In message , John Smith
writes
On 9/12/2010 9:45 AM, lu6etj wrote:

...
Although this is a more important issue, I insist in my original
point, is it "licit" to call "balun" a device connected to two
unbalanced circuits (line and antenna)?, Is it Carolina windom a
balanced antenna?
Here most of hams tend to call balun any toroidal transformer, with TL
or traditional windings connected to any circuit! :)

What you say? Thank for your interest and answers. Best regards to you
and all friends.

Miguel LU6ETJ

Actually, balun = "balanced-to-unbalanced", and unun =
"unbalanced-to-unbalanced." I believe that is correct.

And, I am in agreement, I see isolation RF transformers, RF
auto-transformers and transmission-line-transformers and UNUNs' all
grouped together under "balun." It would be nice to have standardized
terminology and everyone is encouraged to use it ...

Other than that, the rest of your post is sure to fire debate, assuming
that everyone even recognizes the above ...


I think that the simple explanation why 'ununs' get misnamed as baluns'
is that, in their wound transformer form, they often look very similar.
It doesn't help that, depending on how it is wound and connected, one
transformer can sometimes be connected to serve either as a balun or an
unun - and, in many cases, also an impedance transformer.

As far as I'm concerned, while I've known the term 'balun' essentially
'for ever', I had never come across the newly-coined 'unun' until fairly
recently. It was probably simply known by its function, ie an 'RF
transformer'. I have to confess that I don't know why 'unun' has become
popular. It's a rather 'ugly' word, and is somewhat difficult to say
clearly. Maybe that's why they get mis-called 'baluns'!

There is absolutely no reason why there should be any real confusion
between a 'balun' and an 'unun' (other than carelessness, or ignorance
of their function). If you want to group them together, they should
probably come under a general heading of "RF Transformers, and RF
Matching and Other RF Interface Devices" (or maybe something even more
long-winded).
--
Ian