Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

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Buick Mackane
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Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Buick Mackane »

I know its 1.1 but is it a voltage Balun or Current ? Going by photos I've seen online I'm thinking its a current Balun ?



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The man who cut the cable off his hoover and used it to make a choke balun. A good performing antenna beats a clean carpet :D
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Buick Mackane »

There is no DC short between the input or output terminals
The man who cut the cable off his hoover and used it to make a choke balun. A good performing antenna beats a clean carpet :D
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

Buick Mackane wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 13:17 There is no DC short between the input or output terminals
It's a choke of sorts then I'd say.

Loads of vids on YT on chokes and baluns, one of l recall is called 'myth busting chokes and baluns' which l found informative.
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Buick Mackane »

Transwarp wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 13:45
Buick Mackane wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 13:17 There is no DC short between the input or output terminals
It's a choke of sorts then I'd say.

Loads of vids on YT on chokes and baluns, one of l recall is called 'myth busting chokes and baluns' which l found informative.
Pretty sure its a current balun trans as a voltage balun would have a direct DC short between is input & output terminals
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

There's a lot of differing views on baluns and chokes, open, shorted, low resistance etc. Good luck fella.
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

Different ferrit makeup 'mix' for ithe intended frequency range use, coated wire to prevent arcing, good winding technique, low power saturation, minimum insertion loss, doesn't affect swr much when placed in-line, all the qualities of a good current balun slash choke.

A nano vna are good for checking baluns / chokes out 👍

If l get some time to dig out I'll post a couple of pictures of a couple of baluns with my VNA connected to each.
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Buick Mackane »

Well i emailed the manufacturer if anybody should know what it is they certainly should
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

Buick Mackane wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 14:39 Well i emailed the manufacturer if anybody should know what it is they certainly should
You would think so, but this is just me, l doubt what suppliers / manufacturers respond back with at times because it's been dependent on who within has responded - engineer / tech Vs a manager example.

Maybe another more experienced with member will jump in on this at some point for you.
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

Buick Mackane wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 12:39 I know its 1.1 but is it a voltage Balun or Current ? Going by photos I've seen online I'm thinking its a current Balun ?



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Judging from other simlar photos of it seems to be a current type balun. Apparently a ferrite rod with windings and how it's terminated on the input and output is a voltage balun.
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Buick Mackane »

The manufacturer got back to me and as suspected its a 1.1 Current Balun
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Re: Help needed to identify 1.1 Balun

Post by Transwarp »

Buick Mackane wrote: 16 Mar 2026, 16:33 The manufacturer got back to me and as suspected its a 1.1 Current Balun
Sorted then.

Your post has reminded me that l have a FT240 / mix 43 core ferrite somewhere to make a CM choke / 1:1 balun up with. l bought a couple of baluns a while back and one is incorrectly labelled 1:1 when it's actually a 4:1, and the other turned out to be a voltage balun.

Sometimes making up your own bits of stuff is better than trusting in ready made bought stuff.
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