Definition of Balun in the Network Encyclopedia.
What is BALUN (in networking)?
Stands for bal anced un balanced. BALUN is a device used to connect balanced lines and unbalanced lines. Balanced and unbalanced lines have different electrical characteristics. A balun matches these characteristics by providing impedance transformation between the two different lines.
Baluns can be used for various types of connections between different wiring systems:
- Twisted-pair cabling to coaxial cabling: Typically used for connecting 10BaseT networks with 3270 equipment running on coax or twinax networks
- Twisted-pair cabling to token ring cabling: Used for matching token ring Type 1 cabling to standard unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling to connect 10BaseT or faster hubs or adapters with RJ-45 ports into a token ring network
- Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cabling to token ring cabling: Used for connecting token ring networks to high-speed ATM hubs in campus backbone networks
