4-way amp splitter trouble

[ocn29rsc]

I purchased a CATV Drop amplifier 54-1000MHz (pass 5-42Mhz) 4 output, 8db type with power supply and this is made by RF communications group....

I got this so I could use multiple scanners on one antenna, after setting the unit up connecting my antenna to the input, pwr supply to the pwr in port, and running my cable out to scanner I have lost quite a bit, infact my handheld scanner was in the same room with just its rubber duck on it and it was picking up a distant fd like they were next door...the scanner that had the amp running on it was almost not able to pick the same station up.

One of the distant NWS stations from NC was able to hear it no problem before the amp and it was almost gone with the amp.

I took the pwr away and the situation didn't improve and took away the amp splitter all together and everything is fine.

What am I doing wrong???? Has anyone else ran into the same problem?

Thanks in advance for input.

ocn29rsc

 

[N_Jay]

Could be bad.

Could be too little signal for the amp to work with (CATV runs much higher average power than a communications receiver)

Could be too much local noise (Amplifiers amplify noise as well as signal.

And again, it could be broken.

 

[James_Bond_007]

I've never had much faith in using catv or matv amps for scanning. i've tried many times with many different amps. you see, these are ultra wide band ranges and when combined with a receiver such as a scanner who's front end is already loose as a goose you will get all kinds of wierd artifacts in the receive. what you describe is typical of these amps.

you would be better purchasing or building a multicoupler and getting an amp specificly designed for scanning. also a filter to notch out fm broadcast and pager bands is recommended along with a good discone or multiband beam.

i have been in communications for 20 years and have tried all sorts of stuff.

 

[jim202]

I would suspect that your having the amp overloaded by some strong signals. If that happens,
all the weak signals tend to go away. A strong paging signal could clean out the effect of the
amp providing any gain. These are not a good selection for a radio antenna system.

Jim

 

[Don_Burke]

I would go for overload.

If you want to try to keep using that amp, hook an FM radio to the amp to see if it is strong FM signals that are getting you, then try a TV set to see if those signals are doing it.

A pager system could do it, although it would have to be a continuous one.

You will probably need some filters and a different amp may be cheaper in the long run

 

[LordJ]

I as well, suggest that you go with a no gain model. I have an Electroline EDA-UG2402 that I am very happy with.

 

[hoser147]

I gotta agree with Don and Jim, I believe its overloading your scanners, If you can try it closer to the antenna it may work better............Hoser

 

[NYRHKY94]

I would give LordJ's suggestion a shot. I also use an Electroline "no gain" drop amp splitter with my scanners and have no issue at all. I use the 8-port model EDA-UG2802 and have all 8 ports connected to scanners off of 1 Scantenna. Works very well for me.

 

[N_Jay]

Have you tried a regular splitter?

 

[ocn29rsc]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the input....l did leave out some important info....I live with in about 4-5 miles from the top of Paris Mountain in my area and there are a load of antennas on top of there.

On my primary scanner which is a bc785 with a antenna up 40' with an omnidirectional antenna on top with LMR-400 cable coming off to my scanner.

I have had to turn on my attenuator for EMS on med-9 and 10 because of alot of junk mixed into their traffic and so I have been thinking of the overload before I hooked it up and asked for help and that seems like that is what it would be.

I did try connecting everything to a cheapy 2 way splitter with no amp and works just fine.

Thanks again.

ocn29rsc