Simple Ham Radio Antennas

  All you need to know about designing and building a 4:1 Balun for your antenna system. In this video, Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) shows us the step-by-step method of building this useful antenna accessory. Most of the parts for this project can be found in a well-stocked junk box or  by ordering the parts from an online store. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5rLI8FpM9g. Here are some comments from Kevin (KB9RLW): I'm working on an antenna project and needed a 4:1 balun. Believe it or not, I've never built one before. Extremely easy to make. This is a link to my video on winding the common mode choke.     • Ham Radio - The back yard vertical pa...   This is the site of M0PZT who's design I followed. http://www.m0pzt.com/blog/4to1-curren... This is a link where you can purchase the cores I used. https://www.amazon.com/AEcreative-T13... This is a link to type 43 cores mentioned

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5rLI8FpM9g. If you're using a balanced feed line to energize your OCF (off-center fed) dipole, an EDZ (extended double zepp) antenna, or even a full-sized loop antenna, a 4:1 current balun is a necessary component to these popular HF antennas.  Used with an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"), the easily-made 4:1 balun keeps excessive SWR in check, cuts back on RFI, and keeps common mode currents off your feed line. In this video from Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW), we see how a couple of type 43 toroids, a common resistor, and some surplus wire pieces can be transformed into a useful, efficient 4:1 balun.  Kevin's explanations and demonstrations are clear, insightful, and easily understood. Make one of these baluns for your next HF antenna. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.