On Thu, Jan 24, 2019 at 9:05 AM Stephen E. Belter [email protected] wrote:
Advanced Receiver Research (ARR, www.advancedreceiver.com) has less expensive preamps that are also popular, but you'll need to build the weatherproof housing. The front-end filtering isn't as good as the SSB.
The 160 watt ARR preamps are weatherproof. Not sure they are inexpensive though :-)
http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page10.html
73, John Brier KG4AKV
Stephen:
I don't recommend scrimping on any thing that operates outside. You probably only need a pre-amp for UHF due to cable and connection losses coming into the shack. I use the M2 Satellite array of 2m and 70cm antennae with ARR 160 watt capable pre-amps on both. The incoming cables are LMR-400 coax about 35' long.
I rarely need the 2M pre-amp with the M2 LEO Pack. The LEO pack 2 M antenna has 4 elements on each phase circularly polarized and the readability difference with and without the ARR pre-amp is very small. The 10 elements of the Leo Pack on UHF is usually enough but the pre-amp helps for near the horizon and it makes up for cable losses.
Anything that doesn't need electricity and more connectors on the roof will make your life simpler. The main advantage of the M2 Leo Pack is that it is circularly polarized and you will not have phase phading (couldn't resist). A higher gain 2 M antenna would be better near the horizon but fade if not circular. You may consider one of the omni 2m antennas with a simple pre-amp enclosed for receive. We always have a 2m omni turnstile or quadrafilar helix with preamp for receive when making an ARISS contact (145.800 Mhz to the International Space Station). These can be homebrewed and the pre-amp contained inside the housing.
I cannot service the antenna during the winter (it is -14 F with winds forecast for today). So, having something reliable and simple is worth the few extra dollars.
Noel Petit WB0VGI Harris, MN
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