Batboard

I want to build an antenna preamp for my MT1000's. Anybody have any specs on max antenna gain, pattern, do's and don'ts, etc.? Thanks.

I hope this is to be a receive only radio?

Not neccessarily. At least if I do it right. Yeah, I know its illegal and all that stuff, but I live in some seriously deep mountains and woods. Got anything?

How do you plan on doing this?

Okay, everybody seems to be wiggin' out here. Maybe I used the wrong word, preamp. I'll probably build something like what the CBer's called a "linear". A simple high-gain antenna amplifier capable of full-duplex comms by using a PTT-controlled relay. Motorola themselves wrote an engineering bulletin about 25 years ago describing a 1KW amp. Wouldn't that be nice.

Antennas don't get amplified. You amplify what goes in and out of the antenna.

So, where do you plan on putting this thing and what antenna do you plan on using?

Well, how much power you need? The portable only provides 4 watts of drive, so the linear will cost you at LEAST $3000 for 25 watts. Then you say a switch?

"full-duplex comms by using a PTT-controlled relay"

That sounds really expensive to me.

As to cost, I already have most of the stuff I need, thanks to old Uncle Sam's surplus sales. I used the term "antenna amplifier" to distinguish it from "audio amplifier". Maybe I should have said "signal". Anyway, my original question was, "Anybody have any specs on max antenna gain, pattern, do's and don'ts, etc.? Thanks." Now that I look at it, it does sound stupid. Replace the word "gain" with "input" and it gets closer to what I need, i.e. max antenna input level, radiated TX pattern, max time for an unloaded final out, etc. That kind of stuff.

OK, lets try this again.

What are you using for an antenna & where?

If I knew what the correct transmission pattern was, I could then choose the correct antenna design. Do I use a beam, a dipole, half-dipole, Yagi, or what? I'll probably need some directionality, also. Where it will be located will be as far up the side of a mountain as I can climb. Basically, a base station with a LOT of power is what I'm looking for.

I think before we go any farther, you need to tell us what this is for. Using a portable with an amplifier on mountainside with an unknown antenna isn't sounding very legitimate.

Okay, one of you can go stuff yourself. I don't NEED to tell you squat. Are you some kind of antenna police? Or just a patriot? Sieg Heil! I already said it was probably illegal. I'm going to ignore you now and concentrate on those that will help. To everyone else: (I'll say this so even I can understand it.) Does anyone have the performance specifications for an MT1000 with regards to antenna input and output. There. That's as simple as I can make it.

Perhaps you need to rethink the last post...

None of us minds helping people out as long as they're honest/legal about what they want and don't come with an attitude. You've obviously lost quite a few knowledgeable people who aren't going to help because they smell a rat, or at least something rotten/illegal.

You've probably lost the rest of the people left because you became defensive, rude, and insulting when people asked legitimate questions about the use of your "antenna".

If you've been reading this board for any length of time, you should know all of this. Almost everyone here has been a great help to me, and it's time I started speaking up against this kind of posting that tends to ruin the reading and goes after the regulars here, especially as of late... (of course, the regulars are well documented to know how to take care of themselves )

Remember, this is a two way street: just as you don't NEED to tell us squat, we don't HAVE to give you any help.

Be polite, check the attitude at the door, be honest about what you're asking about, and try again. If you can't/won't do that, good luck finding help here.

Gordon

I tried to help with what little information he's divulging piece by piece and look what it gets me. Oh well. Good luck with your project, I was trying to help you but you.

captainkirksdog wrote:Okay, one of you can go stuff yourself. I don't NEED to tell you squat. Are you some kind of antenna police? Or just a patriot? Sieg Heil! I already said it was probably illegal. I'm going to ignore you now and concentrate on those that will help. To everyone else: (I'll say this so even I can understand it.) Does anyone have the performance specifications for an MT1000 with regards to antenna input and output. There. That's as simple as I can make it.

ME FIRST!!!!

Whats with the picture of the dog and the gun?

I find it a bit disturbing.

I was kinda wondering about the dog thing as well. Unless there is some kind of hidden meaning to it, the image is VERY disturbing. Couple that with his obvious other issues that have surfaced and I find this person as a whole VERY disturbing....

KH, while I still don't agree with immidiately bashing the person without at least trying, in this case, you instincts were probably right.

This is my original post:
"I want to build an antenna preamp for my MT1000's. Anybody have any specs on max antenna gain, pattern, do's and don'ts, etc.? Thanks."
This is my second post:
"Not neccessarily. At least if I do it right. Yeah, I know its illegal and all that stuff, but I live in some seriously deep mountains and woods. Got anything?"
Now, I've just told everyone who can read what the deal is. I'm not giving anyone any information about my antenna because I don't HAVE any information about my antenna. I haven't built the dang thing yet. Why else would I ask for it? I'm tired of playing 20 questions with a bunch of self-righteous puppies who feel its THEIR job to correct the error of MY ways. If I get busted by the Feds its MY problem. I appreciate everyone's concern for my welfare, however I can do without the sugar-coated preaching. I said it was probably illegal. How much more does that rat need to smell? If you don't want to help, then don't. I try very hard NOT to be a hypocrite. How many of YOU do? Ever transmit on a frequency you weren't licensed for? Do you own bootleg MP3's or movies, or even, (gasp) RSS? Ever tell anyone the protected contents of a private radio communication, thus violating the ECPA? If I do have an attitude, and I probably do, it may be due to the word games I'm getting instead of the antenna data I initially asked for. However, I will attempt to "put a cork in it" and offer an apology to Matt, Gordon, KH and all the others who may be reading this. I wil though, continue to "play this close to the vest", because what YOU don't know, can't hurt ME. (see second post). I reiterate: "Anybody have any specs on max antenna gain [correction: input], pattern, do's and don'ts, etc.? Thanks"

I was going to type out a long response to this sensless babble. I changed my mind and deleted it all. Instead, I am going to go with what KH said in the very begining....

LET ME EXPLAIN S0METHING, FRIEND. THE FCC IS DRASTICALLY UNDERSTAFFED, AND THERE ARE MANY OF US 2 WAY TECHS WHO TRY TO DO WHAT THE HAMS DO, SELF POLICING, WHICH IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I built and maintain a 20 channel UHF trunked system for a local school district---any time I can unmute the receivers and hear anywhere from 0 to 5 unlicensed
JAGOFFS transmitting on my duly licensed channels. So I have to play the nonproductive game of chase the jagoff with a yagi. I hate that game.

So newsflash for you--- if there's anything I can say or do to mislead or screw you up in your illegal endeavor, I'll do so, and continue to conspire against you as I have since yesterday.

Your question is still very vague...not sure what it is you really want to know???

He wants us to answer a question that can't be answered without more information about what it is for.

"Hi. I want an antenna. Which one should I get and how well will it work?"

That is basiclly what he is saying... you know, along with "It would be illegal and I am an idiot"

"full-duplex comms by using a PTT-controlled relay"

...WHAT???????


Funny as hell, that part.

If you people will go back and actually READ what I said, you will find that NOWHERE do I ask for ANYONE'S help in DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, or OPERATING my system or antenna. I know how to do that. I DID ask for the specifications for an MT1000. That was all. My question about antenna TYPES is rhetorical. Do you know what rhetorical means?

You say I wasn't being truthful. Did I not admit that it was probably illegal? What more do you want? Oh, yeah, I know. I live at 123 Main Street, yada, yada. All of you assumed that because I want to build a high-gain antenna that I am an unlicensed, irresponsible, JAGOFF. Wrong on all counts, people. Remember that I said "seriously deep mountains and woods". Get my drift?

I guess that no one has heard of a Convert-A-Com? I believe that it uses a PTT-controlled relay. I don't know for sure since I've never taken mine apart. But if it doesn't, a lot of other systems do. I admit I made an error in calling it "full-duplex" when in fact it is half-duplex. In my defense I will say only that I meant it would amplify the signal in both directions. A poor choice of words.

Its ironic, I take Gordon's [NodrogCop] advice and apologize to everyone and I get even MORE nastyness and venom from some of you. I obviously came to a place where everyone only pretends to know what they're talking about.

Looks and reads like you got off on the wrong foot here a bit but i did see an appology and thats a good start in the right direction.

The real problem though is batlabbers do hold a high respect for any and all bands including yours and Ham as well.

Ham bands as i have stated before are policed by Ham members themselves and this is what keeps Ham running at such a high level of profesionalism.

And now i see some real good improvement on battlabs as well in some member policing as to bringing up the professionalism as well.

And im damb proud to see it start to happen myself.

Now dont get me wrong here = I sincerly hope you come around to the better way of asking for help ect as we can use members with a positive attitude and your welcome should you decide to do so.

But again i dont believe the profesionalism exists any longer on this bd to help with an ileagal project and as such the batlab members have elected to astain from providing help in such an ilegal project which is a policing action directed at keeping the freq bands clean and legal.

I have started a list of batlab members that i wont extend help to due to the attitude/lack of respect that they posted that caused problems here on the bd and encourage others to do so as well.

No i havent added you to the list but mention it only as a reminder that others may do it as well.

The one thing about my list was that once a member made the list that i qeuss i hought theyd probably remain on the list but i was surprised at the results of members starting to police the bd for attitude/rudeness ect and have actualing seen such an improvement on many of the no help listd members that i had to remove them from the list due to much improvement ect.

Now i dont know if this was due to them seeing what was happening and took notice or they just had a bad night/day.

But its been a positive improvement towards the better side at any rate.

Yes you can become a good member yet but NO we cant lower our standard of helping you with an illegal project. (Good Batlab Morals)

And you didnt come to a place where no one knows what there talking about as you said / You did however come to a place that many could have helped but had high morals to resist illegal projects as you stated yours was.

EKLB

Once again, I had this long ass response with all these quotes and contradictions typed out. Just as I was trying to think of how to conclude, it hit me.... WHY! Why am I wasting my time with someone who is obviously TRYING to win the "BatBoard Bafoon 2003" contest and at the same time, attempting a hostile takover of the Village Idiot tittle currently held by......... Astro_Saber

I now conclude this much shorter response with a chuckle. You can't let somene as ignorant as this get you annoyed or flustered. Just read and laugh at it.

What I can't understand is why would building an antenna be illegal? Just a legitimate question, no bashing intended...

I don't think it is the antenna that is illegal. He is talking about what it is used for (ie- unlicenced wattage, unlicenced frequency, etc). I'm sure people would be more than willing to help him but if what he wants to do is so illegal that he can't give us enough details to correctly help him, what more can he expect?

While the original post was a bit garbled, and things did not get much better as the poster proceeded, my take on this is that the fellow was looking for assistance in setting up a linear amplifier attached to a transceiver (but downstream of the transceiver's RF switch) so as to be able to transmit with unlicensed power, possibly on an unlicensed frequency, and on that assumption, I simply passed on to something else.

nmfire10 wrote:I don't think it is the antenna that is illegal. He is talking about what it is used for (ie- unlicenced wattage, unlicenced frequency, etc). I'm sure people would be more than willing to help him but if what he wants to do is so illegal that he can't give us enough details to correctly help him, what more can he expect?

Exactly, that's what I was getting at. I just didn't want to sound like I had 'issues' or like I didn't 'have a dime of respect' or anything like that. I wanted to come across as the nice guy that I am...

Sorry, I just had to say that...lol

13 posts up from this one you state and im qoating you. (Unlucky number)

I know its illegal and all that stuff,
but i live in some seriously deep mountains and woods. Got anything?

You might think you didnt admit it was ilegal but your above posting tells us you did admit it was illegal.

So again no help will be extended from good batlab members as its not proper to destroy a freq for anyone else just because of your selfish desires which would only cause problems for cochannel users ect.

Its not right to be so inconsiderate to the cochannel users just because you dont care about them and its that attitude plus the one your showing here that will cause you problems here on battlabs and with cochannel users as well and eventualy with the FCC that by the way when and if you have to deal with will simply make life look bad and suicide an very appealing option !

YOU DONT WANT TO GO THERE !

EKLB