Hi Alan,
It's not clear to me what your problem is since you said you are hearing signals. Are you not hearing signal with the HSM 432M7?
The High Sierra Microwave 432M7 has a noise figure of less than 1 dB. Check your data sheet and it should likely be around 0.6 dB. The gain of 25 dB is overall gain. This should be more than adequate to over come the 75 feet of coax between it and the FT-950 and to set the "system" noise floor. So you don't need, or want, a LNA ahead of the converter.
You have located the downconverter at the best spot, right at the antenna, but you didn't mention how you were getting power up the 75 feet of coax to the converter.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz High Sierra Microwave www.hsmicrowave.com
On 5/28/2012 4:53 AM, Alan Beck wrote:
Currently I have my LNBlock downconverter mounted at the antenna.
It is a High Sierra Microwave 432M7.
The antenna is a Uhf Ringo ranger set at the boiiom end of the band.
It is 25 feet up right now.
So, how do I realize more signal level?
Using my FT-950, both preamps on I can hear signals well.
I have about 75 feet of RG-8X coax at the output of the converter to my shack.
The test paper shows 25 DB gain. I expect this has to be on the UHF side.
I am thinking of a "eggbeater style" antenna to start with and then some hieght for that.
Passes are doing well to the horizon.
Looking forward to feedback.
73,
Alan _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb