They are indeed an item to avoid. I've pics of a BN-86 I pulled off my
TH-7DX after only a few years up here on the OR coast. The burned area of
the coil, the spider and insect crap inside, the corroded condition of the
inner connections are apparent. After examination it was apparent why the
SWR began going up with the rain after a few years. Replaced with a Balun
Designs unit and all is working well.
Thanks to all for the indepth discussions, experiences and banter on the use
of chokes, baluns and related items with various antennas, have learned a
lot about what used to be a shadowy subject.
Don W7WLL
-----Original Message-----
From: john@iguanavilla.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 7:19 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2AU Baluns??
That sounds as bad or worse than my BN-86 experience.
John KK9A
To: "StellarCAT" <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>, <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2AU Baluns??
From: "AA6DX - Mark" <aa6dx@arrl.net>
Reply-to: AA6DX - Mark <aa6dx@arrl.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2017 17:32:08 -0700
In the wayback, we called the product "Antenna Fuse" == fine 100 watts, but
even a Heath SB-220 could fry them -- I know, hating climbing the tower in a
November contest to take the "fuse" out of the system .. or dropping the
antenna during a severe rain storm.. of which in Sweeps and/or CQWW, was
most always storming .. I never recommended them after a couple years of
this -- es really bad if you, in the midst of a contest and having
temporarily lost your senses, transmitted on the wrong aerial --- SHAZZAM!
YOUR ANTENNA FUSE BLEW! 73 es CU IN THE TESTS.. Mark AA6DX Eureka, FAR
Northern
California --------- -----Original Message----- From: StellarCAT
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 9:06 AM
To: TowerTalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] W2AU Baluns??
the ones I had were junk. Two of the 5 fell apart on their own (bad internal
soldering) ... one was used in a phased array and even though the markings
were followed for getting the right phasing it was indeed phased backwards
forcing a tower climb and real stretch to get to that one. I changed all
that I could get to with a Balun Design balun and never looked back.
Gary
K9RX
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|