating: 2012-10-19
Fine American craftsmanship Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the balun on my 600 ft horizontal loop, and I am extremely pleased with the performance of this balun on my loop antenna. The balun is of superb quality, the service was outstanding, and the delivery speed of the product, even to British Colombia (thru customs) was excellent.
Thanks guys. I shall be ordering again.
KB2EOQ Rating: 2011-10-18
Very well built Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I actually bought model number 4124, a 4:1 to use with an inverted V fed with ladder line. I read a lot of articles and was baffled about the 4:1 or other options. Contact via email with Balun Designs was quick and easy. I was asked questions about which rig and which tuner I planned on using. I did not know this was an important factor. The #4124 was thus recommended. I was impressed with the quality of the workmanship and my new antenna and balun are working very well.
Andy K3UK (ex KB2EOQ)
K8JHR Rating: 2011-09-16
Good Stuff Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use this 4:1 balun on a 40-6 meter Off Center Fed (OCF) dipole with good results. The antenna tunes up just right, with under 1.2 SWR for both 40 and 20 meters, and exhibits low SWR on the higher bands, and while I think I could improve the higher bands by messing with the relative feed point or length of the two elements, I don't because it works so well on 40 and 20 meters. According to both my RibExpert and MFJ atnenna analyzers, this balun is working exactly as it should.

The manufacturer provides open and detailed communication before and after the sale, working with the buyer to make sure the balun sold is the right tool for the job. We discussed the entire layout, focusing on nearby objects and features unique to my installation that might detune the antenna after installation or call for a different design specification, assuring it is be the best design for my use.

I believe this balun is well made, and that I got my money's worth.

/////// James - K8JHR ///////
WA1SEO Rating: 2011-04-13
My second 4125T Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I put up a second antenna and I needed another 4:1 balun. I didn't even shop since I had good luck with the one I purchased several years ago. I spoke with Bob about my requirements and I had one thought, and he had another. The best part about Balun Designs is that if you're unhappy, you can send it back. I went with my thought and it works as expected...GREAT!

Thanks

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by WA1SEO on 2008-05-07

I spoke with Bob about an antenna project idea that I had. He recommended the 4:1 for a vertical and said if it didn't work out, send it back. I received it in 2 days! I heard a little rattle inside so emailed Bob asking if it would be OK to open it up. He responded within an hour and said, sure. It turned out to be a faulty tie-wrap. I told him what I was going to do and he said if I wanted he'd send me a new balun and pay for postage. I tried my fix and it works fine.

I connected the balun up and measured the performance with an HP Nework Analyzer...then tried the antenna out. It works as expected. I recently did some antenna work and decided to open the balun up to verify it's moisture resistance. PERFECT!

So, my summary says it best, Great Product, Great Service AND a pleasure to do business with.

Thanks Bob.

Mike, WA1SEO
N4UED Rating: 2011-01-10
BOB KNOWS HIS BALUNS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I HAVE PURCHASED 4 OF BOBS 4-1 BALUNS THAT ARE MADE FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE ON 40-160M.

HE WILL TALK TO YOU AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS PRODUCT.

I USE MINE FOR DOUBLE EXTENDED ZEPPS.

HE ALSO MAKES FANTASTIC COAX JUMPERS THAT ARE WELL MADE NOT QUICKLY MADE.

HIS BALUNS ARE WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A BALUN FOR THE LONG HAUL BUY HIS.

THEIR IS NO NEED IN MAKING THE MISTAKES I DID AS A YOUNG HAM BACK IN 1988.

YOU CAN NOT FRY HIS BALUN.

BUT YOU CAN FRY AN EGG.

AN EGG IS WHAT I HAD FOR JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM ANOTHER BALUN DESIGNER.

THANKS,

CHUCK PRIDGEN, N4UED
N7ZM Rating: 2010-11-20
Great Product Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I needed a heavy duty balun to handle my Alpha power so I did my research, talked to Bob of Balun Designs and ordered a 4:1 5KW for my Loop feeding it with 450 ohm LL to balun and with 15 feet of 9913 coax into shack. If you need a good balun this is the place to go. The quality is high and worth paying a little more for. Would I buy another, " You betcha ".
W8CCY Rating: 2010-01-07
Need a Balun? - This is the place! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Ordered my third balun from Bob today. Using one on my Tennadyne T-8 log and one to feed my 80 meter doublet fed with 450 ohm window line. The new one will feed my 160 meter doublet.

I have done numerous a/b tests (swapping baluns of diff ratios and no balun) using an inferior commercial balun acquired before meeting Bob. Besides the obvious superb quality construction. They perform as well as they look.

The 160 meter doublet at 1.8 mhz, currently, (I am pruning it w/o an analyzer) has a 20 to 1 swr w/o a balun. Ie: using Bob's 4113t 4 to 1 balun swr is 4 to 1 at 1.8 mhz. My auto tuner (LDG 1000 Pro) easily handles the mismatch and everything else up through 10 meters.

With the other commercial balun the auto tuner is stresssed and struggles to find a usable match on 160 where the reactances seem highest and, also on some of the higher bands.

Bob is a person of integrity and fun to do business with. He will not steer you wrong. IMHO I think his products are some of the best values in amateur radio.

If you call "Cousin Bob" pse tell him "Cousin Larry" referred you. No, we are not related. Just a little joke and he will know you read this. hi!

Thanks, again, Bob for the great service and quality products, I can only equate with the good folks at Elecraft.


KI9A Rating: 2009-12-02
Great workmanship Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great balun. Professional workmanship. Used it in a couple of CW contests using 1KW, and worked FB, no heating, no problem.
K6TPJ Rating: 2009-10-26
Great Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was one of those Hams that thought "A Balun is a Balun". Well, I stand corrected. I have a doublet up about 125 feet fed with 450 ohm window line, which was used with one of those "other" Baluns. The antenna worked well, but there were a few oddities in the tuning, and in fact I couldn't get below a 3:1 swr in some spots.

I bought a Balun Designs 4:1. Tuning is smooth and predictable. Even more important, tuning is now repeatable. Bob was a pleasure to deal with and stands behind his product. The Balun itself is a thing of beauty.

I can't comment on the Balun's power handling capabilities since I've never run over 500 watts, and currently run QRP for the most part. However, judging by the quality of the design and build, I'm confident it can easily handle legal limit power.

A very nice product.