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Rob,
If you are going to use a balun, then the place in that extension cord thingy is between the coax feed line and the 'plug' connections at the center of the dipole. I just don't see any great need for a balun. The only purpose for a balun is to minimize any reactions from going from an unbalanced feed line to a balanced antenna. Since about the only thing affected by this balanced/unbalanced condition at HF and with an only 'semi-directional' antenna is the symmetry of the radiation pattern, and since everything else around that antenna is going to affect the symmetry of the radiation pattern anyway, what's the point? A balun can reduce any common mode currents on the feed line, but so can a simple choke. I typically have more unused feed line to wind that choke than I have spare baluns laying around. Just seems easier/cheaper and one less 'point of failure' to worry/wonder about when it isn't absolutely necessary to begin with.
Baluns do have their uses. In the case of most HF antennas that 'use' just isn't there, or just not something to worry about. You don't have to balance it, just 'choke' it.
- 'Doc

(all puns intended)

<blockquote data-quote="W5LZ" data-source="post: 126829" data-attributes="member: 129">Rob,If you are going to use a balun, then the place in that extension cord thingy is between the coax feed line and the &#039;plug&#039; connections at the center of the dipole.&nbsp; I just don&#039;t see any great need for a balun.&nbsp; The only purpose for a balun is to minimize any reactions from going from an unbalanced feed line to a balanced antenna.&nbsp; Since about the only thing affected by this balanced/unbalanced condition at HF and with an only &#039;semi-directional&#039; antenna is the symmetry of the radiation pattern, and since everything else around that antenna is going to affect the symmetry of the radiation pattern anyway, what&#039;s the point?&nbsp; A balun can reduce any common mode currents on the feed line, but so can a simple choke.&nbsp; I typically have more unused feed line to wind that choke than I have spare baluns laying around.&nbsp; Just seems easier/cheaper and one less &#039;point of failure&#039; to worry/wonder about when it isn&#039;t absolutely necessary to begin with.Baluns do have their uses.&nbsp; In the case of most HF antennas that &#039;use&#039; just isn&#039;t there, or just not something to worry about.&nbsp; You don&#039;t have to balance it, just &#039;choke&#039; it.&nbsp;- &#039;Doc(all puns intended)</blockquote>

[QUOTE="W5LZ, post: 126829, member: 129"] Rob, If you are going to use a balun, then the place in that extension cord thingy is between the coax feed line and the 'plug' connections at the center of the dipole. I just don't see any great need for a balun. The only purpose for a balun is to minimize any reactions from going from an unbalanced feed line to a balanced antenna. Since about the only thing affected by this balanced/unbalanced condition at HF and with an only 'semi-directional' antenna is the symmetry of the radiation pattern, and since everything else around that antenna is going to affect the symmetry of the radiation pattern anyway, what's the point? A balun can reduce any common mode currents on the feed line, but so can a simple choke. I typically have more unused feed line to wind that choke than I have spare baluns laying around. Just seems easier/cheaper and one less 'point of failure' to worry/wonder about when it isn't absolutely necessary to begin with. Baluns do have their uses. In the case of most HF antennas that 'use' just isn't there, or just not something to worry about. You don't have to balance it, just 'choke' it. - 'Doc (all puns intended) [/QUOTE]

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