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VHF/UHF amplifier?

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Satoshi Katsumoto

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Nov 11, 1998, 3:00:00 AM11/11/98
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I am looking to purchase a VHF/UHF dual band amplifier for my Yaesu FT-50.
The choices I have seem to be the MAHA MH-A201, MH-A302, and the Mirage BD-35.
Does anyone have any comments on these amplifiers before I decide on my own
with what little info I can find out there?
--
Satoshi Katsumoto, EMT (KB2ZTR)
URL: http://www.rpi.edu/~katsus
Email: kat...@rpi.edu
ICQ: 20762003
AIM: SKatsumoto

Gary Meissner

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Nov 12, 1998, 3:00:00 AM11/12/98
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On Wed, 11 Nov 1998 13:41:34 -0500, Satoshi Katsumoto <kat...@rpi.edu>
wrote:

>I am looking to purchase a VHF/UHF dual band amplifier for my Yaesu FT-50.
>The choices I have seem to be the MAHA MH-A201, MH-A302, and the Mirage BD-35.
>Does anyone have any comments on these amplifiers before I decide on my own
>with what little info I can find out there?

I also have an FT50 and am planning to buy the MaHa 302. It seem like
the cheapest way to get more power. It's not as nice as a new dual
band unit, but I think it will due 'till more cash is available.

The friendly folks at MaHa say the mirage unit is a copy of theirs.
The local store has a used one in the consignment case for $100 (no
radio adaptor).

Gary KC0EIC

Dave Martindale

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Nov 12, 1998, 3:00:00 AM11/12/98
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kat...@rpi.edu writes:
>I am looking to purchase a VHF/UHF dual band amplifier for my Yaesu FT-50.
>The choices I have seem to be the MAHA MH-A201, MH-A302, and the Mirage BD-35.
>Does anyone have any comments on these amplifiers before I decide on my own
>with what little info I can find out there?

I have the MH-A302. It works pretty much the way MAHA describes. My
power output is a bit lower than what is specified, but the power *in*
is also below 5 W. This seems to be because the amplifier input is not
50 ohms resistive, and the SWR causes the HT to throttle back on output
power. I've used it with a FT-50 and FT-51.

And yes, you can use the FT-51 as a crossband repeater with the 302.
When transmitting on VHF, the UHF receive path through the amplifier
remains open (and vice versa). This is a neat feature.

I think the main problem of the unit is that it has no fan. It does
have a good-sized heat sink, so operating at full power for a few
minutes is fine. But if you want to talk for a long time, it really
seems like it needs a fan. It gets too hot to hold.

The fact that the radio mounts on the amplifier is both advantage and
disadvantage. It provides a nice way of mechanically mounting the radio
and providing power to it. It also means that you can no longer hold
your handheld in your hand. You really need a separate mic or
speaker-mic.

Dave

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