Fw: [Nooelec] Re: Nooelec SAWBird H1 LNA Barebones

[Andrew Thornett]

Hi All

See correspondence below with Nooelec. Are there other people out there who would like one of the barebones H1 SAWBirds with an internal reference resistor that can be switched in and out?

If so please let Nooelec know - if there are enough people then they will order another batch.

....Perhaps it is worth you saying I've suggested you contact them so they realise there is a group demanding these things. Let me know if you contact them about this so I know numbers and can egg them on a bit.

Andy

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From: Kayla <sup...@nooelec.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 4:47:35 pm
To: Andrew Thornett
Subject: [Nooelec] Re: Nooelec SAWBird H1 LNA Barebones

##- Please type your reply above this line -##

Your request (64767) has been updated. To add additional comments, reply to this email.

Kayla (Nooelec) Dec 4, 2025, 11:47 EST Hello Andrew,   It looks like we aren't planning on ordering another batch, but would consider doing so if there is sufficient demand. If anything changes, we can certainly reach out to let you know :)   Thank you!   Best regards, Kayla

Andrew Thornett Dec 3, 2025, 11:54 EST Thanks Kayla. Are you (the company) ordering more of the barebones version with resistor from the factory, or is the intention not to sell that version any longer? Andy Your request (64767) has been updated. To add additional comments, reply to this email. Kayla (Nooelec) Dec 3, 2025, 09:32 EST Hello Andrew,   Thank you for contacting Nooelec and for your interest in the SAWbird+ H1.   That is correct. The model with the 50 ohm resistor/switch is currently out of stock. At this time, we have only the standard version that comes with the enclosure: SKU 100811. This can currently be purchased via our webstore.   Thank you!     Andrew Thornett Dec 2, 2025, 17:22 EST Am I correct in thinking I can order barebones H1 SAWBIRD direct from you but these do NOT have the inbuilt calibration resistor that can be switched in and out? Andrew @NooelecInc   @Nooelec What’s new at Noo?   Subscribe! [23Z17R-YV394]

[Sweet Thing]

This is less WAY c. The scope in the box store manager, the noise figure penalty is not insignificant when using that built-in switch, and the new hampers are really good.  So I suggest we start finding a good source of quality, SMA switches, instead, that's all for me on vacation in Jamaica at 6 Yankee, 8 Lima, Victor.

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[Jim Brown]

So the one currently available, H1+, will not work?

JB
HNRAO

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[Marcus D. Leech]

On 2025-12-04 12:35, Sweet Thing wrote:

This is less WAY c. The scope in the box store manager, the noise figure penalty is not insignificant when using that built-in switch, and the new hampers are really good.  So I suggest we start finding a good source of quality, SMA switches, instead, that's all for me on vacation in Jamaica at 6 Yankee, 8 Lima, Victor.

Indeed, the "Barebones with a switch" model actually uses the same MMIC amplifiers (TQP3M9037) as the non-barebones model without the switch.  The selected switch was
  advertised by the manufacturer as having very low loss, but in actual practice it was about 0.3dB higher than advertised, hence the considerably higher overall noise figure
  of the "barebones with a switch" device.   Which is unfortunate, because it could have been quite a nice device otherwise.  Having said that, we used a bunch of the
  "barebones with a switch" modules for our summer camp this past summer (two groups of 20 students at a time over 3 weeks), and got satisfactory results using the
  655cm horn antennas built by the students.

Another approach, which I've talked about before is to use a -20dB to -25dB directional coupler to couple-in noise on demand.  The "through" loss on these is very
  modest, depending on design.

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[Marcus D. Leech]

On 2025-12-04 12:46, 'Jim Brown' via Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers wrote:

So the one currently available, H1+, will not work?

JB
HNRAO

If you don't need the switch, the SawBird+ H1 will work just fine, and is lower noise.

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[Alex P]

The New  SAWbird H1+ has identical performance to the original, but the case is larger,

and the internal components are now enclosed within a shielded box.

For typical small dish H Line work, there is little value to switching in a resistor for LNA Gain compensation 

as the units are extremely stable @  -0.1 dB gain change per +10 degC

I've yet to see data from any small H_Line system where LNA Gain change was source of  significant error.

There are other changes which need to first be resolved before Gain is an observable issue. ( typically background noise amplitude drift )

Alex P

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[Sweet Thing]

Agree injection coupling with a high isolation coupler has a lot of advantages and additional possibilities

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[b alex pettit jr]

For typical small dish H Line work, there is little value to switching in a resistor for LNA Gain compensation 

as the units are extremely stable @  -0.1 dB gain change per +10 degC

I've yet to see data from any small H_Line system where LNA Gain change was source of  significant error.

There are other changes which need to first be resolved before Gain is an observable issue. ( typically background noise amplitude drift )

Example :  2.39 dB would equate to a thermal gain change of 239 dgC !

Alex P

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[Eduard Mol]

The switch to a 50ohm resistor would be useful in a Dicke radiometer setup for continuum measurements. For these sorts of observations stability is critical, as even gain drifts as small as 0.1dB will be in the same order as the amplitude of the sources you are looking for. 

For hydrogen line work I would agree that the switch offers little benefit. 

I actually have one of those SAWbird units with the switch included, but I have never used the switch option. 

Op do 4 dec 2025 om 20:41 schreef 'b alex pettit jr' via Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers <sara...@googlegroups.com>

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[Stephen Arbogast]

Well, I have used both LNA's    from NooElec  and Kracken  RF  for  Hydrogen  Line   observations  and  I see no  difference.  I have not  done  any   careful  Engineering   analysis.    My  problems  are local  with RFI from   neighbors.....  It is a challenge   to  remove  all  local  rfi   to   arrive  at  a  good picture 

[Cathal O'Donghaile]

For anyone in Europe looking for this, amazon.de have 1 X barebones and 11 X the cased version in stock.