R
retiredmich
Guest
Was watching a video about this GRE Super Amplifier to help your scanner reach out to receive frequency's you normally cant get. Is this product worth it ? The price was $50 , Thanks in advanced
- Status
teufler
Member
I have the Uniden amp, BC 004. I ran it mobile for years, it helped by bring up signals about 1-2 bars on a 5 bar scale. I used it with a RS 2067 scanner. Some say they just increase the noise too, but I did not detect any increase static that was objectionable. Now this was in the days in Ks, low band hp, helped bring up mobiles mostly. now with trunking, probably not be as noticeable gain, though some gain. Of course you get gain with a better antenna, better coax, , improving your receive signal but these amps will bring up your signal.
... I have been using the GRE super amplifier 3001 for over 20 years with one of my rooftop ground planes... it also works very well with a RS 800 antenna on 800 and UHF... I can't remember what I paid for it... as with any amplifier it can create some overload on VHF high band..... it does amplify UHF repeater freqs in the 453 range nicely (we still have a few of them in the next county and it makes a big difference)... it has a 9 volt battery but you can also use an ac adapter... the out lead to the scanner that comes with it does suffer a little loss as it is a thin high loss coax... as far as it's worth?... you can't find them anymore at all so it is worth whatever someone will pay for it especially if it's complete... I wish I had another one and had bought more of them when they were available... one interesting thing about them is they will increase your signal bars from 1-2 bars to 5 bars on 800 without actually improving the sound or reception... don't expect miracles but if you have the money it will be fun to play with...
The original price from GRE was around $20. I have noticed them on ebay and amazon running $50-65.
The RS 800 antenna has also become more valuable...as much as $65 now that I guess it's not made any more. Glad I cleaned out the local Shack when they were selling them for $4 each.
Not planning to sell them, but I wish mutual funds would appreciate like these things.
Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652
The RS 800 antenna has also become more valuable...as much as $65 now that I guess it's not made any more. Glad I cleaned out the local Shack when they were selling them for $4 each.
Not planning to sell them, but I wish mutual funds would appreciate like these things.
Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652
R
retiredmich
Guest
With all the reply's I see & reading them, now I am wondering if this Amplifier will work for just local Departments like the local Fire / EMS, these are the ones that give me a fit some times, seems like I loose traffic from them at times when they are on a call, So would this Amplifier do me any justice just for the local Departments or is it their system ( digital & or analog) doing that ?
KC4RAF
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2006
- Messages
- 1,579
- Reaction score
- 8
What kind of antenna do you use?
Using an amplifier for local signals will pick up some noises, etc also. The antenna and coax is what makes the difference. And the sensitivity of your scanner too. I have one of the old amps and it worked wonders for long distance signals
Are you by chance using the rubber duck antenna?
Using an amplifier for local signals will pick up some noises, etc also. The antenna and coax is what makes the difference. And the sensitivity of your scanner too. I have one of the old amps and it worked wonders for long distance signals
Are you by chance using the rubber duck antenna?
R
retiredmich
Guest
I am using a 800mhz duck.
KC4RAF
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2006
- Messages
- 1,579
- Reaction score
- 8
THERE is your problem!
Either build or buy yourself an outside antenna, (if you're permitted to have an outside antenna that is). You can build one or purchase one that covers the bands you want to listen to.
If you place an amplifier using that rubber duck, you're going to have more problems than you want, in mho.
Either build or buy yourself an outside antenna, (if you're permitted to have an outside antenna that is). You can build one or purchase one that covers the bands you want to listen to.
If you place an amplifier using that rubber duck, you're going to have more problems than you want, in mho.
My experience has been that using the GRE Amplifier is great for weak signals, but may distort strong signals. I use it in my car all the time as I have an 800 MHz whip on my trunk to pickup not only 800, but also 150-470 MHz. With that very small whip, it doesn't do great on the 150 band, but it is readable.
Interesting. I just got one of these to help my cable signal.When I had my scantenna at home, I ran one of these and it pulled in systems from 35 miles away that the scanner would just not pick up. My buddy who is a tech for the local cable company gave it to me. It worked very good for me.
Never thought of using on the scanner. A little skeptical about hooking 110v (obviously converted down) to a scanner. Any potential harm in doing this?
Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2003
- Messages
- 14,056
- Reaction score
- 9,905
- Location
- Retired 40 Year Firefighter NW Tenn
Mark I tried a TV amp and had more noise dug up my old gre super amp and had more signal less noise in my test
Smart move Mark, I wish I had done that when they closed our local RS stores in the downsizing process. They still list them on the RS site for $24.99, but at $4 each, I would have bought all they had as well. I'm sure that is where the proliferation of them on Ebay are coming from. They are an excellent antenna.
Radioshack - Products
It was the first rack I went to. I had just bought one a month before for that $25 price. I could not believe they had a whole rack of them at 80% off.
Took them all and went right to the counter.
Then I walked out with a couple scanners too.
Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652
We used to have three RS stores in our area and I likely would have hit them all, but was distracted with other stuff around that time and it never crossed my mind. An opportunity lost. Glad you and some others cashed in.
- Status
