Amps for rooftop antennas

[TRamrod38]

Would like to know if a person could hook up a TV amp in line of the scanner antenna if it would boost your signal any or is there any type of amp that can be put in line to boost incoming signal. Thanks for any info.

 

[LarrySC]

Wasted effort. It will boost noise. First rule of thumb for amps. "The best amp is a GAIN antenna."

 

[tonsoffun]

Would like to know if a person could hook up a TV amp in line of the scanner antenna if it would boost your signal any or is there any type of amp that can be put in line to boost incoming signal. Thanks for any info.

Hey TRamrod38,
Here is an article from George's milaircomms website concerning a TV amp.
http://www.milaircomms.com/antenna_mounted_amplifier.html
Take care
Ron

 

[ka3jjz]

LarrySC is right on target. Improve your antenna and coax (yes, the coax makes a HUGE difference, the higher you go in frequency the more this becomes apparent) before you think about an amp. In an urban area, an amp may actually cause more problems than solve them.

That being said, when you've done the above and still find you want more, we have a few links for amps in our Wiki, in the milcom equipment section. 73s Mike

 

[MMIC]

It kind of depends on what you are looking at. If you are looking at a RadioShack TV antenna amplifier, it will probably not be very low noise and - as others have pointed out - will probably cause more signal degredation than clarification. However, if you were to step outside of the "consumer grade" amplifiers and look more at commercial-grade equipment, you may have better luck. Lots of trunked radio systems, say in the 800 MHz band, use tower top amplifiers and receiver multicouplers that provide overall receiver gain in the system and have excellent performance. See what you can find on EBay, if you're willing to invest the money in it. Otherwise, as others have pointed out, lower loss coaxial cable and higher gain antennas may be a better bet and cost you less money.

 

[chgomonitor]

-Mast/antenna mounted is better than at the radio end.
-Read specs. You want 10-15 Db gain, lowest possible noise figure and correct freq range
-Static and lightning tend to murder these devices. Use good grounding practices.
-You'll probably see the best results on 700/800/900 Mhz and up
-Always better off with a better/higher antenna and better coax, few adaptors, etc.
-My buddy Jeff liked a mast mounted preamp and an in-line attenuator at the radio
-You are likely to see some degree of overloading at the radio on some freqs, attenuate

 

[Skud]

I am one of those people that never tried an Amp so I decieded to get a GRE Super Amplifier to test. I have to say I, got about a 30 to 40% range increase. In Barry county Michigan I can get all towers in all the counties surrounding me except K-zoo with this AMP ,and of course a Seeker 800. I only listen to 800 mhz so have not tested other ranges.
I have also test the Seeker 800, RS 800 mhz and a few others and say yes, the antenna is a big part.

Wasted effort. It will boost noise. First rule of thumb for amps. "The best amp is a GAIN antenna."

 

[dave3825]

I have read this thread and must say I beleive in amps

Someone gave me this and it works great for me

I live on Long Island and have a BR330t..The suffolk 800 Mhz system came in with 3 bars and now using the amp its 6 bars and clear..My outdoor ant faces north north east and the systems to the west come in much clearer now...I cant wait to try it on my homemade yagi...I also get the federal system with 4 bars...I do get some weird noise on only a few of the fire dept freqs that are in the 450 range but other than that I seem to like it


Here is more info on the amp

http://www.antronix.net/Products/mra.php