InterceptRadio.com Forums

Been researching wideband pre-amplifiers hoping to improve reception of the SERS system.

For example:
http://www.scannermaster.com/WRP_1300_Pre_Amplifier_for_Wideband_Scanners_p/28-531167.htm
and
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/preamps/2422.html

However, both of these seem to be discontinued and not for sale by the normal radio geek stores or eBay auctions.
Anyone have have suggestions of equivalent product that can be purchased for <100 bucks?
Or willing to loan me one to test out just to see if it actually makes an improvement on my end? If I knew that it made a big improvement I would probably be willing to spend a little more $$.

Thanks

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Im trying to remember the model I have in my lowband repeater and once I fire up my laptop Ill be able to get the link. If I remember right they made everything up to 900 and were fairly inexpensive. But they were band limited compared to your links.

Preamps are (hopefully) linear devices and will amplify everything in their designed bandpass meaning the whole noise floor will raise in that particular band, right? If you are using less than half inch from your receive antenna to your receiver you might look into improving that for the 800 stuff. Or possibly try 75 ohm RG6 cable if you have any lying around.

Preamps will only amplify what makes it to them in the first place.

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

Just found this-

http://www.amazon.com/Ramsey-Broadband- ... B0002NRKMG

This is what is in my lowband and I have one for UHF in the shop.

http://www.advancedreceiver.com/

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

Thanks for the links.
The Amazon one is temping. Very easy for me to return it if it did not do the trick.

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It would be a good idea to get something with an adjustable gain pot. I have had problems with inline amps from the antenna causing overloading the front end of the scanner which will cause noise and desense of the scanner. I have that little GRE amp and it works pretty well on a portable with a rubber duck antenna for it's input. I also have an old Grove Power Amp II that works well with a small antenna. The ability to adjust the gain really helps to get it to do the job properly.

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

Ya I thought about that too. The problem is, as I mentioned, I can't find anything available to buy.

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So what radio are you looking to add this for? Portable, Desktop/Mobile or RTL SDR? If it's for a base station then do you already have an outdoor antenna?

A suggestion: you might consider buying both a high and low pass filters and form a trunking band-pass filter.

Example: This one would attenuate signals up to 740mhz: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/VHF-740+.pdf

This would allow signals up to 950mhz and block everything above: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/VLFX-780.pdf

Since these are SMA connectors, the good news is this will work readily on a portable scanner (at least the Uniden scanners.)

Mini-circuits also has amplifiers if you're so inclined. They're much higher quality and have excellent resale value.

An example broadband amp: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ZFL-1000LN+.pdf

Here's an 800 Mhz version: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ZX60-0916LN+.pdf