Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
  • You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
  • A Winner has been selected for the 2025 Radioddity Cyber Monday giveaway! Click Here to see who won!

Who Sells A Good RF Gain Preamp?

Eastside

Eastside

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2011
1,730
137
73
I have a few guys that I like to talk to who are right on the edge of my receive..would like to buy a good preamp to bring them in. :antenna:
 

Robb said:
Preamps aren't all they are cracked up to be - IMO . . .
Click to expand...

As Robb says preamps amplify noise equally as well as signals, therefore there is no improvement to the signal/noise ratio, a better/higher antenna or even better a combo of both is the way to go.
 
Robb said:
Maybe a better antenna - or more height to it perhaps?

What antenna are you using now?

Preamps aren't all they are cracked up to be - IMO . . .
Click to expand...

I am still using the i-max....the feed point is at 20ft.

jazzsinger said:
As Robb says preamps amplify noise equally as well as signals, therefore there is no improvement to the signal/noise ratio, a better/higher antenna or even better a combo of both is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Yeah.....everyone around here is too busy to help me put up my tower and Hy-gain P-500.
 
Eastside said:
I am still using the i-max....the feed point is at 20ft.



Yeah.....everyone around here is too busy to help me put up my tower and Hy-gain P-500.
Click to expand...

That will work. Bet that when you do finally put up the tower/Hygain, you will have forgotten about the thought of using a preamp.

Time will tell . . .

In the mean time; can you get the Imax up another 10 ft?
 
Remember that pre-amps amplify everything including noise. Why not look for an used ourboard speaker with some filtering, dsp, etc. Might be a cheaper alternative to a new antenna or tower.
 
Robb said:
That will work. Bet that when you do finally put up the tower/Hygain, you will have forgotten about the thought of using a preamp.

Time will tell . . .

In the mean time; can you get the Imax up another 10 ft?
Click to expand...

Yeah....but its more than a one man job......I bought a pretty neat bracket the other day.

I have another new 10ft section of aluminum mast pipe that I could stick on the 2 sections I have going up the side of my house now...but there is only 1 bracket on there now.....it might be pretty wiggly going up 14 above the roof?:ohmy:

RatsoW8 said:
Remember that pre-amps amplify everything including noise. Why not look for an used ourboard speaker with some filtering, dsp, etc. Might be a cheaper alternative to a new antenna or tower.
Click to expand...

I got a antenna tower already and a new hy-gain penetrator 500......just need help putting it up.
 
I've used effective preamps that did the job. Yes noise is increased but some units are better than others and can make quite a good difference. The difference between pulling a station out or not.

I'm not familiar with any new units on the market today. You see lots of used older units on eBay. CPI made a very good one that I would recommend to anyone.

Called: CPI Range Boost
 
Eastside said:
I have another new 10ft section of aluminum mast pipe that I could stick on the 2 sections I have going up the side of my house now...but there is only 1 bracket on there now.....it might be pretty wiggly going up 14 above the roof?:ohmy:
Click to expand...
Use some guy rope if it will be wobbly @ 30 ft.
But 20 ft is just a bit too low for best results, especially without a ground plane kit on it.
At 30 ft or more - with a GPK - you would have met the normal expectations for an optimal Imax installation.
 
Wire Weasel said:
I've used effective preamps that did the job. Yes noise is increased but some units are better than others and can make quite a good difference. The difference between pulling a station out or not.

I'm not familiar with any new units on the market today. You see lots of used older units on eBay. CPI made a very good one that I would recommend to anyone.

Called: CPI Range Boost
Click to expand...

Thanks for the brand name tip.:thumbup1:
 
Maco used to make a Pre Amp that was decent, I do not know if they make them any more.
The one I had used a variable so you could control the amount of gain or even reduce the gain...it did not run wide open all the time, and it had a knob for SSB delay, it was years ago. Do Not it behind a AMP it would only handle about 40 or 50 watts if I remember right, has to go behind the radio before any amp.
Might try E-Bay.

73

Jeff
 
Robb said:
Use some guy rope if it will be wobbly @ 30 ft.
But 20 ft is just a bit too low for best results, especially without a ground plane kit on it.
At 30 ft or more - with a GPK - you would have met the normal expectations for an optimal Imax installation.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info....I really am really wanting to get rid of the fishing pole and put up the P-500...hopefully I can gitter done before Autumn.:mellow:
 
Put a choke coil on your antenna before raising. Coils do a good job of reducing noise.

Just a suggestion.

Sent from my phone.
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.


      Top Bottom