I have used W2DU - HF3 - 9KW baluns from ComtekSystems for my 2 el 10-15-20m
QUAD for each band. Using ACOM 2000A at 1KW+ with up to 2:1 SWR with no
problems and I am very happy with them. Have used them also with different
dipoles. Ordered another bunch from Jim for my dipoles, really nice items.
OTOH, Van Gorden HI-Q 1:1 balun I used for 40m dipole failed on the first
day. After a few seconds of carrier at 1KW (c.a. 2:1 SWR) it develops high
SWR and ACOM fault circuit trips. Really dissapointed with it, removed the
balun and antenna works at least. I bought 2 of those and haven't yet tested
the other one...
73
Tonno
ES5TV
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim White, K4OJ" <k4oj@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Rajiv Dewan, N2RD" <n2rd@arrl.net>; "Jim" <w7ry@earthlink.net>; "Rich
Hallman - N7TR" <rich@n7tr.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 7:09 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2DU Balun's?
>
> is K6NA still in the balun biz - he also makes a really primo one, too...
>
> think he calls himself
>
> Aztec RF
>
>
> k4oj
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rajiv Dewan, N2RD" <n2rd@arrl.net>
> To: "Jim" <w7ry@earthlink.net>; "Rich Hallman - N7TR" <rich@n7tr.com>;
> <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 3:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2DU Balun's?
>
>
> >
> > Indeed. I have had very bad experiences with commercially available
> > W2DU baluns for around $20 or so. All kinds of problems ranging from
> > broken solder connection inside the pvc tube, broken beads, to ferrite
> > beads shorting the connector on the inside. I use then primarily for
> > wire antenna strung between trees and they have very limited life. It
> > really takes a beating on the wire antennas. Impregnating them helps
> > at the cost of limiting their ability to dissipate heat.
> >
> > There are good ones that are vaccuum impregnated. F12 and CalAv labs
> > have these. I always wonder about heat stress on these at lower
> > frequencies. And, they are rather expensive - almost $50 each.
> >
> > I now build them myself using kits (about $10 or so) available from a
> > number of sources. Before sealing up the PVC tube, I fill them with
> > self expanding foam (available in hardware stores for insulation
> > purposes) that comes in aerosol cans. I use a vaccuum cleaner to suck
> > from the other end of the tube as I fill it to get it into all nooks
> > and crannies. The ones I built have been in use for over 3yrs,
> > compared to fewer than 2 for some of the commercial ones I tried.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Rajiv, N2RD
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim" <w7ry@earthlink.net>
> > To: "Rich Hallman - N7TR" <rich@n7tr.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 10:16 PM
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2DU Balun's?
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Well made an W2DU CANNOT be used in the same sentence!
> > >
> > >
> > > I have had MANY problems with them. The failure was the solder
> > connections
> > > on the lugs that connect the coax to the studs/eyes. The ends of the
> > coax
> > > did not have a good mechanical connection. (Remember your Heathkit
> > > instructions ?) The center conductor was just stuck through the hole
> > in the
> > > lug and little bit of solder applied.
> > >
> > > No much fun when the balun is mounted on end of the boom on your 2
> > element
> > > 40 meter beam....And you cannot reach it unless you take down your
> > tribander
> > > and the 40 meter beam.
> > >
> > > Better to make your own with a torroid core and some Teflon coax
> > RG-142 or
> > > RG-400 and an outdoor PVC electrical box.
> > >
> > > 73
> > > Jim W7RY
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Rich Hallman - N7TR <rich@n7tr.com>
> > > To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 13:52
> > > Subject: [TowerTalk] W2DU Balun's?
> > >
> > >
> > > |
> > > | Who is commercially selling a well made version of the W2DU Choke
> > Balun
> > > for
> > > | Dipoles? Looking for a 160-10 Meter version.
> > > |
> > > | Thanks...
> > > | Rich
> > > |
> > > | ******************************
> > > | Rich Hallman - N7TR
> > > | Reno, Nevada
> > > | http://www.n7tr.com
> > > |
> > > | N7TR DX-Cluster Access:
> > > | telnet://dxc.n7tr.com
> > > |
> > > |
> > > |
> > > |
> > > |
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> > __
> > > | Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes?
> > The
> > > | same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam
> > Store.
> > > | Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> > >
> > | --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---
> > > |
> > > | -----
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> > > | Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> > > | Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > > | Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> > > |
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> > __
> > > Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes?
> > The
> > > same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
> > > Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> > > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---
> > >
> > > -----
> > > FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> > > Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> > > Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > > Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
> > same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
> > Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > -----
> > FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> > Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> > Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
> same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
> Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
________________________________________________________________________
Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
Order online at http://store.eham.net.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
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