2010-04-16 & 17: DX Plan on Bradshaw Trail

[xtatik]

The guys on 80M actually sounded like a bunch of old CB'ers.

So... would I wire a balun into the rig with the Alpha-Delta center piece or just not use the center piece? Can you point me to a schematic?

Unfortunately, many on 80 are precisely that. Not to say these old guys aren't good operators. Many of them are great operators that have forgotten more about making signals work than I'll ever know.
Just use the A/D center insulator as is. It will work fine...just not as well as a fully balanced dipole. As for a schematic.....Ollie, in ham radio there has always been that DIY, I can build it spirit........I admire that.................but a dipole balun?...........fugetaboutit! They're cheap and can be bought for far less than what it would cost to build one ...not to mention your time.

[OLLIE]

I wasn't going to try to make a balun... That's way beyond my capability. I meant where would I place it in line (i.e. before the coax hook up, one on each line off the center piece, etc.)?

[xtatik]

I wasn't going to try to make a balun... That's way beyond my capability. I meant where would I place it in line (i.e. before the coax hook up, one on each line off the center piece, etc.)?

In place of a center insulator. They have them pre-made, ready to rock.

http://www.radiowavz.com/html/balun_unun.html

The ones on the left. You'll want a 1:1 for standard 50ohm coax. It's rated for 1500w and they are stocked at HRO. I use them for all my dipoles...you'll see them on Field Day.