So, you have just purchased the latest high definition television (HDTV) but can’t use it? The reason for this is that your latest television which uses the most advanced technology is not compatible with the satellite cable network in your locality.

Well, in such a scenario, getting your house shifted to some other locality where your HDTV will be able to work efficiently doesn’t sound too sane. But then, even the television didn’t come cheap. In fact, it must have cost a bomb to purchase a television set like that, but then what’s the use if you can’t use it?

In such a scenario, making use of Balun to resolve the compatibility issues between the televisions set and cable network can prove to be immensely useful.

A Balun can be described as a device which helps to join a balanced line to an unbalanced line. A balanced line will be one which has two conductors with currents running with equal voltage in opposite directions. On the other hand, an unbalanced line is one which comprises of only one conductor and a ground which is better known as coaxial cable.

Balun is basically, a type of a transformer which can be used effectively to resolve compatibility issues between a balanced and unbalanced signal. A Balun serves the function of isolating the transmission line thus enabling a perfectly balanced output. Balun are most commonly used in the television antenna. However, these can also be used to resolve compatibility issues between several parts of a wireless or cable communications systems.

A Balun is a boon for people who are stuck in a situation where they have to integrate some of the most advanced audio/video devices with the connection which are highly efficient but make use of older technology which just do not seem to be compatible with these latest products and gadgets. People who face problems in connecting their set-top box to their HDTV or connect their progressive scan DVD players with component video outputs and projectors which have different connection requirements, such as RGB inputs.

It can be said that the main function of a Balun is to resolve compatibility issues between two or more electronic systems in order to make their application more extensive and user-friendly in modern communications. Balun are immensely preferred to realize frequency conversion mixers which are responsible for efficient working of cellular phone and data transmission networks.

Balun are also used in power line communications, in order to couple signals onto a specific power line. Balun is one such electrical device which is widely used in radars, satellites, telephone networks and transmitters. Some people have also started making extensive use of Balun in their wireless network modem/routers which are used in homes.

Balun is used in homes to combine the transimpedance amplifiers so that high voltage amplifiers can be composed through low voltage components and increase their efficiency and resolve their compatibility issues with other modern electrical gadgets which make use of advanced technology.

Different kind of baluns are used for E1 G.703 / G.704 links for matching impedance between 75 Ohm BNC’s and RJ-45 120 ohm.

Figure 1: 16 port BNC – RJ-45 impedance converter / balun panel from AD-net