What does a yagi signal amplifier do?

[videogamingtown]

I just bought a yagi antenna have it hooked up directly to crc9 connection on my mobile broadband dongle. I have see something about plug in amplifiers around the net too , what do these do? I'm using this yagi to boost my 3g signal and improve signal but would getting one of these amplifiers make it even better?

 

[Lawnchairman]

Found this on google for you: http://www.ubersignal.com/blog/yagi-antennas/

 

[videogamingtown]

Found this on google for you: http://www.ubersignal.com/blog/yagi-antennas/

Doesnt really answer my question. i had already been there

 

[Goobie]

Won't an amplifier boost both the signal and the noise?

 

[videogamingtown]

Won't an amplifier boost both the signal and the noise?

but can i get one that boosts 3g signal , the signal i get with the yagi is already an improvement just wanted to know if i could make it more powerful

 

[ajax]

but can i get one that boosts 3g signal , the signal i get with the yagi is already an improvement just wanted to know if i could make it more powerful

The traditional tv aerial Yagi boosters only needed to boost the reception. If installed outside on the roof right at the antenna, then the signal is boosted before it degrades through the lossy cable.

With a 3G antenna, your modem is transmitting as well, so you need a more complex amplifier that handles signals travelling both ways. A diplexer is involved somewhere in the chain.

It's best to just skip the amplifier and keep the aerial cable as short as possible, i.e. install the router as close as possible to the antenna. Rule of thumb, you lose 1 dB of signal per meter of cable.