6m preamp description??

[n6wg]

I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
being tested.  If so, can anyone give us a thumbnail
description of this little unit?  And how well does it
seem to work?
Thanks and 73
Bob N6WG

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[W7GJ, Lance]

Bob Tellefsen wrote:

> I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
> being tested.  If so, can anyone give us a thumbnail
> description of this little unit?  And how well does it
> seem to work?
> Thanks and 73
> Bob N6WG
>
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In addition to Bob's questions, I would be very interested in learning how to go
about obtaining one ;-)  My K3 is scheduled to arrive next month and I intend to use
it almost exclusively for 6m, and primarily for 6m EME.  It sounds like it would make
sense to get a preamp for it if one is offered, but the order desk at Elecraft does
not know about any options to improve the sensitivity of the unit on 6m.  Otherwise,
I will hook up my own external preamp with relays as I have in the past.

VY 73, Lance

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: [phone]
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815

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[Jim Brown-10]

On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:

>I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
>being tested.

I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop and it
works well.

73,

Jim K9YC


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[n6wg]

Thanks Jim
I've heard good things about their products.
Glad yours is working well.
I'm going to try patching in my Ameco PT-2
preamp, just as an experiment.  I'll probably go
ahead and build my little J310 preamp though.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Brown" <[hidden email]>
To: "Reflector Elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??

> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:
>
> >I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
> >being tested.
>
> I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
> Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop and it
> works well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
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>
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[W7GJ, Lance]

Bob Tellefsen wrote:

> Thanks Jim
> I've heard good things about their products.
> Glad yours is working well.
> I'm going to try patching in my Ameco PT-2
> preamp, just as an experiment.  I'll probably go
> ahead and build my little J310 preamp though.
> 73, Bob N6WG
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Brown"
> To: "Reflector Elecraft"
> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??
>
>
>> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:
>>
>>> I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
>>> being tested.
>> I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
>> Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop and it
>> works well.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Jim K9YC
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
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>>
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>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
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>

I used to recommend LNA TECHNOLOGY as the best provider of 6m preamps, but since they
have gone out of business, I have been pleased with the units provided by Hamtronics:

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

Since the K3 provides a receive-only line for insertion of a preamp, a simple
inexpensive preamp is all that is required to add sensitivity on 6m.

GL and VY 73, Lance

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: [phone]
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815

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[Stewart Baker]

I brought a 6m preamp kit from Down East Microwave.
It cost only slightly more than if I had sourced the components in
the UK. The end result means that now I can hear the K3 noise
level increase when I add an antenna.

73
Stewart G3RXQ
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:33:21 -0700, Jim Brown wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:
>
>> I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
>> being tested.
>>
> I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
> Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop
and it

> works well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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[alsopb]

Hi Jim,

Been there with the PT2.  It worked somewhat on 6M.  It was quite useful on 10,12,15,17 and 20M as well.
It seemed to have too high a noise figure and added significant noise on 6M.  So it was doubtful that it would help me with the weak ones.

I bought a Down East Microwave kit ($35).  It is significantly better.  It supposedly has too much gain (15-18 db) but I've not noticed this to be a problem.  The nominal noise figure is under 1db so it doesn't seem to add noise.   Of course, the best place would be at the antenna, but that isn't going to happen.

Now to figure out how to switch in the PT2 for HF and LF RX antenna reception.

73 de Brian/K3KO

Robert Tellefsen wrote

Thanks Jim
I've heard good things about their products.
Glad yours is working well.
I'm going to try patching in my Ameco PT-2
preamp, just as an experiment.  I'll probably go
ahead and build my little J310 preamp though.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Brown" <[e-mail]>
To: "Reflector Elecraft" <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??


> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:
>
> >I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
> >being tested.
>
> I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
> Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop and it
> works well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [e-mail]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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[n6wg]

Yesterday, I hooked up
my old Ameco PT-2 preamp to the K3,
and even that old dog made an improvement.
There is a much more pronounced change
in the noise level when connecting or
removing the antenna now.
Hope it helps in the CQ VHF contest this weekend.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stewart Baker" <[hidden email]>
To: "Jim Brown" <[hidden email]>; "Reflector Elecraft"
<[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 1:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??


I brought a 6m preamp kit from Down East Microwave.
It cost only slightly more than if I had sourced the components in
the UK. The end result means that now I can hear the K3 noise
level increase when I add an antenna.

73
Stewart G3RXQ
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:33:21 -0700, Jim Brown wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:32:42 -0700, Bob Tellefsen wrote:
>
>> I've heard that there is a prototype 6m external preamp
>> being tested.
>>
> I bought an ARR preamp several years ago when I was living in
> Chicago. I patched it into the external antenna "insert" loop
and it

> works well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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[Tom-5]

I bought an ARR peamp for six. It has a bit too much gain, so I have a
BNC 10 Db pad after it. You can get these attenuators on Ebay for $ 10
or so. I have the ARR preamp supported by a double male BNC barrel
coming off the back of the K3 KXV3 panel. The attenuator/pad sits on the
back of the preamp with a 12" bnc jumper back to the KXV3. Power comes
from that handy RCA connector Elecraft put on the K3. Now the rig is
real solid on six.

    And the even better news is that my K3 # 2 just arrived yesterday.
This one will replace a TS-2000 at my six meter remote base.

    Currently, it's raining outside. Nuts, I can't do any yard work!

    tom bosscher K8TB


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[n6wg]

Thanks for the info, Tom.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "K8TB" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6m preamp description??


> I bought an ARR peamp for six. It has a bit too much gain, so I have
a
> BNC 10 Db pad after it. You can get these attenuators on Ebay for $
10
> or so. I have the ARR preamp supported by a double male BNC barrel
> coming off the back of the K3 KXV3 panel. The attenuator/pad sits on
the
> back of the preamp with a 12" bnc jumper back to the KXV3. Power
comes
> from that handy RCA connector Elecraft put on the K3. Now the rig is
> real solid on six.
>
>     And the even better news is that my K3 # 2 just arrived
yesterday.

> This one will replace a TS-2000 at my six meter remote base.
>
>     Currently, it's raining outside. Nuts, I can't do any yard work!
>
>     tom bosscher K8TB
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:46:56 +0100, Stewart Baker wrote:

>I brought a 6m preamp kit from Down East Microwave.

They are well respected in the US.

>It cost only slightly more than if I had sourced the components in
>the UK.

Ah, the weak dollar!

73,

Jim K9YC



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[Stewart Baker]

I'm ready for another holiday in the US next year, before the UK
economy gets much weaker :-(

73
Stewart G3RXQ
On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:45:57 -0700, Jim Brown wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:46:56 +0100, Stewart Baker wrote:
>
>> I brought a 6m preamp kit from Down East Microwave.
>>
> They are well respected in the US.
>
>> It cost only slightly more than if I had sourced the components
in

>> the UK.
>>
> Ah, the weak dollar!
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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