Super Amplifier 3001 Base Station Model

[ShawnCowden]

can u use the Super Amplifier 3001 Base Station Model on the pro 96 scanner ?? http://www.greamerica.com/scanner.html heres the link

 

[K2KOH]

I don't see why not...a receiver is a receiver...

 

[n4voxgill]

yes you can.

that said, two comments. First it will make the scanner top heavy, notice the picture shows unit laying on it's side. Second it will also amplify bad signals between 400 MHz and 1 GHz. It may cause you problems near older cell sites or Nextel towers. But for that price you can always just throw it in the drawer if it causes more problems than it solves.

 

[N_Jay]

Just remember, that pre-amps are only helpfull in low noise environments, and are best used close to the antenna.

 

[mdulrich]

Just remember, unless you are out in the middle of nowhere, an amplifier may give you worse reception because it will increase the signal level of everything in the area and actually overload the receiver causing intermod and desensing.

Mike

 

[ShawnCowden]

i can hear fine just wanted to know if it will help digital and analog far off signals come in ?? I am talking about the base one for the pro 96

 

[Swipesy]

I use the GRE Superamplifier mobile version on my Pro96. However, I live in a very remote area and it is the only way I can pick up 800Mz bands. I have tried it on other bands when in the city and I find that it generally overloads the front end of the scanner and I hear less. Sooooo,
there you have real live experience to make your decision.

 

[N_Jay]

I use the GRE Superamplifier mobile version on my Pro96. However, I live in a very remote area and it is the only way I can pick up 800Mz bands. I have tried it on other bands when in the city and I find that it generally overloads the front end of the scanner and I hear less. Sooooo,
there you have real live experience to make your decision.

Overload is not the only way a pre-amp can reduce reception.
There are more ways these things don't help then do help.

 

[Swipesy]

N-Jay you are absolutely wrong in your comment and are irresponsible to make such a comment that the Superamplifier does more harm than good.

Without the super amplifier on my Pro96 attached to an outdoor 800 Band antenna and LMR 400 coax the radio is absolutely deaf on the 800 band. I have proven this many a time by turning off the amplifier during 800 transmissions and the radio immediately loses the signal.

So the correct answer is there are instances whereby the superamplifier does more good than harm. You ought not be so definitive in your answers. Opinions are one thing, fact is another.

 

[doctordave]

Shawn,

You might also consider an 800 yagi and some great cable, such as LMR-400, for example. I was having difficulty getting some distant 800 trunked signals and had the added complication of some nearby Nextel towers....got a directional setup and am quite pleased.

The total for cable & the particular yagi (8 element Comtelco) was around $100. Something else to consider if the amp doesn't do it for you.

Dave

 

[scannerfreak]

i can hear fine just wanted to know if it will help digital and analog far off signals come in ?? I am talking about the base one for the pro 96

What you are trying to do is increase the decode rate of the control channel. That's how you will get better digital and analog reception on a trunked system. I have tried these Amps. They do work, but they also have their draw backs.

The best 800 MHz amp I have found and still use today with my pro-96 is the Hamtronics LNG-800. Check it out here:

http://www.hamtronics.com/lng.htm

 

[N_Jay]

N-Jay you are absolutely wrong in your comment and are irresponsible to make such a comment that the Superamplifier does more harm than good.

I did not say that.

I said;
Overload is not the only way a pre-amp can reduce reception.
There are more ways these things don't help then do help.

Without the super amplifier on my Pro96 attached to an outdoor 800 Band antenna and LMR 400 coax the radio is absolutely deaf on the 800 band. I have proven this many a time by turning off the amplifier during 800 transmissions and the radio immediately loses the signal.

I don't know what ypur situation is.
My guess is you are in a relativly low noise environment.
There are situations where a pre-amp can be benificial. I did not say there were not.

Also, shutting off a pre-amp is not the same as bypassing it.

So the correct answer is there are instances whereby the superamplifier does more good than harm. You ought not be so definitive in your answers. Opinions are one thing, fact is another.

Please read my answer again;

Overload is not the only way a pre-amp can reduce reception.
There are more ways these things don't help then do help.

Yes there are cases where they are helpfull.
Overload is one way they are not.
Intermodulation is another.
Desensitization is a third.

I was not saying the DEFINITIVLY do not help. However I am very confident in the FACTS I was presenting.

 

[SAR923]

Regardless of the other technical issues of preamps, this one only works at 100 mHz and above. It does a good job in low noise environment of boosting signal strength in the 400 and 800 range. It does overload the the Pro-96 but using the attenuator makes the signal sound better than if I was listening to the same signal without the preamp. I haven't noticed any significant increase in intermod and I'm in a fairly high noise environment.

The one thing to consider is how much low band you listen to. This preamp cuts off anything but very strong signals below 100 mHz. This is a real problem in California since all the CHP frequencies are still low band and I can barely hear our local tower with the preamp. If low band isn't an issue, the preamp is worth a try. I suspect that any receiver without a good front end and the ability to attenuate by frequency will be seriously overloaded though.