[R-390] Balanced Antenna Input

[DJED1 at aol.com]

Naaa- doesn't really make much difference.  The balanced input was  intended 
for connection to the rhombic arrays typically used in fixed  service.  They 
went out of fashion in the 70's. Since then, most equipment  has been designed 
for unbalanced 50 ohms and, in fact, much of the military  equipment (DF 
arrays, multicouplers, etc) used with the R-390s were unbalanced  50 ohms.  Some 
list members have tested baluns and found the difference in  signal level to be 
about 1 dB. You might get a little less noise pickup  with a balanced feed and 
a dipole.  And personally, if I had the land and  money for a rhombic farm I 
would do it, balanced feeds and all.  But alas,  I have to live with my small 
dipole and unbalanced feedline.    Here in suburbia I have external noise 
which is typically 20 to 40 dB above  receiver noise, so I don't worry about 1-2 
dB.
Ed