A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

On 7 ene, 09:27, Gregg wrote:
A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

Hello Gregg,

Can you see the turns? If so, can you make a link to a picture and/or
figure out how the windings are connected. There are many
arrangements, so it is difficult to give you advise without knowing
what you have.

When you have access to some measurement equipment, you could measure
it. You can use the voltage transformation ratio or use a source with
VSWR indicator and adjust the load to lowest reading.

You might search on "balun" with "guanella" this will show many useful
links that will help you to do the determination based on visual
inspection.

Best regards,


Wim
PA3DJS
www.tetech.nl
without abc the email address is OK.

On Jan 7, 3:43*am, Wimpie wrote:
On 7 ene, 09:27, Gregg wrote:

A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

Hello Gregg,

Can you see the turns? If so, can you make a link to a picture and/or
figure out how the windings are connected. There are many
arrangements, so it is difficult to give you advise without knowing
what you have.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm almost embarrased to say this
because I think it is a balun. This is what it looks like
http://www.lowbander.com/sloper.html

I remember him telling me that one of the sides was "hot"....which
back then I didn't know what he meant....lol...but I do now, I just
don't know how to find out which side is hot.sigh




When you have access to some measurement equipment, you could measure
it. You can use the voltage transformation ratio or use a source with
VSWR indicator and adjust the load to lowest reading.

OK. I follow you but I don't.:-) You're talking to the challenged when
it comes to this.
I have one of those 'Digital Measuring Instruments' made by Escort. If
you could maybe either tell me exactly what side to touch or however
you do it....I'd really appreciate it.

I thought you would be able to tell me by me saying that he gave it to
me in "hopes that I would be TX off it"....apparently you can do that
with both the 4:1 and the 9:1??? I could have sworn thinking he said
it was a 4:1




You might search on "balun" with "guanella" this will show many useful
links that will help you to do the determination based on visual
inspection.

OK. Good deal. I never heard of the word "guanella" before - - but
I'll check it out and I'll check to see if you responded back and try
to figure it out. I don't plan on TX off it, but I'd sure like to use
it for some type of antenna like that link I provided for you.

Thanks a bunch for your help, it's appreciated. :-)

On 8 ene, 04:21, Gregg wrote:
On Jan 7, 3:43*am, Wimpie wrote:



On 7 ene, 09:27, Gregg wrote:

A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

Hello Gregg,

Can you see the turns? If so, can you make a link to a picture and/or
figure out how the windings are connected. There are many
arrangements, so it is difficult to give you advise without knowing
what you have.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm almost embarrased to say this
because I think it is a balun. This is what it looks likehttp://www.lowbander.com/sloper.html

I remember him telling me that one of the sides was "hot"....which
back then I didn't know what he meant....lol...but I do now, I just
don't know how to find out which side is hot.sigh



When you have access to some measurement equipment, you could measure
it. You can use the voltage transformation ratio or use a source with
VSWR indicator and adjust the load to lowest reading.

OK. I follow you but I don't.:-) You're talking to the challenged when
it comes to this.
I have one of those 'Digital Measuring Instruments' made by Escort. If
you could maybe either tell me exactly what side to touch or however
you do it....I'd really appreciate it.

I thought you would be able to tell me by me saying that he gave it to
me in "hopes that I would be TX off it"....apparently you can do that
with both the 4:1 and the 9:1??? I could have sworn thinking he said
it was a 4:1



You might search on "balun" with "guanella" this will show many useful
links that will help you to do the determination based on visual
inspection.

OK. Good deal. I never heard of the word "guanella" before - - but
I'll check it out and I'll check to see if you responded back and try
to figure it out. I don't plan on TX off it, but I'd sure like to use
it for some type of antenna like that link I provided for you.

Thanks a bunch for your help, it's appreciated. :-)

Hello Gregg,

When the previous owner says "it has a hot side" it is very likely not
a balun, but an (auto) transformer for an off-center fed antenna (like
FD4) or for providing easier match in combination with an antenna
tuner. Many people call such a transformer a balun, but it isn’t in
most cases.

You can figure out some things yourself. Connect the coaxial side to
the external antenna input (for portable SW receivers, mostly via a
3.5mm audio plug). Tune to a known relatively strong station that you
can weakly hear when not touching the transformer. Touch one of the
secondary terminals. The terminal that gives the strongest reception
(signal strength) when touched is the hot side of an autotransformer
type of unit.

When there is no electrical connection between the coaxial side and
terminals, it is not an autotransformer. Then you need to connect one
of the terminals to a ground structure (or just for testing, to the
braid of the coaxial cable that runs to your receiver).

When there is virtually no difference in signal strength between
terminals, and there is electrical connection between coaxial side and
terminals, It is a balun, but probably without common mode
suppression.

When it is for reception on HF only, the difference between 1:4 or 1:9
is not that much (probably negligible). To fully know the device
without measuring instruments, try to dismantle it and provide us with
the winding details and/or picture.

Regarding the link you provided, it is probably written by a good
salesman.

Best regards,

Wim
PA3DJS
www.tetech.nl
the email address is OK, but remove abc first.

On Jan 8, 2:40*am, Wimpie wrote:
On 8 ene, 04:21, Gregg wrote:





On Jan 7, 3:43*am, Wimpie wrote:

On 7 ene, 09:27, Gregg wrote:

A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

Hello Gregg,

Can you see the turns? If so, can you make a link to a picture and/or
figure out how the windings are connected. There are many
arrangements, so it is difficult to give you advise without knowing
what you have.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm almost embarrased to say this
because I think it is a balun. This is what it looks likehttp://www.lowbander.com/sloper.html

I remember him telling me that one of the sides was "hot"....which
back then I didn't know what he meant....lol...but I do now, I just
don't know how to find out which side is hot.sigh

When you have access to some measurement equipment, you could measure
it. You can use the voltage transformation ratio or use a source with
VSWR indicator and adjust the load to lowest reading.

OK. I follow you but I don't.:-) You're talking to the challenged when
it comes to this.
I have one of those 'Digital Measuring Instruments' made by Escort. If
you could maybe either tell me exactly what side to touch or however
you do it....I'd really appreciate it.

I thought you would be able to tell me by me saying that he gave it to
me in "hopes that I would be TX off it"....apparently you can do that
with both the 4:1 and the 9:1??? I could have sworn thinking he said
it was a 4:1

You might search on "balun" with "guanella" this will show many useful
links that will help you to do the determination based on visual
inspection.

OK. Good deal. I never heard of the word "guanella" before - - but
I'll check it out and I'll check to see if you responded back and try
to figure it out. I don't plan on TX off it, but I'd sure like to use
it for some type of antenna like that link I provided for you.

Thanks a bunch for your help, it's appreciated. :-)

Hello Gregg,

When the previous owner says "it has a hot side" it is very likely not
a balun, but an (auto) transformer for an off-center fed antenna (like
FD4) or for providing easier match in combination with an antenna
tuner. Many people call such a transformer a balun, but it isn’t in
most cases.

You can figure out some things yourself. Connect the coaxial side to
the external antenna input (for portable SW receivers, mostly via a
3.5mm audio plug). Tune to a known relatively strong station that you
can weakly hear when not touching the transformer. Touch one of the
secondary terminals. The terminal that gives the strongest reception
(signal strength) when touched is the hot side of an autotransformer
type of unit.

When there is no electrical connection between the coaxial side and
terminals, it is not an autotransformer. Then you need to connect one
of the terminals to a ground structure (or just for testing, to the
braid of the coaxial cable that runs to your receiver).

When there is virtually no difference in signal strength between
terminals, and there is electrical connection between coaxial side and
terminals, It is a balun, but probably without common mode
suppression.

When it is for reception on HF only, the difference between 1:4 or 1:9
is not that much (probably negligible). To fully know the device
without measuring instruments, try to dismantle it and provide us with
the winding details and/or picture.

Regarding the link you provided, it is probably written by a good
salesman.

- Show quoted text -

Ha in reference to the link that "was written by a good salesman."
Yeah that is Mike, FWIW it wasn't from him that I obtained
whatever the heck it is that I got. But it does look 'exactly' like
that piece and a couple others on his same page. I pasted your
response and I'll do what you said later today or tomorrow with the
exception of opening it up, it looks and feels that it's all one
piece, I know it could be opened - but if I can't figure it out by
what you said - short of opening it - then I'll just leave it alone.

But if I'm just using it just for another receiving antenna of some
sorts - - in the long run does it really matter if it's a balun or a
transformer? I promise that will be my last question on this. :-)
Thanks again.

On 8 ene, 12:20, Gregg wrote:
On Jan 8, 2:40*am, Wimpie wrote:



On 8 ene, 04:21, Gregg wrote:

On Jan 7, 3:43*am, Wimpie wrote:

On 7 ene, 09:27, Gregg wrote:

A HAM friend of mine gave me a balun nine to ten years ago. I just
don't remember which one it was. I remember him saying that he was
giving me that particular balun in thinking that I would get my ticket
and eventually be transmitting on it.

I'm thinking it is a 4:1
Any help please. :-)

Hello Gregg,

Can you see the turns? If so, can you make a link to a picture and/or
figure out how the windings are connected. There are many
arrangements, so it is difficult to give you advise without knowing
what you have.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm almost embarrased to say this
because I think it is a balun. This is what it looks likehttp://www.lowbander.com/sloper.html

I remember him telling me that one of the sides was "hot"....which
back then I didn't know what he meant....lol...but I do now, I just
don't know how to find out which side is hot.sigh

When you have access to some measurement equipment, you could measure
it. You can use the voltage transformation ratio or use a source with
VSWR indicator and adjust the load to lowest reading.

OK. I follow you but I don't.:-) You're talking to the challenged when
it comes to this.
I have one of those 'Digital Measuring Instruments' made by Escort. If
you could maybe either tell me exactly what side to touch or however
you do it....I'd really appreciate it.

I thought you would be able to tell me by me saying that he gave it to
me in "hopes that I would be TX off it"....apparently you can do that
with both the 4:1 and the 9:1??? I could have sworn thinking he said
it was a 4:1

You might search on "balun" with "guanella" this will show many useful
links that will help you to do the determination based on visual
inspection.

OK. Good deal. I never heard of the word "guanella" before - - but
I'll check it out and I'll check to see if you responded back and try
to figure it out. I don't plan on TX off it, but I'd sure like to use
it for some type of antenna like that link I provided for you.

Thanks a bunch for your help, it's appreciated. :-)

Hello Gregg,

When the previous owner says "it has a hot side" it is very likely not
a balun, but an (auto) transformer for an off-center fed antenna (like
FD4) or for providing easier match in combination with an antenna
tuner. Many people call such a transformer a balun, but it isn’t in
most cases.

You can figure out some things yourself. Connect the coaxial side to
the external antenna input (for portable SW receivers, mostly via a
3.5mm audio plug). Tune to a known relatively strong station that you
can weakly hear when not touching the transformer. Touch one of the
secondary terminals. The terminal that gives the strongest reception
(signal strength) when touched is the hot side of an autotransformer
type of unit.

When there is no electrical connection between the coaxial side and
terminals, it is not an autotransformer. Then you need to connect one
of the terminals to a ground structure (or just for testing, to the
braid of the coaxial cable that runs to your receiver).

When there is virtually no difference in signal strength between
terminals, and there is electrical connection between coaxial side and
terminals, It is a balun, but probably without common mode
suppression.

When it is for reception on HF only, the difference between 1:4 or 1:9
is not that much (probably negligible). To fully know the device
without measuring instruments, try to dismantle it and provide us with
the winding details and/or picture.

Regarding the link you provided, it is probably written by a good
salesman.

- Show quoted text -

Ha in reference to the link that "was written by a good salesman."
Yeah that is Mike, FWIW it wasn't from him that I obtained
whatever the heck it is that I got. But it does look 'exactly' like
that piece and a couple others on his same page. I pasted your
response and I'll do what you said later today or tomorrow with the
exception of opening it up, it looks and feels that it's all one
piece, I know it could be opened - but if I can't figure it out by
what you said - short of opening it - then I'll just leave it alone.

But if I'm just using it *just for another receiving antenna of some
sorts - - in the long run does it really matter if it's a balun or a
transformer? I promise that will be my last question on this. :-)
Thanks again.

Hello Gregg,

When you have an outdoor piece of wire and a ground rod (or use a
fence as ground), you have an unbalanced antenna.

Just connect the center conductor of the coaxial cable to the antenna
wire and the braid to your ground provision. Do not put long wire
between the braid and your ground provision.

At low frequency, the length of the wire antenna can be very short
with respect to wavelength, hence showing a high impedance. Adding a
1:4 or 1:9 transformer will result in more signal to your receiver.
Note that more signal is not equal to better reception. When the noise
from the antenne without transformer exceeds the receivers's noise,
adding the transformer (to get mor signal) doesn't increase S/N
ratio.

When you have a symmetrical antenna (for example dipole of 10m (2*5m),
best is to use a real balun. It may reduce interference from domestic
equipment that couples to the coaxial cable part that runs close to
equipment in your house. also here a 1:4 or 1:9 balun will extract
more signal from the antenna (at low HF).

When you need further information, don't hesitate to post again.

Best regards,

Wim
PA3DJS
www.tetech.nl