AirBuddy bidirectional amplifier RX test with VNA

I did a test with my VNA to see if Airbuddy is amplifying the signal in direction from antenna(OUT port) to the miner(IN port). I build an attenuator to bring the signal down to -17db. In the test, this amplifier bring the signal up to -4.2db(from -17db), so this is almost 13db win(for RX)!
I've replaced the original SMA ports from amplifier with RP-SMA to make it plug and play, between miner's port and cable!
The power solution is not ok because the amplifier doesn't fit to the Sensecap M1, so the final solution is not the one presented in this video!
I'm still learning how to work with a VNA, so please understand!(don't know how to test TX way :((((, but i'm learning)
Sorry for the video quality, i'm working to improve this!(better camera)
This is not an advertising video!!!!!
Thanks for watching!

[@welding162]

Thank you very much for your video It helps a lot to understand how to use the VNA and amplifier More of them :)

[@phoenicianbird109]

Thank you for your technical videos... Please make a conclusion at the end... And what you think its the better setup and result...all the best and good luck

[@adaniel69]

Hi. The best setup is not the same for all... It depends on location!!! For some users a lower gain is better, for other, a panel antenna is better... It depends...

[@phoenicianbird109]

@@adaniel69 Ah ok 👍Thank you for replay

[@EEIUMinho]

Hi Daniel, another nice video!!! The Sensecap M1 already as an Saw Filter inside, no need, or is just for attenuation? Doesn´t the USB port on the Sensecap resulted well as power to the amplifier?? Keep it going

[@JazevoAudiosurf]

Hi, how do you kow the M1 has a saw filter inside?

[@EEIUMinho]

@@JazevoAudiosurf Schematics my friend!!! Also, check the Sorin´s videos... he opened a Sensecap and removed the saw filter to have more db, (because of the filter attenuation) but put it back again to have more "signal quality".

[@adaniel69]

@@JazevoAudiosurf i know that it has because i opened the RF card myself!

[@adaniel69]

I've just modified the cable, that's all. But is not fitting phisically the way that dc port is soldered in this video! I've modified after this video!

[@adaniel69]

I used the saw filter for attenuation RX and TX!

[@landscapemelodies]

Great video Daniel, thanks. I'm learning too. Your nano is cool!!!

[@adaniel69]

Thanks! I've ordered also a case for it! 13€ from China! 👍

[@landscapemelodies]

Do you know if I can measure a 915Mhz antenna?

[@adaniel69]

@@landscapemelodies i don't know! Can you? 🤣🤣🤣 PS: i don't understand your question!

[@ozalpcaglardemir6981]

Hello, I have an AIRBUDDY amplifier. I turn the screw all the way to the left. My antenna is 8dbi. I update my antenna on the helium site and do 15 dbi, but there is no increase in my income. My income is even lower. heltec brand hotspot keeps leaving port. How can I run this amp and increase my income? Please help me.

[@MrPDSI]

Nice test! I had precisely those doubts about the right placement. It's not a big difference but, still is a difference. Thanks for sharing

[@adaniel69]

You mean where goes OUT and where goes IN? Or the power cable?

[@MrPDSI]

@@adaniel69 the saw filter be before or after the amplifier

[@adaniel69]

@@MrPDSI i've used just for attenuation of RX and TX!

[@boisv4953]

Hello, few days back I ordered this amplifier online but after few hours order was cancelled because seller couldn't find in stock, I've tried Alibaba, ebay but 868mhz out of stocks all over these sites, only 510 mhz available, is there possibe to modify 510mhz into 868mhz? Thanks.

[@adaniel69]

Hi. Not sure what is the difference inside, but i don't think that is much of a difference, since is just an amplifier...but maybe the trigger(for tx switch) can be different... I don't really know, because i didn't had one on other frequency. Maybe i will test one in future...

[@wojciechjurczyk9927]

Hey daniel did you change settings on amplifier? Max to the left, differently than clock moves? Or did you leave the factory settings?

[@adaniel69]

Hi. Min is to the left(counterclockwise, 5db) and Max is to the right(clockwise, 11db)! But for TX only! RX is always 11db! I set mine to MAX! 👍

[@wojciechjurczyk9927]

@@adaniel69 no problem with USB power supply from miner?

[@adaniel69]

@@wojciechjurczyk9927 no! Everything ok! I have Sensecap!

[@wojciechjurczyk9927]

@@adaniel69 thx, can't wait to receive mine. Good luck buddy

[@chaosmagicification5770]

Hi did you change that little dipswitch setting near the output connection

[@adaniel69]

Hi! That's a potentiometer! No, why?

[@chaosmagicification5770]

I don't know what is that for. Might be you did something 😂

[@adaniel69]

@@chaosmagicification5770 that potentiometer is to adjust gain for TX(5-11db). RX is fixed gain(11db).

[@robertVandelanotteonlinemoney]

Top bro

[@rfareas]

Don't do saw between amp and miner, because there is some switch in amp that monitors the power output from miner.

[@adaniel69]

Hi. On miner i have saw filter between amp and cable(to antenna)!

[@Righttorepair880]

Hey Daniel, i Hope you doing well. Thank you. How about the loss when you attached variable length of LMR400 after the amp? How about adjustment the rx signal?

[@adaniel69]

You can adjust only TX on this amplifier, between 5-11db! RX is fixed to 11db! I cannot test with LMR400 because i don't have the right adapters and i only have one 5m cable. But i have some RGxxx and one LMR195 that i can test!

[@PepeRoma1]

¿Por que no marca traduccion al subir el video a youtube ? Gracias. Why doesn't it mark translation when uploading the video to youtube? Thanks.

[@adaniel69]

I will! Thanks for tip!

[@adaniel69]

better now?

[@PepeRoma1]

@@adaniel69 tank you

[@yuvrajgoswami3901]

Hi everyone i am having 2 sensecaps and one 6 dbi custom antenna. I want to connect two sensecaps to one antenna via 10m rg -8 cable using a splitter. Which amplifier should I use rx 17db tx 6 db or rx 10db tx bypass? I will place the amplifier like- Hotspot-cable-splitter-amplifier-10meter rg8 cable-antenna 6dbi.

[@adaniel69]

Hi. I think that 17db for rx is a little too much if you have a good location and good line of sight! I would choose some amplifier that adds gain for tx also. For cable loss compensation and a little bit more...

[@marcosteen3791]

Upgraded 868MHz 915MHz Lora Signal Booster Transmit Receive Two-Way Power Amplifier Signal Module Saw Filter For Helium Miner ( In or Out where?) Regards

[@adaniel69]

Connect the saw filter to OUT port of the amplifier!

[@marcosteen3791]

@@adaniel69 but I do not know at the filter wich side is In or Out

[@adaniel69]

@@marcosteen3791 it doesn't matter! Just connect the side that fits to OUT port of the amp! Check out my other video!

[@marcosteen3791]

Thank you!

[@gabrielz345]

I am really curious to beacon signals with and without the amplifier. How much do the Rx amplification help for witnessing or does it suffer more from the noise level that the amplifier is adding?

[@adaniel69]

Everyone is affraid of the noise level...Flarm booster has ~1.2db and this one says less than 2db... I don't think that is much of a deal... If you install this amplifier, you install it for losses of PoCV11! If you add too much of amplification, you will end to invalid transactions! Like Sorin said in his last video, we need now power also for TX!

[@gabrielz345]

@@adaniel69 the only reason for using it is for RX power imo.. tx power you even have enough without amplifier. You need to compare witnesses with and without the amplifier. Everyone wants amplification for the RX part. Could you test some witnesses with and without amp? Like Sorin does?

[@adaniel69]

@@gabrielz345 if you watched the latest video of Sorin, he said also that you need TX power!! That's why i don't agree with the Flarm booster!!! Because you have to provide coverage, in both ways!! After PoCV11, the RX and TX power are reduced!!! At least for Europe!!! Miner's power + antenna should be max 16.5db!!! Compared with 27db(PoCV10). This is why everyone want to use amplifier!

[@hongk0ngfu3y]

@@adaniel69 fit a cavity filter

[@adaniel69]

@@hongk0ngfu3y is expensive! And i don't want to invest anymore, because network is performing very bad in last time and HNT price goes down badly!

[@bilmemnegakguk]

What kind of incompatibility is there with the Sensecap m1?

[@adaniel69]

when i plug the power cable, i cannot connect the amplifier to the miner, power cable is too long! after this video i've modified it! no problems!

[@ch.b.5953]

Hello there, I used this amplifier with saw filter on my rak and bobcat. Each time after connecting this amp the spots went totally silent. Did you use it with a hotspot or did you just test it? Regards

[@hongk0ngfu3y]

bobcat already has saw filter internally.

[@ch.b.5953]

@@hongk0ngfu3y yeah, but it was the same without...

[@adaniel69]

Hi. I'm using it with my Sensecap! Check out my other videos, maybe you did connected otherway!

[@adaniel69]

OUT port is Antenna side, IN port is miner side!

[@ch.b.5953]

@@adaniel69 that is the way I connected it... how long did you have to wait until you saw a reaction? I had it connected to the rak for 1,5 days without a single witness. After removing it my Spot started witnessing like instantly again...

[@marcosteen3791]

Hi Daniel , I like your videos! Maybe you can help me out how where I can see wich side is In or Out on a filter

[@adaniel69]

Hi. Thanks! IN is to miner and OUT is to saw filter, then cable to antenna! 👍

[@ch.b.5953]

Hello everybody, For everyone, who is intrested: I made a video testing this amplifier with a glamos device. The result is quite interesting...

[@adaniel69]

Nice test! Please reply on my comment! Thanks

[@secretboy69]

Where did you buy nanovna? U have link?

[@adaniel69]

a.aliexpress.com/_vqfjn9

[@joesousa6837]

what is the part # for the saw filter you used?

[@adaniel69]

TA0801A -> 866,5Mhz 👍

[@marcosteen3791]

@@adaniel69 Hi ,good videos !! Do you have a link about the parts Regards

[@adaniel69]

@@marcosteen3791 hi. What parts do you need? And from which country are you from?

[@marcosteen3791]

@@adaniel69 the amplifier, from Holland EU

[@adaniel69]

@@marcosteen3791 www.ebay.de/itm/433MHz-510MHz-868MHz-915MHz-Lora-Signal-Booster-Senden-Empfangen-/154811003840?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=707-127634-2357-0 Unfortunatelly, no stock for 868mhz....

[@lolitoxboy]

Thank you 😊 Please where can I buy one amplifier like this one 😊

[@adaniel69]

👍 a.aliexpress.com/_ujYCyP 👍

[@Tarekcoc]

Amp link please?

[@adaniel69]

👍 a.aliexpress.com/_vVcfLj 👍

[@Tarekcoc]

@@adaniel69 would you recommend it for a low sensitivity chip like the heltec has?

[@adaniel69]

@@Tarekcoc yes, with saw filter!!

[@adaniel69]

@@Tarekcoc Heltec miner have a bad reception because of missing saw filter inside! If you request that free saw filter from Heltec and install it, then the miner will receive better!

[@Tarekcoc]

@@adaniel69 i already have the filter installed, and getting the amp in a few days!! My question is should i add another filter infront of the amp in addition to the one i already have or just move the current one away from miner without adding?