[Discuss-gnuradio] rx & tx amps: recommendations?

[Bob Keyes]

Well, I've got the USRP & gnuradio working...to the point where hf_radio.py 
doesn't crash, provides me a very low level of background noise, and not much 
else. I had kind of hoped that I could pick up at least wwv with a three meter 
hunk of wire connected to RX-A, but no luck. Of course, I had expected to use 
some pre-amps for a real radio, and some transmit amps as well. The 
recommendation from the Ettus site is for the mini-circuits amps, but I was 
hoping that people could give some more specific recommendations as to what has 
worked for them. I will be using the basic LFRX and LFTX boards, but also going 
to be doing some work with high bands, 1500-2000 mhz as well. Other than 
mini-circuits, what other subassemblies are cheap, easy to use, reliable, and 
have low noise figures?