I built a 1:1 Choke Balun for my Doublet Antenna!

[@MikeN2MAK]

That looks like a pretty straightforward project I need to add to my to-do list. I really gotta give a doublet a try sometime too.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Mike, it was a pretty easy build. 👍

[@zero_G.0]

Dang the old zip tie in reverse trick 😢 looks neat Ape looking forward to the rest of this doublet project and how it performs on air! Thanks for sharing cheers

[@TheSmokinApe]

I was pissed about the zips 😡

[@Paddy_Roche]

Thanks for the video Mr. Ape, I feel a bit better about putting one together now. Great job my friend.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Paddy, good luck with the build 👍

[@benjaminon5bgo636]

Thanks for your video. Hope we will see another one testing it with your doublet. And that winding type provides the balanced side to the unbalanced (and vice versa) and choking a shield current if occured, in one piece.

[@benjaminon5bgo636]

Btw, Will be curious to see results with a ladder line in place of the dipole radiators directly connected to your balun. Strange…

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m hoping to get the antenna finished in a bout a week or two, stay tuned 👍

[@David-hm9ic]

The screws that you used are called socket head capscrews. In SAE sizes, a 4-40 screw fits the holes. I tried 6-32 flat head screws but they were too big to fit flush. I like to use flat head or oval head screws for a lower profile and clean appearance. Note that flat/oval is the shape of the head; not the type of screwdriver.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks David 👍

[@radiotory]

It seems a good set for DIY

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks

[@AdamSWL]

Love your videos Ape! Always enjoy a good Balun or Unun build!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Adam, glad you liked it 👍

[@75ohmHAM]

I build this exact choke for the skyloop

[@TheSmokinApe]

Well hawt damn!

[@Andy-up6li]

Great video like always Thanks for the time you take to show us how it's done🤪can you share where can we buy that type of box.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Andy, they are currently sold out of this size. They still from Amazon, maybe when they restock I can do a project box video. Thanks for watching it’s appreciated 👍

[@don_n5skt]

Nice video Ape. If you HAD to stick that torroid down, a bit of hot glue would hold it. I am about to go out and build another doublet for 80m this time and I am using 300 Ohm line

[@TheSmokinApe]

I supposed I could take it apart and re-zip it too but that sounds like a PITA. The core is more secure than I thought it would be so we will see what happens. Thanks for checking it out Don 👍

[@Siskiyous6]

I am still recommending a fan configuration, with 6 as a half wave dipole, or better yet a double extended zepp.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@Siskiyous6 I appreciate the recommendation LC. I think the first iteration of this antenna is to learn…. I’m gonna be all in on the twin lead come June!

[@bryanaho4872]

Thanks for the video... going to build two this weekend. Do you have a link to the stl for that 3D printed part you were zip tying the toroid to? I need to print two of them. Thank you again!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Bryan, @kk6usy Ham Radio Adventures (Chuck) is the keeper of that STL.

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Socket head cap screw.

[@TheSmokinApe]

👍

[@32_bits]

Usefull construction video. A question for using a 1:1 balun with ladder line, which is 300 or 450 ohms impeadance, should this not be a 4:1 or 9:1 to match to 50 ohm coax?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I cover the 1:1 balun choice in this video: Ape Answers 003: Baluns and UnUns kzbin.info/www/bejne/baHWnZJ6gpdraqs

[@subramanianr7206]

You can still use some hot plastic glue stick, silicone chauk or RTV sealant to hold the torroid winding onto the base plate. The interwinding capacitance might increase a little bit, but not to worry too much. De VU2RZA

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@toddhowell2299]

Nobody knows why, but it's impossible to squarely mount an SO-239 to a box.

[@robertmeyer4744]

The fix for that is to use the round SO-239 and a large ring terminal for ground . When done and tight a drop of blue loctite

[@TheSmokinApe]

Todd is correct 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

I like that idea Robert 👍

[@toddhowell2299]

@ Somehow nature will find a way for a round connector to be crooked. It's the curse of the SO-239.

[@toddhowell2299]

@ Somehow nature will find a way for a round connector to be crooked. It's the curse of the SO-239.

[@Swamp-Fox]

I think that toroid will be just fine without the zip ties. Your leads are short and it looks like it is floating in the box. Nice build Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s SF, it’s in there like packed sardines 🐟

[@youtubeaccount931]

Good vid thx. Is this the same baloon that some people use on a dipole? Is this voltage or current balun? Been trying to learn about this. Ive read some stuff where a balone can reduce noise on a dipole. Noise is my constant enemy

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yes, this is a current balun / choke that can be used on a dipole.

[@dan_in_sd]

in fact, i use the same exact build on a 3 band dipole. 10/12/15

[@TheSmokinApe]

@ hey Dan

[@dan_in_sd]

@@TheSmokinApe howdy Ape!!! :)

[@Scorpster]

Quiite similar to the hf-kits one I made and am using. With less winding skills tho :)

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, very similar 👍

[@Dazdigo]

Why not use Type-N or maybe TNC/BNC for the connector? I heard that they have less loss than UHF connectors.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I typically use UHF with most of my HF stuff 👍

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Ape, How did that Diablo spade bit work drilling the 5/8" hole? Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@TheSmokinApe]

I did a pilot hole first and this Diablo went right through.

[@ricks4468]

Yes, I’m still working on my zip tie Technition Certificate.

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s a hard one ☝️

[@w8lvradio]

That's a very clean build!👍 Sometimes , I wonder if the entire torrid should be encased in goop, like the whole enclosure filled to exclude water getting in there. But I'd guess that would make it a bit too heavy, right?73 DE W8LV BILL

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Bill 👍

[@zero_G.0]

Palomar use a foam fill inside there QRO 9:1 UnUn boxes

[@TheSmokinApe]

I don’t like that foam, core get hot and that foam traps heat 👍

[@w8lvradio]

@@TheSmokinApe that's quite an interesting design problem, it would be interesting to know how hot it actually gets. And of course you can't use a metal because you would distort and upset the field. So we need a material that will waterproof and and sink any potential heat away. Off the top of my head to find a material like that I think might be akin to searching for a unicorn, eh?🤣

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@w8lvradio the ole unicorn conundrum right?

[@JayN4GO]

😂 I cuss everytime I make one too

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@BenTrem42]

*_Balanced_*_ output?_ so, it's a choke! ;-) 73 p.s. not for certain, but I think they're "keyed" to stop them from dropping out of the lid.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, Balanced output like a Balun or a choke…. Some people call them Balun Chokes. Yes keyed, and yet they still fall out the lid… just not as often 👍

[@BenTrem42]

@@TheSmokinApe But yaa see that's the thing ... Balanced|UnBalanced ... BalUn 🙂 hunh ... so then ... odd to have those keyed, except for that. anyhow, good to see DIY! 73 --VE6IU

[@TheSmokinApe]

@ thanks Ben

[@MarcusPocus]

the problems i have with this type of wiring is with a 50 ohms non inductive load, the SWR go from near 1:1 at 1 MHz to 2:1 at 30 MHz.. with the mix #43 is similar.. it’s why now i use RG316 coax 4 turns each side crossed in the middle and my SWR stay below 1.2:1 from 1 to 30 MHz.. so i am not a fan of this type of Balun which give a poor performance..

[@dan_in_sd]

Not sure if my last comment made it but, 2:1 SWR seems pretty high @ 30MHz. Im not an expert, but in my 1:1 Balun build which is very similar to Ape's (43 mix , 12 bifilar turns each side, 16AWG PTFE wire) I got *1.437 :1 SWR* at the 29MHz point. This for me was very reasonable so I continued with my dipole construction using the balun i made. The result was an excellent performer on the 10/12/15 bands (multi-band fan dipole)

[@MarcusPocus]

@@dan_in_sd do it and check it with a nanoVNA, it’s the best way to confirm what you build..

[@youtubeaccount931]

Wing nuts +1

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right 👍

[@dan_in_sd]

@TheSmokingApe, nice video. i did a very similar 1:1 Balun build on my YT channel. Yours looks better. LOL ! Can you measure your build on a VNA and show folks what to look for. :thumbs_up:

[@TheSmokinApe]

I have a link in the description that shows how I measured it 👍

[@rayb228]

nothing about waterproofing the holes made ? good to admit mistakes, we all learn. Thank you

[@TheSmokinApe]

This is going to be a portable antenna so I don’t think it will be out in the rain but far point. Thanks for checking out the video 👍

[@johnnybigpotato2404]

Bro. This looks like nothing more than advertisement with little useful information. No schematic shown. No winding techniques shown. Just buy my stuff and ooohhh.. looky at me!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Johnny, I’m not selling these.

[@David-hm9ic]

Here's what I learned from the video: Box is 4"x4" or 100mm x 100mm (looked at the grid on the mat). Screw sizes were stated. Wire is 18 gauge Teflon/PTFE insulated. He said 18 strand but pretty sure he meant 18 gauge. It certainly looks like it's 18 gauge. Toroid is an FT-240-31 You can look at the winding and see how it's done but there are lots of videos on bifilar toroid winding. 2:40 He said 12 turns per side. That should be enough information for a successful build. All for free!

[@Sonicgott]

Scary how I was *just* searching how to do one of these a day ago, then THIS GEM shows up from your feed. Ape, you are freaking amazing. Thanks and 73 - KF0QNM

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked the video Sonic, thanks for watching 👍