Thor Broadcast H-RF-AMP-40-RM Rack-Mount CATV RF Amplifier | Forward 54-1000 MHz, Return 5-42 MHz | Trunk Distribution

Rack-Mount CATV Amplifier

Where amplifiers live beside headend equipment rather than in a riser, a rack format keeps the installation tidy and the test points reachable. The Thor H-RF-AMP-40-RM is a rack-mountable coaxial amplifier for cable television and antenna distribution systems. Its low noise figure and low distortion suit heavily loaded MDU, broadband CATV and SMATV networks, including those where several amplifiers are cascaded along the same trunk.

Output Capability and Distortion

Maximum output is 40 dBmV with 158 channels on the wideband version, or 43 dBmV with 82 channels on the 550 MHz version. Flatness is 0.5 dB, composite second order 70 dB and composite triple beat 61 dB, with a forward noise figure of 5 dB, or 4.5 dB on the narrower band model. Those figures are what allow a cascade to be built without the noise floor climbing into the delivered picture.

Bands, Return Path and Connectors

The forward band covers 54 to 1000 MHz, with a 54 to 550 MHz version also listed, and a 5 to 42 MHz return path passes upstream traffic. Connectors are all F type female at 75 ohm impedance, with return loss of 18 dB and input and output test points at -20 dB. Gain control and slope control each cover 0 to -20 dB, which is usually enough to align a riser without additional pads.

Rack Fit, Power and Protection

The unit is built for rack mounting beside headend equipment, drawing about 4 W from AC 110 V or AC 220 V mains. High-voltage surge protection is included, which is worth having on any plant connected to roof antennas or long external runs. A power LED gives an immediate check that the amplifier is live, and the front test points allow levels to be measured without breaking the coaxial path.

Gain Note and Applications

Thor's specification table lists forward gain at 30 dB and maximum gain at 32 dB for this rack version, while the product is named as a 40 dB amplifier, so the gain figure should be confirmed before a plant is designed around it. Applications include CATV QAM amplification, boosting off-air ATSC, DVB-T and ISDB-T signals, and analog NTSC or PAL distribution. The ordering code is H-RF-AMP-40-RM.