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Call Sign : 26-CT-11111 Posts : 138 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-07-26 QTH or Location : Kent
Subject: 446 Dipole Balun Mon Aug 24, 2020 3:21 pm
Hello Gents, a question for you technical gurus, i have made a dipole from alloy tube for the 446 band using the dimensions from delboys page,my question is,should a balun be used with the dipole when using a coax feeder?
cheers
John
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5803 Times Thanked : 352 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
'Technical gurus'?....some just have read more about something than others
It depends on who you ask....and what they've read.
Technically I'd say yes, but practically I'd say don't bother. (Not much flipping help am I? )
It could all get argued to the hills but I happily use one without a balun, many others have too and many Hams run 70cm versions without them either. I do have a dual bander VHF/UHF dipole and that has a simple air choke but that's about it.
If you're trying to squeeze every last 'performance' morsel out, then use one. If you're just 'playing' forget it.
(If you're going for every last performance morsel you'll need a UHF VNA/Antenna Analyser anyway )
There you go.....now you're a 'guru'
All the best, Victor
GaryWilson and Tristar like this post
morris Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-11111 Posts : 138 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-07-26 QTH or Location : Kent
Subject: Re: 446 Dipole Balun Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:43 am
Victor wrote:
Hi John,
'Technical gurus'?....some just have read more about something than others
It depends on who you ask....and what they've read.
Technically I'd say yes, but practically I'd say don't bother. (Not much flipping help am I? )
It could all get argued to the hills but I happily use one without a balun, many others have too and many Hams run 70cm versions without them either. I do have a dual bander VHF/UHF dipole and that has a simple air choke but that's about it.
If you're trying to squeeze every last 'performance' morsel out, then use one. If you're just 'playing' forget it.
(If you're going for every last performance morsel you'll need a UHF VNA/Antenna Analyser anyway )
There you go.....now you're a 'guru'
All the best, Victor
Thanks for your thoughts Victor i now feel honoured with my new guru status
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5803 Times Thanked : 352 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: 446 Dipole Balun Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:50 am
Ha! Ha! You're more than welcome John.
Knowledge is only useful when it's shared and now you too can share some
All the best, Victor
morris likes this post
stephen Gunrunner Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT526/MR021/M6XXX. Posts : 276 Times Thanked : 10 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : wooler north northumberland or some were near it Equipment Used : mobile 4000hp base A99 radio base magnum257hp mobile magnum 257 standed power Age : 67
If you have got dimensions close and SWR is pretty good, I wouldnt bother. Power is very low on that band. you will only see a tiny amount coming back which wont affect anything. Andy 591/P
morris Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-11111 Posts : 138 Times Thanked : 5 Join date : 2019-07-26 QTH or Location : Kent
If you have got dimensions close and SWR is pretty good, I wouldnt bother. Power is very low on that band. you will only see a tiny amount coming back which wont affect anything. Andy 591/P
Thanks Andy, i`ll be using a CRT space U,which i think has a 10watt output,coupled to 20 meters of rg213 coax, i think i`ll be lucky to see 5 watts radiated power if i`m lucky?
Today at 9:45 pm by John H
Subject: 446 Dipole Balun 
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