IDRick

Unicore

Channel Master CM3075.

EscapeVelocity

Ditto

Ive also seen it listed as the CM 944444 or some such.

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Don_M

Hey, Rick!

The classic advice has been that Channel Master's baluns are typically the most reliable. Looking around, though, the photos all depict the same balun at suppliers' sites, and yet I see references to model numbers ranging from 0089, 0090, 3075 and 94444, among others, so it's tough to know exactly what you'll get given that they're probably all made in China now. Then of course there's this discussion of CM baluns over at AVS by a poster whose name you'll instantly recognize, AntAltMike, which concludes:
As for me, I've had good luck with the two Philips baluns I bought over at Lowe's, which appear to perform just as well as the Winegard balun I have. The Philips units' quality is apparently rather variable, though: Others have written in to say they're worse than garbage. So I guess it's get either a couple of CMs, or several "cheapies."

Piggie

I looked at as much data and testing on baluns as I could find. I found all the big names are in the same ball park, with probably CM having the best specs, but Winegard well in the same ball park, actually in the infield.

Then many articles, just like combiners and splitters, finds there is a variation that is within the difference of at least the top few models. So just buy a name brand.

But in the end I use CM baluns, except those included with Winegard antennas or such.

Why? I love the fact they are just wires. So many baluns fail where the wire goes into the spade to go under the nut or screw. It's the point of the highest mechanical stress, resulting in certain failure over time with the wire breaking right at the crimp on the spade.

So the CM doesn't have these. One top of that, if you play around and move them as I do, the wires are long enough if they do crystallize the metal to failure, you just strip them off and go again. You can't do this on other models, as the wires are must long enough (this also does reduce loss) but often the wires are stranded and about impossible to securely get again under a nut or screw.

Give me a CM with solid copper long leads.

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The more I understand, the less I know.

IDRick

Thanks guys!

EscapeVelocity

Yeah, I get mine from Summit Source.

What is really nice about the Channel Masters is that they have relatively thick gauge long solid wire leads. The Winegards have a twinlead looking version that is less versatile and much thinner wire.

The Channel Masters work well with the Tune-A-Tenna, as they can be mounted behind the mast and come off of the feedpoint at 90 degrees....dont even think about trying that with the Winegard (of which I have one).

The Channel Master 3075 outdoor baluns look a lot like the RMS outdoor balun which tested well in Salvati's late 70s book TV Antenna & Signal Distribution Systems.

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EscapeVelocity

I dont think the CMs use solid copper wires in the leads anymore, Piggie. If they did before. They are aluminum now.

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IDRick

Very thorough answer Don! Thanks! Hmmm, does a poster run out of thank you's? Appears I have... I found a source that offered 10 baluns for $5... cheapies, nah, I'll go with the CM's. Take care my friend!

IDRick

Great points Piggie! I'm tough on baluns with excessive mount/remove cycles when I do antenna comparisons. Your comment on the CM leads is a good selling point since that is where I have broken two baluns (by spade connector). My main test cable is fairly stiff and tries to put a twist in the balun connection unless I tie it down but usually don't when testing...