dow35
Member
does anyone know if you can use a tv anntenna amplifier for 25mhz to 1300mhz for a scanner
anntenna amplifier
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Yes!But also bring's some noise so i hope your not in a citydow35 said:
dow35
Member
i live in a rual area is there any difference in a amplifier specifically for a scanner
You need to look for a high gain low noise amp scanner master offers those for a good price..dow35 said:
Northe
Member
Yes, but whether it'd be useful depends on a number of factors -- primarily the RF environment in terms of strong signals and noise sources -- and the type of antenna you are using. As far as I'm concerned if you are able to try an amplifier without spending too much money or time/trouble is would make for an interesting experiment.
Ideally, you'd use an amplifier with variable gain, but I don't see any TV/FM-type amplifiers with gain controls listed.
I'm using an amplified indoor television antenna in an area about 25 miles south of a major metropolitan area. It's called a "Magnavox Super Amplifier," and has rabbit ear elements for VHF, a loop for UHF, and separate gain controls for the two. At first I was receiving all kinds of images/interference from television channels, especially on air frequencies. Now I seem to have everything calmed down by carefully adjusting the lengths of the VHF elements, and making them both vertical (by collapsing one and using a vertical wire element hanging down). I'm still trying it, but I am definitely picking up signals in the 400 and 800 MHz regions that I couldn't before, and seem to be doing better in the 150 MHz range as well.
Northe
N6KO
Green Valley, AZ
Ideally, you'd use an amplifier with variable gain, but I don't see any TV/FM-type amplifiers with gain controls listed.
I'm using an amplified indoor television antenna in an area about 25 miles south of a major metropolitan area. It's called a "Magnavox Super Amplifier," and has rabbit ear elements for VHF, a loop for UHF, and separate gain controls for the two. At first I was receiving all kinds of images/interference from television channels, especially on air frequencies. Now I seem to have everything calmed down by carefully adjusting the lengths of the VHF elements, and making them both vertical (by collapsing one and using a vertical wire element hanging down). I'm still trying it, but I am definitely picking up signals in the 400 and 800 MHz regions that I couldn't before, and seem to be doing better in the 150 MHz range as well.
Northe
N6KO
Green Valley, AZ
dow35 said:
You can, but they frequently don't help. And contrary to what some previous posts indicate, you DON'T want anything "high gain" in the way of an amplifier. The scanner already has plenty of gain. What you want is "low noise".
If you're having trouble hearing things, start by making sure your feedline and antenna are the best that you can afford. If they're not, it's unlikely that a peamp will save you. Only when you've done everything youcan there do you want to consider adding a preamp, and then, only with caution.
Advanced Receiver research makes some very good preamps that are suitable for scanners. So does a company called Mini-Circits. If you're looking for a preamp for a single band only, Angle Linear is the place to go.
Cheap TV preamps MAY work, but often as not they make things worse.
dow35
Member
just bought a tv antenna ampliefer for 50-900 mhz and it truely helped my antenna alot iam impressed and only payed 19.95 for it i think it rocks
k8tmk
Member
If you have to have an amplifier, mount it as close to the antenna as possible. If you mount it at the receiver end, you will also be amplifying the noise that would be presented by the length of lead-in.
But that leads to another problem. You need to be able to get power to the antenna-mounted amplifier. Many (most?) TV ampls allow the signal and the DC voltage to use the same lead in.
Randy
But that leads to another problem. You need to be able to get power to the antenna-mounted amplifier. Many (most?) TV ampls allow the signal and the DC voltage to use the same lead in.
Randy
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