Ramsey Electronics PR40 User manual

PR40—1
440 Mhz
LOW NOISE
PREAMP
KIT
•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
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. PR40

PR40—2
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.
The Ramsey Low Noise PR10, 20, and 40 Preamplifiers for 144, 220, and 440 Mhz,
respectively, differ from our popular SA7 and PR2 broadband preamplifiers in that these
models include high-Q tuned input circuits to pre-select the desired frequency range,
restricting the strength of other out-of-band signals. Also, the microwave transistor is biased
for best low noise performance.

PR40—3
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. Maximum gain and freedom from oscillation are accomplished by
the quality of workmanship in parts installation and I/O connector wiring.

PR40—4
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 .01, 103, or 10nF] (C5)
RESISTORS
1 470 ohm [yellow-violet-brown] (R1)
1 100K ohm [brown-black-yellow] (R2)
OTHER COMPONENTS
1 PRX printed circuit board
1 2-turn pre-wound coil (L1)
1 2SC2498 or 2SC2570A microwave bipolar transistor (Q1)
REQUIRED, NOT SUPPLIED
9 - 15 VDC power source
RF input and output connectors (your choice of type)

PR40—5
RAMSEY PR40 PRE-AMP PARTS LAYOUT
DISREGARD
HOLES
NOTE: Bend over L1 lead after installing
to connect the two PC traces together
FOR MOUNTING
SCREW

PR40—6
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. While working with a small PC board such as the PR40, a miniature
vise plus a magnifier may prove very helpful.
In all steps below, the word install means to insert the component (oriented correctly) into
the right holes, solder all wires, and cut or nip away excess wire flush with the solder
connection. IMPORTANT: Keep ALL component leads as short as possible!
1. Install R1, 470 ohm (yellow-violet-brown). Notice from the schematic that R1
determines Q1’s collector voltage and therefore the bias voltage fed by R2.
2. Install R2, 100K ohms (brown-black-yellow).

PR40—7
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. Press the transistor in place firmly with
finger pressure so that a minimum amount of wire leads are exposed above the PC board.
In soldering, do not be afraid to apply enough heat to make good, clean, solid connections.
6. Install C3 and C6, 4.7 or 5pF (marked 4.7, 4.7K, 5, or 5K).
7. Install C2, 2 or 2.2pF (marked 2 or 2.2). C2 and L1 form the tuned input filter.
8. Install C1, 2 or 2.2pF (marked 2 or 2.2). C1 is the antenna input coupling capacitor.
9. Install L1, the pre-wound 2-turn coil, into the two lower component holes. Bend over its
non-ground lead on the bottom of the board to form a jumper to the adjoining PC trace,
thus establishing a common connection between L1, C1, C2, and C3.

PR40—8
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. For the neatest installation, it is good
practice to pre-tin the coax ends before soldering to the PC board. Plan your probable
applications with as much foresight as possible so that you don’t spend more on cable
adapters than you did on the kit!

PR40—9
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. This coil does not use
an adjustable coil slug because such coils are not suitable at this frequency due to the small
inductance required. Since this is a low noise preamp, don’t look for an imaginary increase in
noise level or waste time trying to make a strong repeater signal seem stronger!
CAUTION
Under no circumstances should transmitter RF ever be applied to the input or output of this
preamplifier. Even though this sounds like unneeded advice and common-sense knowledge,
we should remember that most of today’s receivers are in transceiver configuration, and that
all it takes is one accidental push of a button out of habit, or an inadvertent bump of a keyer,
to destroy a preamplifier.

PR40—10
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.
STRONG SIGNAL OVER-LOADING
If you live in a situation where there are very strong nearby stations, you may experience
overloading of the receiver to which the preamp is connected. This is especially true for
small hand-held radios - after all, what do you think they leave out to make the size small?
Front-end filtering components are large, but they serve a needed purpose in high RF
environments. Unfortunately, there is little you can do except to add the missing filtering.
Digi-Key (1-800-digi-key) sells the TOKO line of helical filters which are excellent. Expect to
pay about twice as much as you paid for this preamp!