Summary by Bob Patten n4bp@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us I put out the question on the CQ-Contest Reflector, "What pre-amp would you recommend for use on 160M with an EWE antenna." Following is a summary of the responses in order of the numbers of recommendations: Advanced Receiver Research P1-30/20VD 4 recommendations Box 1242 Built-in bandpass filter Burlington, CT 06013 Price class $30 tel. (203) 582-9409 Ameco 2 recommendations ? Tuned preselector Price class $120 (new) about $50 - $80 (used) Ten-Tec T-KIT 1001 2 recommendations 1185 Dolly Parton Parkway Needs extra BC band filtering Sevierville, TN 37862 Price class $9 (800) 833-7373 ZJ Beverage Box 2 recommendations Syracuse, NY 1.6 - 4Mhz Built-in bandpass filter tel. (315) 635-7148 Price class ?? Ice 1 recommendation ? 160M Built-in bandpass filter Price class ?? Mini-circuits 1 recommendation ? 18-20 db gain from dc to 2Ghz Price class ?? Ramsey SA-7 1 recommendation ? Needs extra bandpass filtering Price class $14.95 Palomar P-412X 1 recommendation ? Includes T/R switching Price class $160 (new) The ARR seemed to be the most popular model. One said that no preamp was needed with a EWE. All said that units that did not have built-in filtering needed external BPF of BC band filters. One recommended NOT getting the Ameco unit. The word-for-word responses follow: 73, Bob Patten, N4BP ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dennis Peterson Hi Bob; I'm N7CKD in Auburn, Wa and I'ave been using an ADVANCED RECEIVER RESEARCH PREAMPLIFIER for about 10 years now with my IC-735 and it works great with the transceiver or through a beverage antenna system or as I am currently using it with a Steerable Steering Wave antenna for those of us with limited space. The part number I believe is P1-30/20VD. I have used it since 1985 on 10-160 meters with much success with wire antennas and beams and vertical antennas. With the IC-735 transceiver it is possible to obtain 30 db of preamplification depending upon the switch positions on the txcvr and the attenuator. Hope this helps 73's Dennis/N7CKD From: ALSOPB@aol.com YOU CAN GET ONE AS A KIT FROM RAMSEY 1 800 446 2295, ITS A 2 TRANSISTOR UNIT 100KHZ TO 1000MHZ. RUNS ON 12 TO 15VOLTS. PART NUMBER SA-7. $14.95 FOR THE KIT. WORKS OK BUT YOU MAY WANT TO PUT IT AFTER THE TUNED CIRCUITS BECAUSE IT WILL AMPLIFY ANYTHING IN THAT RANGE! MY PACKET GEAR MESSED IT UP WHEN I WAS OPERATING ON 160M! 73 DE BRIAN/K3KO From: Greg Ameco sells the pre-amps....around $120....but to be honest, with my EWE's I don't need it. The antenna and I can hear just fine without it, but I do have one that I got through the Yellow Sheets for about $80. BTW it does cover 10-160....very flat and a good little piece of hardware. Happy Holidays Greg KO9Y From: Doug Grant <0006008716@mcimail.com> Call Advanced Receiver Research in Burlington, CT. W1VD is the owner. He advertises his VHF/UHF rpeamps in QST, but does not advertise his 1-30 MHz 20 dB HF preamp. Nice box. I've got two of em. About $30. Doug K1DG From: Lance356@aol.com Try John, K2ZJ (315) 635-7148) in the early evenings. He is in Syracuse, NY and sells the "Beverage Box" along with other preamps. I have two and recommend them highly. 73, K0CS From: Clark Savage Turner WA3JPG A few thoughts. I just got a pair of wideband preamps from Ten Tec for $9 each. They are about 25 db gain across a wide spectrum. If you have AM activity in the BC band, probably best to use a BC High Pass filter in front of these. There are also two commercial units worth a thought. Ameco puts out a preselector, runs about $50 used, tuned for the ham bands, 20 db or so gain. Palomar puts one out, too, for a little bit more money. These can be stuck in the line with the transceiver and will do their own t/r switching. The Palomar model I have is the P-412X ($160 new). For a budget, the Ten Tec boards can't be beat, just build up a little extra BC band filtering and my bet is that it would do very well. Clark WA3JPG From: Dennis Peterson At 11:48 AM 12/20/95 -0500, you wrote: Yes Bob, they are still in business. You can contact them at either Advanced Receiver Research; Box 1242; Burlington, CT 06013 or phone them at area code 203-582-9409 They do take visa and mastercard for your information. Hope this helps and works out for you. 73s de N7CKD/Dennis From: Frank Donovan I use an excellent preamp from Advanced Receiver Reaearch, in Connecticut. They advertise their VHF/UHF preamps in QST, but they also make excellent HF wideband preamps! Frank W3LPL From: rlc@soho.ios.com {Please let me know your results. I don't recoomedn the AMECO units form an intermod/overload standpoint. Bob AA2UV From: WX0B@aol.com I tried 2 wide band amps at my QTH which is out of town and very quite. what I found on both the beverages and EWE's is that intermod mixing was totally unacceptable from both BC band and shortwave broeadcast stations. So had to put filters ahead of the amp. I finally gave up and bought the k1ZJ or the ZJ preamp beverage amp. It includes a 1.6 to 4Mhz bandpass filter in it. I still had some mixing problems but it was solved by ZJ putting in a lower Hfe transitor ( less gain) but a better intercept point. I found that the less gain is of no consequence since the beverages and EWEs have enouph signal to essentially only need a little bit of gain. Actually used them for years without any amp at all to begin with. I miss not having the antennas for 40m when its noisy, but can always bypass the amp for those rare occasions when needed, I guess. Jay From: Fred Hopengarten K1VR: Advanced Receiver Research (ARR, run by W1VD) and ICE both make such beasts. But you may want a special combination preamp and BPF for 160, because of the proximity of broadcast stations. Both ARR and ICE make those too. I use a combo preamp/BPF for 160 and a 1-30 MHz preamp for 10 meters. Each is about 18-20 dB gain. Fred Hopengarten K1VR From: Philips Telecom Take a look at the Mini-circuits range of MMIC amps such as MAR-1 or MAR-6 They are 50 ohm in and out from dc to 2 GHz gain 18 to 20 dB IP3 is not brilliant but they do work on 1609 for sure. 73 Fred G4BWP -- Philips Telecom - Propagation Group