GRE Super Amplifier

[hsdtech]

My amp came in today and I have to say I am impressed. For $57 this amp is a great deal and performs great. Just thought I would post in case someone is considering it or needing an amp.

 

[JJones27320]

I got one about 4 months ago at a ham fest and it really makes a huge differance. On 800mhz trunking systems I am bringing in stuff I have never heard before. It works just as good on 155mhz and 453mhz range as well. The packaging says it won't go down into low band, however i've seen a noticable differance around 46mhz band as well.

 

[baybum]

Are you guys talking about the hand-held or the desk-top model?

 

[TRamrod38]

What model # is it and will it work on a Uniden BC796D.

 

[hsdtech]

The one I have is the portable model. I didn't know they had a desk top model, but the portable could easily be used for base, mobile or portable.

 

[hsdtech]

What model # is it and will it work on a Uniden BC796D.

Yes. It will work with any scanner.

 

[trooperdude]

I have the desktop model.

Useless in an urban area.

Make an offer.

LOL

 

[mule1075]

if you are serious send me a pm.i will make you an offer.

I have the desktop model.

Useless in an urban area.

Make an offer.

LOL

 

[TRamrod38]

What is the Model # for both and where did you purchase them.

 

[jcecklund]

I have the desktop model and I have it connected at the attic antenna rather than the base unit, that makes a big difference in your reception, I live in a large metro area and don't need it for local listening , however at night I turn it on and monitor stations 100 miles away using a scantenna in the attic.

 

[ScanDaBands]

I have the desktop model and I have it connected at the attic antenna rather than the base unit, that makes a big difference in your reception, I live in a large metro area and don't need it for local listening , however at night I turn it on and monitor stations 100 miles away using a scantenna in the attic.

jcecklund , you have it hooked right at the base of the antenna , then coax to the scanner ???? I have the base and handheld model , the base one a I have a jumper hooked to a 2096 and run a pro shot right directly on the GRE and it RX's like mad compared to regular back of set - huge difference.

 

[jcecklund]

jcecklund , you have it hooked right at the base of the antenna , then coax to the scanner ???? I have the base and handheld model , the base one a I have a jumper hooked to a 2096 and run a pro shot right directly on the GRE and it RX's like mad compared to regular back of set - huge difference.

Yes that is the way I have mine set up sort of, the coax goes to my muiti-coupler, I tried using it inline with scanner and received poor results, I then moved the GRE 3001 to base of the antenna and ran LMR-400 to a muti-coupler and use Radio shop grade jumpers to my scanners, I am extremely pleased with the results.

 

[jwile20vt]

cool im gona snag one of these asap and try it out .... i put my RS 20-176 on my roof hung up by fishing line and works great....now i wana pull in a few of those weak signals / low power trans

thanks for the info

 

[hsdtech]

I have the desktop model and I have it connected at the attic antenna rather than the base unit, that makes a big difference in your reception, I live in a large metro area and don't need it for local listening , however at night I turn it on and monitor stations 100 miles away using a scantenna in the attic.

Thats how I use my portable model. But all of my outdoor antennas are well, outdoors. I just hook up the amp at my desk and have a variety of antennas to choose from. But since its portable I can take it anywhere including mobile antenna use.

 

[Gilligan]

I just got my portable superamp in the mail today but initial tests are implying it's useless. I get a better, clearer signal w/ Bypass selected and when I turn the amp on it cuts the signal out. Sometimes it just seems to attenuate the signal and sometimes it's completely gone. When the gain is all the way up it is still not as good as with the unit turned off. I am trying this w/ a handheld Pro-97 scanner and a rubber UHF antenna. Tonight I will try it w/ my dual-band mobile mount antenna and several scanners. Maybe it is the environment I'm in or something.

 

[SAR923]

It's the same issue that has been discussed here many times - desense when using the 96/97 line with an outdoor antenna or a pre-amp. Use the radio attenuator on all VHF-hi signals and then adjust pre-amp gain for the best reception. The pre-amp will work if you give this a try.

 

[baybum]

I just got mine also...terrible results.
I'm using a PRO-96 connected to a discone on the roof.

On 800mhz...I get a distant control channel weak, then when I turn on the amp, it kills it completely, even with attenuation.

On 490mhz conventional...a weak signal is completely destroyed with the amp.

The only band this thing works on is VHF high (i.e. weather).
I'll be sending it back unless somebody has a suggestion.

 

[trooperdude]

I just got mine also...terrible results.
I'm using a PRO-96 connected to a discone on the roof.
.

This is 99% of your problem, the other 1% is probably the coax.

 

[baybum]

If you can elaborate...you might educate someone.

 

[trooperdude]

If you can elaborate...you might educate someone.

discones are extremely wideband by design and exacerbate any
receiver overloading problems.

By adding pre-amp, you are just amplifying all of the broadband noise.