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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
K4FX Rating: 2009-03-23
Great Baluns Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After burning up a few different types of homebrew baluns on my OCF antenna, I finally splurged and bought a 4 to 1 current balun from Bob, my SWR is a lot lower across 80, 40, 30 20, 15 and 10 bands thab with the others I had built, the quality is well worth the cost, and Bob gives fast service, ordered on a Thursday and received it the following Monday,
VK2LOB Rating: 2008-09-22
Great Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have balun model 4113, 4:1 with a 1:1 Choke in the balun which i used to construct a Windom, the quality of this Balun is great and works better than I expected. I cut to pieces of Stainless Steel wire 90 ft and 45 ft and swaged the wire up,the SWR on 80 meters is 1:4, 40m is 1:1 20m is 1:3 10m 28.520 is 1:1. I am receiving great signal reports. Customer Service is great, Bob returned my email inquiry within hours and advised me of which Balun to purchase for the job. The Balun arrived in 6 days later.
VE6JKV Rating: 2008-09-17
Fabulous Product! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using an OCF dipole for a while now, and the balun has been giving me problems. I looked around for a better balun and was lucky enough to come across Balun Designs. I got the 4:1 balun with the 1:1 built into it. I finally got it installed, and I have to say that I'm extremely impressed. It improved my S/N ratio quite a bit, and I am getting even better signal reports than I had previously. This is a wonderful product, and I would highly recommend it. Any questions I had were answered instantly, and customer service seems to be a priority.
KO7V Rating: 2008-08-26
Best 4:1 current balun yet Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had trouble feeding a 134 foot OCF dipole with 50-feet of 300 Ohm twin lead with a Johnson Matchbox. The twin 300-Ohm lead was connected at the '200-Ohm point', about 1/3 from the end. I used to have to ground the tuner or the SWR was unstable, hand capacity tuning effects, etc. -- basically unuseable. Same thing with an MFJ-949E tuner with its built-in balun output feeding the twin lead. Also got RF feedback when using a 600W linear. With the tuner grounded, things were much more stable, but the tuner was really 'working' hard, and I knew there was lots of ground (common mode) current. I got weak reports on 80M, 40M was so-so, but 1 or 2 S-units below my 40M dipole at a nearby location Only 20M was pretty good, as long as I did not use the linear else I got RF feedback.

Looks like the Johnson matchbox was not the ticket unless I was willing to go center fed, but then I lose the odd harmonic bands. The problem with the MFJ-949E was the voltage balun on the output. I had a Ferrite '61 core and made a 4:1 voltage balun, but it didn't do any better than the MFJ balun..

Having no practical experience with power baluns, I asked Bob (KZ5R) which of his baluns would be best or my situation. I got his suggestion, the 4115E dual-core 4:1 (a REAL current balun, stainless steel connections). With the MFJ tuner coax output feeding 5 feet of RG-213 to the balun then the 50 foot twin lead to the OCF, the SWR easily tunes 1:1 on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10M, no RF on anything, no hand capacity effect, and the system is exactly the same with or without a tranceiver or tuner RF ground (the tranceiver runs off a isolated 110V AC switching supply). On 20 Meters I don't need to touch up the tuner across the band it stays below 1:1.2 , and on 40M only a small tuner adjustment across the band. On 80M tuner adjustment is required across the band, but it still tunes to 1.1 and the adjustment has that smooth low-Q feeling you know is 'right'.

Now I have a huge improvement on 80M and 40M and am ready for some sunspots too. If you need a 4:1 current balun, I recommend Balun Designs - Thats where my next one is coming from.

Ron Fial KO7V
AE4CW Rating: 2008-08-16
Outstanding Designs, Quality, Service and Value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
If you need a balun, unun, or common mode current choke, look no further. Without question, Balun Designs and it's owner Bob Rumsey are in my opinion the best in the business. Where else do you get all these from a single vendor: 1) Designs based on the proven theory and construction techniques of Jerry Sevick, arguably the foremost authority in this field; 2) Construction using the best available materials (thermaleze wire, Teflon tubing, epoxy coated ferrites, stainless hardware, waterproof NEMA enclosures; 3) A detailed internal description including photos of each design along with measured impedance transformation results; 4) Custom designs to fit any unique need you have; 5) Personal contact with the owner/builder, and 6) A 30-day money-back guarantee and lifetime warranty.

I ordered the single-core 4:1 model #4113 and it arrived in three days. I measured the transformation accuracy using my AIM-4170 and found the SWR less than 1.04 to 1 from 1.8 to 60 MHz. I've used it to feed an OCF dipole at 500+ watts with no heating what-so-ever. I knew going in that the single-core 4:1 model might not be a good match for an unbalanced antenna like the OCF dipole but decided to see how well it performed. An OCF dipole is a VERY difficult load for any balun, and so I was not surprised to see that I needed more common mode impedance. For an inherently balanced antenna like a simple dipole with perpendicular feedline, the single-core #4113 should be fine.

So, a word of advice: If you are feeding an inherently unbalanced antenna like an OCF dipole, you should choose either of the models #4113ocf or #4115 (see my review on this one as well). Both of these dual-core models have substantially greater common mode (choke) impedance which will greatly reduce RF current flow on the outside of your coax feedline (keeping RF out of the shack and preventing feedline radiation) and ensure more nearly balanced currents into the antenna.
WU1E Rating: 2008-06-18
Mod III Tuner Balun is Fantastic Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought one of these to replace a cheapo balun that was causing problems for my multi-band dipole and auto tuner. This is a fantastic piece of hardware. Problem is I hate to only use it on that one antenna. It's a serious piece of quality hardware and I'm itching to try some other antenna projects using it. That's the beauty of Bob's Baluns. You can count on them for the long haul. I will definitely be a repeat Balun Designs customer.
PY1BR Rating: 2008-06-06
Just Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I think is the most beautiful balun I have ever seen. I think I won't use it, just keep inside the shack protected....very nice product.
NE2E Rating: 2008-05-05
Outstanding Performance Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My first impression is WOW! The fit and finish and far exceed my expectations. This balun is a work of art, the rugged components appear to be first class top quality are used . If any compromises are made i sure can't see them. This balun will handle anything you can throw at it power-weather, this is not your daddy balun, this is a commercial grade product. Model III 4:1.
VK4HY Rating: 2008-04-25
performance on 80 to 10m was outstanding Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The balun you made for me is fantastic, it was connected to a 42ft wire vertical and a 3.5ft earth stake, it tuned up on all bands and the performance on 80 to 10m was outstanding

Vars
KY5U Rating: 2008-03-23
Quality and Functionality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Grab a cup of coffee and read this if you want the low-down on Balun Designs!

Years ago I had designed a shorty vertical to use at a radio station on 800kHz to use while the 30 year old towers were being replaced. The goal was no more than 3db loss in signal. I used the same "shorty" design in marine electronics for marine SSB shore stations with great results. Fast forward to the present and my life in a restricted neighborhood....

Having tried all manner of wire antennas, I finally remembered the "shorty" and I built one for 80M. It's about 18' with a series loading coil and at resonance it has an impedance of 12 ohms. And there is the rub. Over the years I always fed the antennas with 50ohm line and into a tuner at the transmitter. Results were good but the impedance mismatch in the line was a power robber. Tuner use worked well but I wanted to finally match the Z at the antenna to the feedline and ditch the tuner. Enter Balun Designs...

After seeing his baluns on ebay (and admiring the workmanship), I contacted Bob and asked if he could wind me a custom UNUN to take my 12 ohm Z to 50 ohms. He said "can do!" A few days later I received the final product mounted in a neat fiberglass weatherproof housing. It's about 6" by 6" and had all the connectors labeled and mounting holes drilled.

I had used about 6" of RG8 to make a pigtail to feed the antenna so my UNUN had SO239 connectors on both sides. I removed the barrel splice connector, inserted the UNUN and used my MFJ antenna tester to check results. On my desired resonant frequency I was still at resonance and the tester showed 50 ohms spot on.

Inside I removed the tuner and inserted a wattmeter, tuned up the rig and amp and tried it all out. Needless to say my signal was a bit stronger on my "regulars" and although the 100' of RG8 feedline had shifted the resonant point up the band about 25kHz, the SWR was still under 1.2:1. The bandwidth appears to be nearly 300kHz at 2:1 or less and 250kHz of that is under 1.8:1. The 1.5:1 bandwidth is over 100kHz. 50khZ of bandwidth is under 1.2:1.

Things I liked anout Balun Designs:

1. Willingness to customize
2. Price ($48 bucks for my UNUN)
3. Waterproof enclosure
4. Mounting holes pre drilled
5. All ports labeled
6. Results delivered on air exceeded expectation

My finished "shorty" vertical is only 18' (hidden from the Homeowner Gestappo by the house), and operates about 2.3db less than a full 1/4 wave vertical on 80M. The antenna uses the MFJ mounting plate (2' X 2') and 20 radials each 25' long so it does not take up much space.

One note is that with the mounting plate your radials can be shorter, but for every 1 radial you'd add to a full sized vertical, you have to add 2 to the shorty to get the same result.

Bottom line is that Balun Designs LLC was a valuable partner in my antenna's success and I urge you to give them a try.

Charlie
KY5U