"dbc254" wrote in message
...
Everyone makes fun of newbies buying ready-built dipoles on eBay, but
nobody can direct you to where to buy baluns? Searched hi and lo
online, and what I found, was more expensive than buying a ready-made
dipole! I'd like to buy a balun, and attach my own cut-to-length
wire, but can't find cheap baluns ANYWHERE.

Where are you Elmers buying your baluns?

you have coax? split one end, connect center conductor to one wire, shield
to the other. wind a bunch of turns (there is a web site somewhere with
numbers) around a piece of pvc pipe, and voila, instant balun. you want to
pay for off the shelf stuff, expect to pay for the ferrites that can handle
1500w all the way down to 160m, plus construction, packaging, shipping, and
marketting... that stuff is more expensive than the rest of the antenna.

want to be even cheaper? use twin lead, connect it directly to the wire and
run it down to a tuner that includes a balun... do it all in one place with
less loss.