On 28 mar, 15:54, "vangellis" wrote:
Hi.
I'm new to shortwave radio so please bear with me.
I have a Target HF3 receiver (amongst others) that I like to listen to
the Radio Amatuers on.
My antenna at the moment for this radio is a simple 65foot longwire,
that is connected to 50ohm cb coax cable, I have a 50ohm balun in line
and the antenna wire is connected to the one end (the one with a
wingnut on) and the coax is connected via a pl259 plug. I have soldered
a sturdy earth wire on the outer shell of the pl259 and rin it to
ground, that is I have soldered it to the cold water mains input pipe.
Now I was looking at the handbook that came with the HF3 and it states
that the antenna impendance is 75ohm's as it is a simple phono plug on
the back of the radio.
I was wondering if I would get better reception if I took the balun out
altogether and replaced the 50ohm cb coax with tv coax at 75ohm's.
Does anyone have any tips/advise please
thanks
bob

Hello Bob,

For HF, changing to 75 Ohms will not give noticeable improvement.

It is important to also connect the braid to the 3.5mm plug (not to
the center conductor but to the shaft). Grounding the braid outside
your house is OK. It reduces pick-up of interference from other house
hold equipment and (electronic) lighting gear.

I don't know your balun, when it has just one input for the long wire
and a coaxial connection; it is probably just an impedance transformer
(nothing wrong with that).

Make sure that you run your long wire away from sources of
interference.

I checked http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver-akd.htm for a review
(Radio Netherlands stopped the receiver reviews). With a 65-foot long
wire, you may experience bad reception because of intermodulation
products (kind of distortion/noise, etc caused by strong transmitters
at other frequencies). Try the attenuator switch on the back of the
receiver, this may give improvement. Best is to let somebody listen
to the receiver that has experience with these types of distortion.

Best regards,

Wim
PA3DJS
www.tetech.nl
remove abc from the mail address.

Hi
Thank's for your help guys, I appreciate it.
I thought it was a balun! but I took a look at it just now and its a LMZ-50
10:1
50 ohm's to Hi-Z Antenna
I bought it from here about a year ago
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50.html

cheers
vangellis

This link shows how I have "grounded" the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

In message , vangellis
writes
This link shows how I have "grounded" the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

It's interesting that they have one version which is described as a 10:1
impedance matching voltage transformer, for 50 ohm coax, and the other
described as a 9:1 voltage balun transformer, for 75 ohm coax. It could
be that they are essentially the same inside (why would they want to
make two different types?), but with different connectors. Neither are
actually acting as baluns (although they be using balun transformers
inside the can).

Some time ago, there was report published of tests which compared the
received signals levels with - and without - this type of transformer.
From memory, it showed that, on most frequencies, there was a very
noticeable increase of signal level into the receiver. Only on a
minority of frequencies was there some (acceptable) reduction of level.
I've had a quick Google, but haven't yet found this report.
--
Ian

On Mar 28, 1:16*pm, Ian Jackson
wrote:
In message , vangellis
writesThis link shows how I have "grounded" the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

It's interesting that they have one version which is described as a 10:1
impedance matching voltage transformer, for 50 ohm coax, and the other
described as a 9:1 voltage balun transformer, for 75 ohm coax. It could
be that they are essentially the same inside (why would they want to
make two different types?), but with different connectors. Neither are
actually acting as baluns (although they be using balun transformers
inside the can).

- Some time ago, there was report published of tests
- which compared the received signals levels with
- and without - this type of transformer.
- *From memory, it showed that, on most frequencies,
- there was a very noticeable increase of signal level
- into the receiver. Only on a minority of frequencies was
- there some (acceptable) reduction of level.
- I've had a quick Google, but haven't yet found this report.
- --
- Ian

IAN,

Read this Post : SWL Longwire + Low Noise Antenna
Connection + Grounding Is Key To Good Reception
Three Messages to Read -by- John Doty

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...bc6a2bf8acc12d

Follow the Links/URLs provided in the Message.

On Mar 28, 12:03*pm, "vangellis" wrote:
Subject-Line was : balun question?
-
- Hi
- Thank's for your help guys, I appreciate it.
- I thought it was a balun!
- but I took a look at it just now and its a LMZ-50
- 10:1 50 ohm's to Hi-Z Antenna
- I bought it from here about a year ago
- http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50.html
-
- cheers
- vangellis

Vangellis,

That is "Jason Erickson" [KG7RO] -aka- RF Junkie's
website about the "QRP" Matching Transformers that
he made back at the time.
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/contact.html
Notice - Business Closed Dec 2006
"This Site is for Information Purposes Only."

RF JUNKIEs' APPLICATION NOTES :
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/app-notes.html
How to connect wires to "QB Series" Baluns and Ununs?
Weather-Proofing "QB Series" Baluns and Ununs
SWLZ Application Setup for the Shortwave Listener (SWL)
QB-9E Application Setup for Longwire (SWL and QRP)
QB-10I Application Setup for the Shortwave Listener (SWL)
LMZ-75 Application Setup for Longwire (SWL)
LMZ-50 Application Setup for Longwire (SWL and QRP

QUESTION - WHICH BALUN DO I NEED ?
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/balun-choice.html

ANTENNA LINK / URLs :
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/antennas.html
Antenna Basics
The Dipole Antenna
Dipole Calculator
Wire Antennas - Hard Core DX
Rhombic Antenna
G5RV Antenna
Flag / Pennant Antenna Info
K9AY Loop Antenna
Wire Loop Antenna
Windom Antenna
Beverage Antenna

BANDPLANS - THE SHORTWAVE RADIO FREQUENCIES :
http://www.radios4you.com/shortwave-listening.html

Shortwave Listener (SWL) : Longwire / Random Wire :
SWL Antenna Matchers
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LM.html

Coax Information : Coaxial Cable Specifications
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/ele...coax_chart.htm

Got HF Noise Problems ? - Possible Sources Listed Here
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/SW-noise.html
List of Sources of Shortwave (HF) Noise Problems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/faq.html

VIA- eHam Reviews for KG7RO Baluns
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4807

REF MSG - RF Junkie 'introduces' new SWLZ Balun
using "F" Connector for use with RG6 Coax Cable
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b90bced20caa9d
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...075493a6e95896
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...51bcd09158b2a9


IMHO - A Great WebSite - iane ~ RHF

On Mar 28, 12:06*pm, "vangellis" wrote:
Subject-Line was : balun question?
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...42f1fea85e6cf1
-
- This link shows how I have "grounded" the setup
- http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF
-
- vangellis
-
Vangellis,

The "Correct Way" to Install a Longwire Antenna and Balun
by Wellbrook - Using the Far-End Feed-Point Concept
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw.../message/11773

The "Correct Way" to Install a Longwire Antenna and Balun
by Wellbrook = http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/longwire.html
We have all most likely done it the wrong way more than once . . .

A key-point that Wellbrook makes is the Five Metre
"Noise Zone" that exists around a House and getting
the Wire Antenna Element away {out} from this area.
http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/longwire.html
Note - The above "Correct Way" installation will ensure
that the Wire Antenna Element is 'outside' the local
Noise Zone which extends up to Five Metres (16 Feet)
around the House. Also the noise pickup is lower with
the feeder close to the ground -or- buried under the
ground a few inches.
-Why- The Antenna and the Balun are within the Local
Noise Zone RFI & EMF {Interference Area} that surrounds
most buildings up to distance of Five Metres (16 Feet).

Read - WHY - The Far-End-Fed Shortwave Listener's
(SWLs) Inverted "L" Antenna
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...cfc6b9cb2447c0


all i ask for is five metres beyond the noise - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}

In message
, RHF
writes
On Mar 28, 1:16*pm, Ian Jackson
wrote:
In message , vangellis
writesThis link shows how I have "grounded"
the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

It's interesting that they have one version which is described as a 10:1
impedance matching voltage transformer, for 50 ohm coax, and the other
described as a 9:1 voltage balun transformer, for 75 ohm coax. It could
be that they are essentially the same inside (why would they want to
make two different types?), but with different connectors. Neither are
actually acting as baluns (although they be using balun transformers
inside the can).

- Some time ago, there was report published of tests
- which compared the received signals levels with
- and without - this type of transformer.
- *From memory, it showed that, on most frequencies,
- there was a very noticeable increase of signal level
- into the receiver. Only on a minority of frequencies was
- there some (acceptable) reduction of level.
- I've had a quick Google, but haven't yet found this report.
- --
- Ian

IAN,

Read this Post : SWL Longwire + Low Noise Antenna
Connection + Grounding Is Key To Good Reception
Three Messages to Read -by- John Doty

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...bc6a2bf8acc12d

Follow the Links/URLs provided in the Message.
.
~ RHF
.

Thanks. There's certainly a lot of good reading there, and in the links
in your other posts today. The info particularly in

http://web.archive.org/web/200306090...wa/badx/antenn
as/SWL_longwire.html

is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about.

However, there's one thing which I note (just a quick look) on several
of the websites, and that is the transformer is repeatedly referred to
as a 'balun'. It isn't. I suspect that it's because they are using the
same transformer as the type used in a balun but, in this application, a
balun it ain't!
--
Ian

Ian Jackson wrote:

In message
, RHF
writes
On Mar 28, 1:16 pm, Ian Jackson
wrote:
In message , vangellis
writesThis link shows how I have "grounded"
the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

It's interesting that they have one version which is described as a 10:1
impedance matching voltage transformer, for 50 ohm coax, and the other
described as a 9:1 voltage balun transformer, for 75 ohm coax. It could
be that they are essentially the same inside (why would they want to
make two different types?), but with different connectors. Neither are
actually acting as baluns (although they be using balun transformers
inside the can).

- Some time ago, there was report published of tests
- which compared the received signals levels with
- and without - this type of transformer.
- From memory, it showed that, on most frequencies,
- there was a very noticeable increase of signal level
- into the receiver. Only on a minority of frequencies was
- there some (acceptable) reduction of level.
- I've had a quick Google, but haven't yet found this report.
- --
- Ian

IAN,

Read this Post : SWL Longwire + Low Noise Antenna
Connection + Grounding Is Key To Good Reception
Three Messages to Read -by- John Doty

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...bc6a2bf8acc12d

Follow the Links/URLs provided in the Message.
.
~ RHF
.

Thanks. There's certainly a lot of good reading there, and in the links
in your other posts today. The info particularly in

http://web.archive.org/web/200306090...wa/badx/antenn
as/SWL_longwire.html

is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about.

However, there's one thing which I note (just a quick look) on several
of the websites, and that is the transformer is repeatedly referred to
as a 'balun'. It isn't. I suspect that it's because they are using the
same transformer as the type used in a balun but, in this application, a
balun it ain't!

transformer/balun. The only ones who care are anal folk like 'Eduardo'.

dxAce wrote:

Ian Jackson wrote:

In message
, RHF
writes
On Mar 28, 1:16 pm, Ian Jackson
wrote:
In message , vangellis
writesThis link shows how I have "grounded"
the setup
http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LMZ-50-Ground.GIF

vangellis

It's interesting that they have one version which is described as a 10:1
impedance matching voltage transformer, for 50 ohm coax, and the other
described as a 9:1 voltage balun transformer, for 75 ohm coax. It could
be that they are essentially the same inside (why would they want to
make two different types?), but with different connectors. Neither are
actually acting as baluns (although they be using balun transformers
inside the can).

- Some time ago, there was report published of tests
- which compared the received signals levels with
- and without - this type of transformer.
- From memory, it showed that, on most frequencies,
- there was a very noticeable increase of signal level
- into the receiver. Only on a minority of frequencies was
- there some (acceptable) reduction of level.
- I've had a quick Google, but haven't yet found this report.
- --
- Ian

IAN,

Read this Post : SWL Longwire + Low Noise Antenna
Connection + Grounding Is Key To Good Reception
Three Messages to Read -by- John Doty

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...bc6a2bf8acc12d

Follow the Links/URLs provided in the Message.
.
~ RHF
.

Thanks. There's certainly a lot of good reading there, and in the links
in your other posts today. The info particularly in

http://web.archive.org/web/200306090...wa/badx/antenn
as/SWL_longwire.html

is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about.

However, there's one thing which I note (just a quick look) on several
of the websites, and that is the transformer is repeatedly referred to
as a 'balun'. It isn't. I suspect that it's because they are using the
same transformer as the type used in a balun but, in this application, a
balun it ain't!

transformer/balun. The only ones who care are anal folk like 'Eduardo'.

And, as always, don't do business with the Huntington Investment Company.