[NLRS] preamps 222

[Bruce Richardson]

Hi Dave:

Oh, I may not have really answered your question.

For a portable/rover or frequently set-up situation I would NOT use a
pre-amp either mast mounted OR in the shack (car).  Why?  Complexity.  If
portable or frequently set-up, I would focus on the best feedline I could
afford/handle (maybe LMR 600 instead of LMR 400).  And I would work on
keeping feedlines short.  I had a pre-amp in my 1296 transverter/amp box
and it got blown by the close proximity of the antennas on a rover.  So
complexity and environment are two reasons to stay away from pre-amps in
rover/portable/temporary set-ups.  There may be some differing views on
this.

I've played with Mirage pre-maps (in the amp) and all they do is raise
noise and signal.  When I was new, I had an ARR 2m RF sensed pre-amp that I
put between the mirage brick and a TR-751 (which has an excellent
reputation for ears).  I was in North Dakota at the time.  NT0V was the
only other serious contester in the area.  He'd monitor me CQ'ing my lungs
out from EN-17 or thereabouts.  One time, (maybe to get me stop CQ'ing
:-) ) he did some minimum discernable signal tests with me.  He had test
gear and could give me a REAL weak signal from his QTH about 40 miles away.
He new about my ARR pre-amp.  So, the tests proved that I could not hear a
weaker signal with the ARR preamp located between the amp and the TR-751.
Had I had the pre-amp at the antenna feed--maybe.  What the ARR did was put
the weakest signals I could hear from S0 to S3 or 4.  The TR-751 didn't
need that kind of help :-) .

Whew!  That ought to be enough. Now let's see what the others think.

73
Bruce Richardson
W9FZ