Betso CPAA-18 Circular Polarized Active Antenna

The Betso CPAA-18 pairs a circular polarized antenna with a built-in low-noise amplifier.

With a linear antenna, reception falls off whenever the transmitter’s antenna is turned away from the receiving antenna, which can lead to dropouts. A circular polarized antenna receives the same however the transmitter’s antenna is turned, horizontal or vertical. It also holds up better in bad weather and around obstructions, where a signal’s polarization shifts.

The amplifier’s gain is set from −9 to +18 dB in 1 dB steps. Turned up, it makes up the loss of a long cable or boosts a weak signal. At zero or negative gain on a short cable with a strong signal, it keeps the receiver’s input from overloading. Its noise figure is under 0.75 dB, its IP3 over 34 dBm, and its VSWR under 1.2. Input filters cut out-of-band signals from walkie-talkies, FM radio, wireless focus systems, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile phones.

A seven-segment LED shows the gain at power-up and can stay on, with its brightness following the ambient light or held at a fixed level, or turn off while the amplifier keeps working. Power comes through the coaxial cable from 5 to 20 V DC, at about 35 mA.

The antenna sits in a water-sealed ABS case, with the amplifier in a CNC-milled aluminum housing. It mounts on a stand with its 1/4 in and 3/8 in threads, or permanently with four M4 screws on a 100 mm square pattern. The CPAA-18 Nylon Pouch protects it in transport.

Features

• Circular polarization for reception whatever the transmitter’s orientation
• 470 to 850 MHz with a cardioid pattern
• Low-noise amplifier with gain from −9 to +18 dB
• Noise figure under 0.75 dB and IP3 over 34 dBm
• Input filters against out-of-band signals
• Powered through the coax, 5 to 20 V DC
• Water-sealed ABS and aluminum construction
• 1/4 in and 3/8 in threads and a 100 mm M4 mounting pattern