LNA4All Low Noise Amplifier Review
Over on the SDR for Mariners blog, author Akos has reviewed the LNA4All low noise amplifier. The LNA4All is a 25 euro amplifier designed to improve the performance of the RTL-SDR.
His results show that the LNA works very well. Akos tested the LNA4ALL on multiple frequencies and applications including commercial radio, airband, NOAA weather satellites, AIS and ADSB. As an example of the improvement, his ADSB reception was improved from 83km to 94km. In his review Akos also shows how to provide power to the LNA, and puts the LNA through some simple stress tests.
Some are also using cheap satellite boosters (after modding these by cutting tracks so power will be not feed into dongles and into antenna) for this purpose. Unfortunately no idea how these compare to lna4all.
There were an another option in the RTL-SDR group, here is the datasheet: Datasheet
I’ve researched the available options before ordering the LNA4All and writing the review, available options are either in a kit (I can but will not solder) or have higher noise figures.
LNA4ALL works, and works well. (and no, I have no affiliation with the seller)
That alternative uPC2709TB is also not ‘low noise’ as it has a noise figure of 5dB@1GHz. The PSA4-5043 based ones like the LNA4ALL and the ebay one have much lower noise figures of 0.75dB@1GHz. Though, I am unsure of how significant the real world degradation would be.
Here is a cheaper version, 25 euro is a lot. Ebay Link
Thanks for the link. I actually have that kit and it does work well.
But for international buyers, once you factor in the intl shipping costs it’s $28.83 USD for the ebay one, and $33 USD for the lna4all. Plus the lna4all is preassembled and tested, whereas the ebay one is an SMT kit. (Note, I have no affiliation with any of these lna sellers)
That`s correct, other item is assembled and that`s a plus. Have you tested this one as well ? The 25 euro LNA ?
Haven’t tested the LNA4ALL before, but i’m assuming that they’d be almost identical.
Yes, it’s very handy to have one of these, but 25€? You can make one yourself for just a few dollars! The main component is a MMIC amplifier. And the circuit is very simple.
Thanks. Looking at the datasheet, I think the ERA-5SM you linked is not classed as ‘low noise’ though, as the typ. noise figure is 3.5dB, vs the PSA4-5043+ which is 1.44dB at worst. But the circuit design is still the same.