[amsat-bb] Product review

[skristof at etczone.com]

If you are cheap (like me) and trying to download satellite telemetry as
inexpensively as possible, you may be using the $20 RTL-SDR dongle. It
works but you get the performance that you pay for. 

If you're willing to part with another $20, you want to consider the Low
Noise Amplifier for the RTL-SDR from janieelectronics. I ordered one
through eBay and received it yesterday. It ships from Hungary so a
little patience is needed with respect to delivery time, but I did get
mine a day before the last predicted delivery date. 

I used it last night and it works! I definitely downloaded more data
packets from AO-85 than I have been getting lately. I also tried it on a
pass of AO-73 that was at a lower angle than I would normally attempt. I
was able to download data from that pass, which I probably would not
have gotten without the preamp. 

I wasn't paid and didn't get a discount for the review. I am just happy
that an inexpensive item actually works as promised. If you are as cheap
as I am and looking for a preamp for your SDR, consider the
janieelectronics Wide-Band LNA. It works for me. 

Steve AI9IN