This is great information. I’m starting to wonder with all the fuss and expense to get this to work if I might just be better off biting the bullet and putting the money into a mobile haha. After all that’s essentially what I’m trying to accomplish is mobile radio-like capabilities.
> On Nov 30, 2014, at 6:36 PM, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Ok.
> So, you want to have the least amount of adapters in the signal path because 
> each time you introduce an adapter, you lose RF power.
> If the Mirage bd-35 has a BNC connecter on the input, you want to get a coax 
> jumper cable, a length of your choosing, with an SMA male on one end, and a 
> BNC male on the other.  If the Mirage amp has an so239/UHF Female connecter 
> for the input, you want to have a coax jumper with an SMA male for the radio 
> end, and a PL259 or UHF male on the other end.
> I am going to make an educated guess and say that the antenna jack on the 
> amp is an so239 connecter, so the pl259 that is on the end of the antenna 
> coax will fit without any adapter.
> If I were you, I'd try to find a piece of jumper coax, about 3 feet long and 
> have it made from RG174 coax.  This coax cable is thin and flexible and will 
> yield little loss over 3 feet.
> Also, a thinner coax cable like rg174 will put allot less strain on the 
> radios SMA connecter...a well known problem with the SMA connecters on the 
> TH F6A is that they tend to break inside if allot of strain is put on them 
> over a period of time...IE a thicker stiffer piece of coax with an adapter 
> on it...
> 
> Hope that helps
> 
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Ashley Bernard
> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 4:24 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: power amplifiers
> 
> I have an adapter that goes on the end of the cable so it can hook into =
> the SMA port.
>> On Nov 30, 2014, at 6:21 PM, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]> =
> wrote:
>> =20
>> so are you using some kind of adapter to go from the SMA female =
> connecter on=20
>> the radio itself to the connecter on the end of the coax of the =
> antenna?
>> Or does the antenna coax have an SMA male on it already?  I ask =
> because you=20
>> can buy mag mounts with either an SMA male, or a pl259 =
> connecter...anyway,=20
>> you'll have to determine what you have and the type of jumper cable =
> you'll=20
>> need.
>> =20
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> -----Original Message-----=20
>> From: Ashley Bernard
>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:50 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: power amplifiers
>> =20
>> Thanks. This is good info. that is indeed the amplifier I=3DE2=3D80=3D99=
> m =3D
>> looking at. my primary radio is a kenwood thf6a. My antenna is mounted =
> =3D
>> on a high shelf near the window.
>> Thanks.
>> Ashley
>> =20
>> =20
>>> On Nov 30, 2014, at 1:45 PM, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]> =
> =3D
>> wrote:
>>> =3D20
>>> is this the mirage BD-35 dual band amp listed for $199?
>>> You need a power supply and a jumper cable to go from your radio to =3D=
> 
>> the amp.=3D20
>>> Also, check out what kind of connecters are on the amp so you can =3D
>> order the=3D20
>>> correct ends on the jumper cable for your HT and the amp's input=3D20
>>> connecter...as well as to connect your antenna.
>>> It doesn't indicate on the Mirage sight, at least not in the brief=3D20=
> 
>>> description, what type of connecters are used for the input and =3D
>> outputs on=3D20
>>> the amp itself.
>>> They are either BNC or so239 also known as UHF female connecters.
>>> I don't recall exactly what antenna and radio you are using, so =3D
>> perhaps let=3D20
>>> us know and then me or someone can let you know exactly what coax =3D
>> jumper,=3D20
>>> and cable ends you will need to hook everything up.
>>> I agree though, that if you are using a magnetic mount antenna =3D
>> indoors, that=3D20
>>> 45 watts output may be asking for trouble with both RFI issues, as =3D
>> well as=3D20
>>> safety issues being in close proximity to the radiating element.
>>> Though, that said, many people use 45 or 50 watts in a mobile with =
> the=3D20=3D
>> =20
>>> antenna sitting on the roof of their vehicle 6 inches from their =
> head, =3D
>> so=3D20
>>> it's probably not that big a deal.
>>> Also, if you are using an indoor antenna, jumping to 45 watts may not =
> =3D
>> yield=3D20
>>> the results you want, IE, getting into more distant repeaters or =3D
>> getting a=3D20
>>> significantly better signal into the repeaters you already get into.
>>> You are dealing with allot of RF blockage inside a dorm building =
> and=3D20=3D
>> =20
>>> sometimes increasing power doesn't fix the problem of poor signals =3D
>> into the=3D20
>>> repeater.
>>> It may help a little, and if your antenna is near a window that faces =
> =3D
>> the=3D20
>>> repeater you wish to get into more strongly, then the jump in power =3D=
> 
>> will=3D20
>>> help.
>>> Just a couple things to consider is all.
>>> =3D20
>>> 73
>>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>> -----Original Message-----=3D20
>>> From: Ashley Bernard
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 5:41 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: power amplifiers
>>> =3D20
>>> so, midst the chaos of after thanksgiving shopping, =
> I=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D99ve =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> stumbled upon a power amplifier online. My only question is do I need =
> =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> other devices to make this work? Of course I can=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D99t =
> =3D
>> exactly look =3D3D
>>> at the setup figure to understand what I need to connect to what.=3D20
>>> I=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D99=3D3D
>>> m guessing I need a power supply and a second line of coax besides =3D
>> that =3D3D
>>> from the antenna to the radio?
>>> The power amplifier I=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D99m looking into is the =
> mirage b35.
>>> Thanks.
>>> Ashley KC1CPS=3D3D=3D20=20