[HCARC] Baluns, Ununs, Gamma Match, Stubs

[Kerry Sandstrom]

Gary,

I don't use baluns.  I've used them twice.  Once on a 2-meter 16 element 
colinear antenna, which is a balanced antenna, I used a half-wavelength of 
75 Ohm coax to convert the 300 Ohm balanced to 75 Ohm unbalanced impedance. 
I also have a Hy-Gain 3-element 15 meter Yagi that uses a hairpin match and 
came with a 1:1 50 Ohm balun.

Other than at VHF and higher, I don't believe baluns are needed or even 
particularly useful.  The 4:1 baluns included in many antenna tuners are 
lossy and ineffective.  I have an antenna tuner that has one and I have 
never used the balun in the tuner.  There are numerous published 
descriptions of how to build a balun.  I don't see any point in repeating 
that, especially since I think they are worthless except at VHF and higher. 
Before about 1970, you seldom heard about baluns except for linear baluns 
used at VHF and UHF.  Like so many other things, they have become a 
essential part of HF stations.  The only thing they are essential for is 
separating hams from their money - personal opinion, of course.  And, as far 
as I'm concerned, Ununs are utter nonsense!

Those opinions should provoke a few responses!  Just because manufacturers 
make and sell stuff, doesn't mean they are required or even that they 
actually due something useful.  You should go back to the 50's and 60's and 
look at ham ststions then.  The accessories in those days were few and far 
between.  We still were able to work the world.

Kerry