• 10 db Gain, 1 db Noise Figure • Runs on 9 to 15 VDC • Hi-Q tuned input to reduce overload • Small size to fit in any rig • The most popular preamp kit in the USA! • Easy 15 minute assembly 440 Mhz LOW NOISE PREAMP KIT Perk up your reception on 440 Mhz with this easy-to-build and install kit. Works well with any radio - especially effective in repeaters. Rugged design using a microwave transistor outperforms units costing triple the price! Kit No.
INTRODUCTION TO THE PR40 LOW NOISE PREAMPLIFIER A “preamplifier” gives an initial boost, measured in decibels, to the level of a signal before it is further processed by tuned circuits, filters, amplifiers, mixers, detectors, or other circuit stages. Preamps may be designed for either RF or audio use and may be either tuned or broadbanded.
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION L1 and C2 form a tuned input filter for the preamp to reject out-of-band signals. The 3 db bandwidth of this filter is 24MHz. L1 is adjustable for peak performance. The 2SC2498 transistor is a bipolar silicon NPN low noise UHF/VHF amplifier in a TO-92 case suitable for service up to 5 Ghz, with maximum device dissipation of 600 milliwatts. Q1 has a very low noise figure, determined by the bias established by R1 and R2. The actual circuit is about as simple as they come.
PARTS SUPPLIED WITH PR40 KIT CAPACITORS 2 2 or 2.2pF disc capacitor (C1,2) 2 4.7 or 5pF disc capacitor (C3,6) 1 100pF disc capacitor [marked 100 or 101] (C4) 1 .01uF disc capacitor [may be marked .
RAMSEY PR40 PRE-AMP PARTS LAYOUT DISREGARD HOLES NOTE: Bend over L1 lead after installing to connect the two PC traces together PR40—5 FOR MOUNTING SCREW
PR40 PRE-AMP ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE Soldering 10 parts to a PC board is not a big job, but good performance of the PR40 requires attention to keeping all leads as short and neat as possible. The order of parts installation is not critical for this and other small kits, so the purpose of the following suggested order of assembly is just to make it as easy as possible for you to get the parts placed correctly on the first try. For your convenience, the PC board pictorial is considerably enlarged.
3. Install C4, 100pF (marked 100 or 101). 4. Install C5, .01uF (marked .01 or 103 or 10nF). Disc capacitor C5 is the bypass capacitor for the DC voltage supply points on the PC board. 5. Install Q1, 2SC2498 or 2SC2570A. Press Q1 into its respective location on the PC board, which should be quite obvious by the placement of the previous parts. Orient the flat side as shown on the PC board illustration.
PROGRESS SUMMARY: The wiring of your Ramsey PR series preamp PC board is now complete. It will take you less than a minute to completely recheck every single soldering connection as well as for the appropriate part installations. Correct parts placement checked. PC board soldering checked...touched up if needed. INPUT AND OUTPUT CONNECTIONS Use short pieces of miniature coax such as RG-174 to connect the PC board input and output points to the RF connectors you wish to use.
TESTING AND ADJUSTMENT With your preamp installed between antenna and receiver, the only adjustment needed is the obvious one: peaking L1 for maximum signal strength. This may require more patience than most of us would think, because the adjustment should be made on a weak signal transmitting long enough to permit the adjustment. You can adjust L1 by gently spreading or squeezing the coil turns. Use a non-metallic tool or a small toothpick.
PR40 ON-OFF SWITCHING SUGGESTION Depending on your particular application and intended frequency, you may wish to use a DPDT power switch with one pole controlling voltage and the other pole connecting the input and output of the PR40 when the DC supply voltage is in the “OFF” position. This setup is very practical when you want to switch the preamp in and out of a receiver antenna line. ALL RF connections to the switch should be as short as possible. Use good quality miniature coaxial cable.
A 440 Mhz “ACTIVE ANTENNA” For situations where a simple indoor receiving antenna is needed, the PR40 preamp will add considerably improved performance to a whip antenna adjusted to 1/4 or 5/8 wave. And, for a very well engineered true active antenna for both HF and VHF at a break-through low price, take a look at our new model AA7 Active Antenna kit which features an on-board battery supply, adjustable gain control, heavy-duty whip, HF-VHF mode switching, and jack for using external antennas.
2SC2498 CHARACTERISTICS: The 2SC2498 transistor is a bipolar silicon NPN low noise UHF/VHF amplifier in a TO-92 case, suitable for service up to 5GHz, with maximum device dissipation of 600 milliwatts. Other maximum ratings: Collector -to-Base Voltage: 25 V Collector-to-Emitter Voltage: 12 V Base-to-Emitter Voltage: 3V Maximum Collector Current: 70 mA Standard replacements: ECG10 or SK9139.
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE The only possible causes for malfunction of the PR40 are faulty or incorrectly installed parts. Recheck your work. Transistor replacement information is provided. Poor performance such as oscillation can be caused by bad parts-mounting (excessive lead length of resistors or capacitors). Erratic operation will be traced to poor input, output, or voltage connections, or a faulty solder connection.
THE RAMSEY PR2: THE ULTIMATE BROADBAND PREAMPLIFIER After you find out how practical a well-built PR40 can be for 440MHz operating, you will be quite impressed with the “all bands” higher gain (also with very low noise) plus the convenient AC power supply, BNC I/O connectors and LED ON-OFF indicator of the Ramsey PR2, available factory-wired. The PR2 uses advanced microwave MMIC for signalto-noise figures that are typically 27db (over 4 “S-units”) gain, and only 2-3db of noise increase.
The Ramsey Kit Warranty Please read carefully BEFORE calling or writing in about your kit. Most problems can be solved without contacting the factory. All Ramsey kits will work if assembled properly. The very fact that your kit includes this new manual is your assurance that a team of knowledgeable people have field-tested several "copies" of this kit straight from the Ramsey Inventory.
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