[Antennas] Ladder line and baluns

[Sandy and Kees Talen]

Terrific information on ladder line and how to build it.
I appreciate it ....brought up several points I was not 
aware of.

A really informative point brought up by Don, N8DE: 

"Remember ... you're operating with about a 9:1 
mismatch at the feedpoint .. thus, the feedline is 
PART OF THE ANTENNA."  "1.  MAY Reduce GAIN
2.  WILL allow undesired signal to reach the shack."
"....BUT, that feedline is part of the MISMATCHED 
antenna [similar to using a Zepp antenna .. fed at 
its midpoint on an EVEN multiple of the resonant 
frequency of the antenna .. the feedline will be part 
of the antenna]"

I assume I can fix that by adding a 9:1 balun at the 
antenna, and if I have to do that, might as well use
coax to go around the rotor. That is the first and best
reason to NOT tie the ladder line directly to the beam
....thanks, Don. 

Another question:  how much loss can you expect
across a 4:1 balun, say the typical small ones in an
antenna tuner ? I've always assumed it to be 10%+/-.
Why do most manufacturers assume a 4:1 is "good
enough" for matching 50 ohms to 450 ohms ?  I
replaced mine with a 9:1 balun (three cores which,
of course costs more ...that may be the answer). 
Loss effect of using three cores ? effect of core 
material selection or just use the powdered iron "red" 
ones from Amidon. Ferrite vs powdered iron in this
application ? Power handling ?

73s  Kees K5BCQ