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Reviews For: Array Solutions Baluns

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

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Review Summary For : Array Solutions Baluns
Reviews: 40MSRP: Varies
Description:
4:1 and 1:1 high power baluns, 5 kW CCS or continuous rating, to over 10 kW
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.arraysolutions.com/baluns-ununs-rf-isolators
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00405
W1FK Rating: 2007-02-19
W1FK- Array Solutions Custom 12:1 Balun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.
KE7AMS Rating: 2007-02-01
Highest quality Balun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
K3GRT Rating: 2007-01-07
Solid Product Super Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased an AS-200-Tuner Balun for use with a ZeroFive Multiband Vertical. Turned out to be a fantastic combination and is working well.

The Balun is well built and I'm confident it can handle anything I can throw at it.

Service was great from the very beginning. Prior to my purchase I had emailed asking about Baluns. I got a reply in short order from Jay who explained the differences and made recommendation based on my intended antenna installation. Later I had issues with my installation, not a problem with the Balun but with my install. Again a quick email resulted in a list of questions and Jay promptly responded with the solution. We exchanged a few more email and I could not be happier with the Service or the Balun.

I'll be making more purchases with Array Solutions, including another AS-200Tuner to replace a lesser unit I had been using.


Rick K3GRT
K9KEJ Rating: 2006-12-27
High-quality product Time Owned: N.A.
The Array Solutions 4:1 balun was recommended to me to use with my Zero Five vertical. The AS 200 unit is fastened to the base of the Zero Five antenna and has given me excellent service. It's rugged and very heavy duty. The owner of the company, Jay, promptly responds to all questions and correspondence. It's refreshing to find another company, like the Zero Five Antenna company, that provides quality products and service.
KB2QQM Rating: 2006-10-03
Built like a TANK ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the AS-200-Tuner 4:1 Balun to work with my multiband vertical from www.zerofive-antennas.com
The Balun is first rate. I am only running 100 watts, but could run a 1500 watts no problem. It came with a very heavy duty waterproof case. If you require overbuild and absolute quality,this company has the products for you to build a bullet proof station. The communication with the company is first rate. Very quick email response. I received my shipment, 3 days after I ordered it, and it was well packaged. Highly recommended.

Greg KB2QQM
EX_K4NP Rating: 2005-09-24
Well made, excellent performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the AS-200 Tuner 4:1 balun. It is used with my center fed zepp at the transition of open line to 8 feet of low loss 52 0hm unbalanced line to the tuner. Using the Alpha 91B, I've had no issues with heating or SWR changes. This would indicate that no saturation is taking place. It uses dual cores and nice heavy teflon wire. Personally, I prefer the Nema case. It does well in wet weather and is relatively light in weight. I'd glady answer any questions you may have.
K6IOU Rating: 2005-08-08
Fantastic! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In my never-ending quest for the simplest and yet still efficient antenna system . . . I've finally settled [until the next experiment, that is ] on the following:

I'm using a CF Dipole 120' long, fed with Window Line. The Window Line connects to my Palstar AT4K tuner in the shack. [The Palstar is also an excellent product, see my review on eham].

Anyway, I was unable to tune 15m, 12m, and 10m with this bare setup using the Palstar in balanced mode [all the lower HF bands were fine]. So I placed one of Jay's AS-200-Tuner Baluns between the unbalanced ouput of the tuner and the Window Line [for these three bands only] and now am able to operate on all the HF bands.

Out of curiosity, I removed the cover of the balun and felt for 'heat' after a period of key-down operation. Couldn't detect any. Replaced the cover.

Not only is the quality of construction and materials great with Jay's baluns . . . his after sale support is also excellent.

DON
K6IOU

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K6IOU on 2004-08-13

I recently purchased two of Array Solutions' baluns and am very pleased with the quality of construction and performance.

The phone was answered by a gentleman named Jay. Jay is knowledgeable . . . and guided me thru the process of selecting the best baluns for my applications.

I have also called him on several occasions with antenna-related questions about swr, feedline loss, etc. and he has always been patient in answering my questions.

A great company to do business with!

DON
K6IOU
N9IW Rating: 2005-06-02
Great Product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own 3 of Array Solutions W1JR 1:1 baluns. They are use to feed my 3 stack of home brew, 14 element log periodic's for 13.9 - 30 MHz along with an Array Solutions StackMatch. The baluns along with the StackMatch have performed flawlessly for the past 3 years. If I ever have a question or I'm looking for ideas or products to improve my station, Jay's support and customer service are second to none!
WB4PAP Rating: 2005-03-12
Great Balun and Company Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Talked to Jay about a Balun for my TGM Mini-Quad antenna. Evidently I was one of the first ones to use his Balun with this antenna and Jay was extremely helpfull in assisting me with the selection of the proper component. This antenna also covers 6M so a VHF capable Balun would be required. Jay's is one of the few that will operate HF and VHF at high power levels and I am very pleased with his product. Well built, lifetime warrantee, what more could you ask for. Jay also is a very knowledgeable and professional individual.He was willing to spend as much time as you need with answering questions and operational considerations even if they went beyond his products involvement. I have other Baluns by other companies and there is no comparison to the quality of construction and components that Jay uses to manufacture his Baluns. Truly an experience in "you get what you pay for". Just one look inside will instantly convince you of that.

Tom, WB4PAP
K4WI Rating: 2004-10-17
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I needed a heavy duty 4:1 balun to feed my 160 meter loop as I had burned up several other commercial baluns with the Alpha 86. Jay said he could fix me up and give a lifetime warrenty. His balun is all that he claims and I am very pleased!