Blue Neon Tavern's μLNA Is an Ultra-Compact Low-Noise Amplifier for Any SDR
Designed to be pocket-friendly in every sense of the phrase, the μLNA offers 11 to 14dB of gain from 50MHz to 4,000MHz.
French software-defined radio expert Blue Neon Tavern has launched a remarkably compact low-noise amplifier, the μLNA, which is driven by an RF Micro Devices SPF51892Z — offering amplification from 50MHz to 4GHz.
Software defined radios, which can be controlled via a connected computer — or microcontroller — are fantastic devices, but often need a little help sending or receiving signals. That's where a low-noise amplifier, or LNA, comes in — and Blue Neon Tavern's μLNA is one of the smallest around, providing performance without bulking out your field kit.
"The μLNA is an ultra-compact low noise amplifier meant to be used with software defined radio (SDR)," Blue Neon Tavern founder Boris D. explains. "The SPF51892Z module gives between 11 to 14dB of gain from 50MHz to 4000MHz. Both ends of the module are SMA female.
"It supersedes the previous LNA module design I was offering. This module is more compact, more convenient, more affordable."
The company has released a video tour of the device, which comes in a 3D-printed enclosure with a choice of colors, and is selling the μLNA on Tindie at $11 a unit — plus between $0.50 and $1 for color choices more exotic than the default matte black.