I started working some of the LEO SSB satellites again recently and came across a broadband preamp that is sold by AMSAT. Here is the link: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=118
Has anyone here used this before? Perhaps this would help me 'hear' a little better with my Arrow antenna, and I could use it for V/U and U/V modes. For those of you that operate with an Arrow, do you use this preamp or some other preamp? It appears there are other preamps out there that are more expensive, but require one per band (V or U). This one will cover both - seems like a good option, just wanted to get your thoughts.
Thanks! Dave N2TEB
David,
I bought one a couple of years ago and used it while in Colombia with my Arrow, FT-817, and FT-857. It worked well for my FO-29 contacts.
Do heed the warning about transmit protection, in swapping radios/coax I forgot to switch the preamp and the 857 at 10W blew the preamp, fortunately it was at the end of the trip!
My thoughts, if you're going to use something with an Arrow in an easy setup where you don't have remote/automatic switching and you're possibly portable and such, it seems like a good place to start because if you do mess up it's less of a loss dollar-wise. Just be sure to be sure before you transmit. If/when you set up something more permanent, as you said there are much better but more expensive options.
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
On 9/13/2016 19:45, David Mennerich wrote:
I started working some of the LEO SSB satellites again recently and came across a broadband preamp that is sold by AMSAT. Here is the link: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=118
Has anyone here used this before? Perhaps this would help me 'hear' a little better with my Arrow antenna, and I could use it for V/U and U/V modes. For those of you that operate with an Arrow, do you use this preamp or some other preamp? It appears there are other preamps out there that are more expensive, but require one per band (V or U). This one will cover both - seems like a good option, just wanted to get your thoughts.
Thanks! Dave N2TEB _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
For portable operation the switched ARR pre-amps, as have been mentioned, are a good option. But don't take them out in the rain!
For weather-proof mast-mounted pre-amps, I've had very good luck with the Mini-2 and Mini-70 GaAsFET pre-amps from SHF-Elektronik in Germany (http://www.shf-elektronik.de/en/). At current exchange rates, these are roughly the same price as the ARR, and considerably cheaper than some other mast-mount alternatives. The IC-9100 powers them through the coax without the need for any other supply.
I have no affiliation with the company, but they've been working flawlessly for me for a couple of years now at my home station.--
Mark D. Johns, KØMDJ Decorah, Iowa USA EN43 ----------------------------------------------- "Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." ---Mark Twain
----- Original Message ----- From: David Mennerich david.n2teb@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 7:45 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Broadband Preamp
I started working some of the LEO SSB satellites again recently and came across a broadband preamp that is sold by AMSAT. Here is the link: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=118
Has anyone here used this before? Perhaps this would help me 'hear' a little better with my Arrow antenna, and I could use it for V/U and U/V modes. For those of you that operate with an Arrow, do you use this preamp or some other preamp? It appears there are other preamps out there that are more expensive, but require one per band (V or U). This one will cover both - seems like a good option, just wanted to get your thoughts.
Thanks! Dave N2TEB _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Mini Kits Australia make a very nice 2m switched preamp, 100W CW non-sequenced, 500W when used sequenced.
Mark has a new version which uses the PGA103 mimic. I have two of the previous version and they work very well. One I use for VHF roving/portable use and the other is mast mounted. They do need to be put in an enclosure of some sort and Mini Kits sells a nice enclosure that fits nicely and is not expensive. I put mine in Hammond 1590WBBFL diecast enclosures.
http://www.minikits.com.au/electronic-kits/rf-amplifiers/rf-preamplifiers/EM...
10 to 18 dB gain (adjustable) 0.8db NF
Mark is great to deal with, shipping is reasonable and quick, and the exchange of US$ to AUS$ is attractive.
cheers, Graham ve3gtc
On 2016-09-14 19:15, Mark Johns via AMSAT-BB wrote:
For portable operation the switched ARR pre-amps, as have been mentioned, are a good option. But don't take them out in the rain!
For weather-proof mast-mounted pre-amps, I've had very good luck with the Mini-2 and Mini-70 GaAsFET pre-amps from SHF-Elektronik in Germany (http://www.shf-elektronik.de/en/). At current exchange rates, these are roughly the same price as the ARR, and considerably cheaper than some other mast-mount alternatives. The IC-9100 powers them through the coax without the need for any other supply.
I have no affiliation with the company, but they've been working flawlessly for me for a couple of years now at my home station.--
Mark D. Johns, KØMDJ Decorah, Iowa USA EN43
"Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." ---Mark Twain
On 09/13/16 19:45, David Mennerich wrote:
Has anyone here used this before? Perhaps this would help me 'hear' a little better with my Arrow antenna, and I could use it for V/U and U/V modes. For those of you that operate with an Arrow, do you use this preamp or some other preamp? It appears there are other preamps out there that are more expensive, but require one per band (V or U). This one will cover both - seems like a good option, just wanted to get your thoughts.
Hello David,
You may have missed my previous post, due to no subject in the title.
If you're looking for a shoestring-budget LNA for 2m, the U310 JFET preamp has been a good performer for me.
http://www.ham-radio.com/n6ca/50MHz/50appnotes/U310.html
I've constructed one in a spare project box, and the gain (12dB) is right on the predicted value. I have not verified the NF, but it is claimed to be near 1.0dB. I built in in one evening, with some extra evenings diagnosing a capacitor issue. Use a multi-turn piston trimmer for the 1-10pF drain capacitor, as the output tuning is very sharp.
I've changed the layout a bit, but here's an early picture of the unit:
The air-core inductors are not difficult to wind on a 1/4" drill bit.
Not as fancy as a GaAsFET or pHEMT device, but it works just fine to hear AO-85 and AO-7 with a non-ideal satellite antenna (folded horizontal dipole) at 10 degrees above the horizon.
--- Zach N0ZGO
participants (5)
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David Mennerich -
Graham -
Jerry Buxton -
Mark Johns -
Zach Metzinger