Palomar Engineers Magnetic long wire antenna matche has been redesigned for shortwave listeners who listen to a broad frequency range from VLF to HF and others needing to match a long wire antenna to 50/75 ohm coax feed line cable.
Specifications: Frequency: 100 KHz – 30 MHz. Input: 50/75 ohms for coaxial cable. Output: High impedance. Connector: SO-239 (for cable), wingnut/solder lug wire lead (for antenna). Mounting: Stainless steel eyebolt. Size: 2.5” diameter. Case: White PVC sealed weatherproof. External ground bolt with wing nut for external counterpoise or separate ground.
The long wire antenna often has a high impedance in the 500-1000 ohm range and the MLB-2 transforms this high impedance close to efficiently couple the received signal to the receiver. A long wire antenna with a matching balun such as the MLB-2 often has a 12 db (2 “S” units) better signal than a long wire without a matching balun.
Typical Installation Diagram
MLB-1/MLB-2 Typical installation diagram
For best results we recommend that the coax feed line be at least 1/4 wavelength on the lowest operating frequency since the coax braid is used as a counterpoise if you don’t use the external counterpoise terminal on the matching unit. We also recommend a feed line choke at the end of the coax feed line near the radio to prevent RFI common mode current (from neighbor noise sources) from interfering with the radio – check out the info below on feed line chokes.
Also available as a complete ready to hang SWL antenna. (see related products).
We specify impedance ratios as an output to input ratio where the output (or load) is given first and the input is given second (e.g. 100:50 (2:1) would mean a 100 ohm output and a 50 ohm input; a 25:50 (1:2) would mean a 25 ohm load and a 50 ohm input). Most all products use a 50 ohm input unless otherwise specified.
We have products that are available as kits for the do-it-yourself (DIY) person or fully assembled and tested units for the “Plug & Play” crowd.
Our impedance transformers are available using two different topologies: Binocular cores or toroid cores with multiple turns for increased effectiveness and wide band frequency transformations. We utilize single and multiple core transformers using high order windings when needed to extend product performance.
We rate the power ratings as watts PEP (Peak Envelop Power) with standard duty cycles for various modes. To determine the PEP rating required for your needs, see: Choke & Transformer Power Ratings
This website page serves as a link page to the frequency ranges of our impedance transformers configured as either baluns or ununs. You can click on a picture to go to the specific page about the products described in the picture.