[Elecraft] BL-2 Connection To An Unbalanced Wire Antenna

[David Woolley (E.L)]

Jack Regan wrote:

> Basically the question is to which two of the three output connections on
> the BL-2 do I connect a long wire antenna and its counterpoise(s) too? A and
> B, A and GND, B and GND or.... well you get the idea.

Any apparent benefit you get from using anything other than A and B will 
be false, as it will reflect matching the transmitter into the loss 
resistance of the balun, rather than the antenna.

Even using A and B, you risk a similar effect, especially if the antenna 
impedance is high.  Even though the 4:1 setting may be better for 
slightly high impedances, it is bad for very high impedances, because 
that configuration effectively puts a short across the receiver terminals.

The main purpose of a balun in this configuration would be to force the 
use of the counterpoise as the RF return path, rather than having the 
transceiver case, or your body, act as the counterpoise.

-- 
David Woolley
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