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Specialist in the design and supply of Radio Communications Equipment and Systems. West Sussex England. Antennas, traps and baluns inline isolators, Outbacker Antennas, Mobile Mounts and Accessories

Operating a ham station often involves encountering radio frequency interference (RFI), RF feedback, or RF burns, which are frequently misattributed to poor equipment grounding. This resource meticulously dissects these assumptions, asserting that RF grounds on the operating desk often merely mask more significant system flaws. It identifies five primary causes for RF problems, including antenna system design flaws, proximity of the antenna to the operating position, DC power supply ground loops, equipment design defects, and poorly installed connectors or defective cables. The content emphasizes that issues like "hot cabinets" or changes in SWR when connecting a ground indicate substantial RF flowing over wiring or cabinets, a phenomenon known as common-mode current. The article provides detailed explanations of common-mode current generation, particularly from single-wire fed antennas like longwires, random wires, and OCF dipoles, which inherently present high levels of RF in the shack. It also illustrates how vertical antennas, lacking a perfect ground system, can excite feed lines with significant common-mode current. Through simulations, the author demonstrates how a dipole without a proper _balun_ can cause RF problems at the operating desk, showing current patterns and voltage distributions on feed line shields. The discussion extends to the proper application of _RF isolators_ and _ferrite beads_, clarifying their role in modifying common-mode impedance on cable shields and cautioning against their use as a band-aid for fundamental system defects. The resource advocates for correcting the actual source of RF problems, such as antenna system issues or poor connector mounting, rather than relying on internal shack grounding or isolators. It highlights that properly functioning two-conductor feed lines, like coaxial or open-wire lines, should result in minimal RF levels at the operating position, even without a desk RF ground. The author shares personal experience, noting that his stations since the late 1970s have operated without RF grounds at the desks, relying instead on proper antenna system design and feed line integrity.

Operating in the **microwave** spectrum, Response Microwave, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacturing of RF and microwave signal processing components and subsystems. The company's product line encompasses a wide array of offerings, including Connectivity Series components, rotary joints, phase shifters, cable assemblies, surge protectors, terminations, Hybridline/Couperline products, circulators/isolators, directional couplers, quadrature hybrids, attenuators, custom assemblies, filters/diplexers, DC blocks & bias tees, power dividers/combiners, laser diodes & drivers, high-frequency connectors, and precision test accessories. This extensive catalog supports various applications requiring precise signal manipulation and transmission at elevated frequencies. The resource provides access to a comprehensive product catalog and a dedicated connector catalog, detailing specifications for components like **high-frequency connectors** and test cables. While specific performance data or comparative analyses are not directly presented on the main page, the breadth of products indicates a focus on providing foundational building blocks for microwave systems. The company emphasizes customer service and aims to be a reliable source for RF/Microwave/Optics product requirements, serving a growing customer base with its specialized component offerings.

Professional constructed BALUNs,UNUNs and Line Isolators for Amateur Radio.

HyEnd is a dutch amateur radio antenna manufacturer. Makers of the popular HyEndFeed Antennas, produce Baluns, bandpass filters and selle Line isolators, coax cables and connectors.

This article clarifies the roles of baluns, ununs, common mode chokes, line isolators, and impedance transformers in amateur radio. A balun decouples balanced antennas from unbalanced feed lines, preventing interference. Ununs serve a similar purpose for asymmetrical antennas. Common mode chokes and line isolators suppress common mode currents, reducing noise. Impedance transformers adjust antenna impedance to match feed lines but do not decouple or suppress common mode currents. Understanding these components is crucial for optimizing antenna performance and minimizing interference.