Assuming you choose to use a LNA or a Low Noise Amplifier with a very lose noise factor, then you can use a Pre-Amp to pull weak signals out of the noise.
Something like the first amplifier is what I run on a scanner with an inside telescoping antenna. Granted the specs may be for higher frequencies, it works well in the 800 MHz band.
I have a variable power supply and run about 10 Volts or what gives the best quieting.
Mini Circuits ZQL 1900LNW 1850 to 1920 MHz 50 Ohm 37 DBM Low Noise Amplifier | eBay
New Mini Circuits 15542 ZQL 1900MLN LNA 50
I've used 'good' pre-amps for a very long time.
I have a lot of antennas and every single one of them has a pre-amp mounted right at the base of the antenna.
EXCEPT for one antenna. That's my 'reference antenna'.
I also use a lot of the Mini-Circuits ZQL-1900MLN with great success on the higher frequencies only. (above 450 MHz or so..... you can see the gain and NF response below)
For general use, I prefer the LNA-1000 from RF Bay, Inc. and for SatCom and frequencies below 600 MHz the LNA-580 from RF Bay. They're great amps, but pricey.
Several things to keep in mind about using a pre-amp.
More gain is not always a good thing.
Personally, I prefer around 10-15 dbm of gain (at the radio) and a high IP3.
With a higher gain amplifier, you can feed more scanners or reduce the gain using splitters.
'Ball park' losses for splitters:
A 2-way splitter has around 4 dB loss
A 3-way splitter has around 7-8 dB loss
A 4-way splitter has around 9-11 dB loss
An 8-way splitter has around 13.5 dB loss
Those numbers vary widely depending on manufacturer so you have to check the specs.
Some of the cheaper TV type pre-amps can cause headaches. But, they are cheaper so it doesn't cost a lot to try one.
Rich
A few of my spare pre-amps:
Edit:
Here's a sample of one of my distribution setups.
I use two of these boards (less the pre-amp shown) with an LNA-1000 pre-amp mounted at the base of the antenna to feed 32 scanners from one antenna.
It works very well, and it's very clean.
My Broadcastify feed is on a similar setup.
Edit again:
And for a little teaser.........
Here's some SatCom activity received on a Scantenna ST2 and an LNA-1000 pre-amp. (E4000 USB dongle and SDRSharp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p5IURvNhP0
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