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RE: Topband: 160 Meter BALUNS

To: <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: Topband: 160 Meter BALUNS
From: "James Wolf" <jbwolf@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 08:57:18 -0500
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
These baluns do work well.
I use them on all my beams and tribanders.  However, I use teflon coax which
eliminates the need to seal anything.

James Wolf, KR9U



> Thanks for the corrections Arne!
> 
> Bill
> 
> On 160-40M the number of turns for both the coax and the wire 
> should be 5 NOT 7.  The nominal dia is about 6.5 inches.  
> George used #10 or #12 wire NOT #16 in his article in news 
> letter I have.  This is from a NCDXC news letter article 
> published after the February/March 1980 articles in Ham Radio 
> magazine.
> 
> The version for 10-20M uses 2.5 turns each (wire and coax).  
> Use these and they work.  Be sure to seal well all open ends 
> and around where insulation was removed (I used RTV and 
> electrical tape and more RTV).  Wrapped entire loop with 
> electrical tape.
> 
> 73 de Arne N7KA
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett@alum.mit.edu>
> To: <topband@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 6:50 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: 160 Meter BALUNS
> 
> 
>  > Here's a simple balun that works well on 80/160
>  > which requires only 100 inches of RG-8X coax.  I used it
>  > for many years in Colorado running 1.5 kW to a trapped
>  > dipole for 80/160 with no problems.  The original design
>  > came from a Ham Radio series but I don't have the
>  > exact reference.  I recall the designer had made
>  > measurements using an HP Network Analyzer and
>  > the balance performance was excellent on 80/160
>  > compared to commercial baluns.
>  >
>  > 1.  Carefully remove a small ring of the coax cover at
>  > ~100" from the end.
>  >
>  > 2.  Solder ~100" of wire around the braid at this point.
>  > I recall I used #16 insulated wire.
>  >
>  > 3.  Loosely wind 7 turns of the coax in one direction
>  > (about a 6 or 7" diameter coil) and loosely wind 7
>  > turns of the wire in the OPPOSITE direction.
>  >
>  > 4.  Solder the wire to the inner conductor at the end
>  > of the coax (after separating 2-3" of braid as a pigtail).
>  >
>  > 5.  Waterproof the coax ends and the area where the
>  > wire was attached.
>  >
>  > 6.  Secure the loosely bundled coil of coax and wire
>  > with tape or tie-wraps.
>  >
>  > 7.  Attach the coax shield to one side of the antenna
>  > and the center conductor (including attached wire)
>  > to the other side.
>  >
>  > Instead of using 50' of coax, this uses only
>  > a bit over 8' and works well.  Maybe someone has
>  > the exact Ham Radio reference but I'm fairly certain
>  > my memory of the construction is correct.  If I made
>  > a mistake, hopefully someone will correct it.
>  >
>  > 73 & Merry Christmas!
>  >
>  > Bill  W4ZV
>  >
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