mike43 wrote: So really my question to the members is would a Watson long Wire Balun or any other balun help in getting rid of some noise in my shortwave receiver. Thank you Mike.
A Watson balun will make no more, or less, difference than a self made balun or any other balun.
Correctly, for a SWL set up it should be a un/un, not a bal/un. But we often incorrectly refer to it as a bal/un.
The normal transformer for a SWL station is a 9:1 un/un.
The difference that a un/un makes is two fold. One you can put an earth stake onto the braid side of the antenna system & two a transformer is two separate wires wrapped around a former, so there is no direct electrical connection between the antenna & the radio. So normally noise levels are much lower.
Full Fathom Five William Shakespeare