12:1 Baluns/Ununs

Antenna Switch RFI Solutions

Coax antenna switches generally only switch the center conductor of the coax and all the coax braids remain connected in parallel summing the common mode noise off ALL coax lines onto the coax selected - this means you may be picking up common mode noise from coax lines that are not even connected to the coax antenna selected. The only practuical solution is to isolate the coax braids from each other BEFORE they connect to the antenna switch as shown in the picture for a simple 2 position antenna switch.

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12:1 Baluns are useful between 600-650 ohm balanced loads the impedance at the  end of the feed line is 600 ohms (1/2 wavelength feed line), or high impedance feeds for rhombic,  T2FD and traveling wave antennas.

12:1 Ununs are useful between coax and long wires with a load impedance near 600 ohms like a beverage antenna.  Shortwave listener antennas also can benefit with the 12:1 unun and it may provide a better match than 9:1 ununs – this means quieter noise levels and stronger signals so you can hear distance stations easier.