The SVN 231 F amplifier is a universal building block that can amplify and combine satellite and terrestrial TV signals. It provides adjustable gain between 20-30 dB for satellite signals and 10-20 dB for terrestrial signals. Testing showed its performance matched the specifications, with flat gain across frequencies and actual results very close to stated specs. It is well-made and can effectively amplify and combine satellite and terrestrial signals in one cable run.

1. TEST REPORT Satellite and Terrestrial Amplifier
SPAUN SVN 231 F Amplifier
Universal building block for
antenna installations
In many reception systems for individual use a combination of satellite and terrestrial
antennas are used. Theoretically, it is possible to use separate cables for satellite and
terrestrial TV but it is not very practical. Usually, a signal combiner is used up there
beneath the roof. We connect the LNB output and the terrestrial antenna output to it.
The combiner has only one output to which we hook up one cable. Now we have both
signals: satellite and terrestrial in one cable. The signals do not interfere with each
other because they occupy different frequency bands:
47-862 MHz (terrestrial TV) and
950-2150 MHz (satellite IF).
02-03/2010
SPAUN SVN 231 F
Excellent amplifier/combiner with
excellent specifications
36 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 02-03/2010 — www.TELE-satellite.com

2. A simple passive combiner SVN 231 F provides sepa- we used DC power generated its output for minimum and
would add unnecessary and rate gain adjustment for sat- by SVN 231 F to supply active maximum settings of the gain
unwanted signal attenuation. ellite and terrestrial signals. terrestrial antenna and it (level) and slope (equalizer)
Therefore, it is much wiser to Satellite signal can be ampli- worked perfectly. The switch controls. We used practically
use an active device – SAT IF/ fied by 20~30 dB and terres- was set to position 2. In this every satellite transpon-
Terrestrial TV amplifier. The trial by 10~20 dB. So, in both position, 18 V DC (up to 400 der, so the number of the
well known German manu- cases, the gain adjustment mA) was provided on the ter- test frequencies was really
facturer of distribution equip- range is 10 dB. An interest- restrial input and the satellite impressive. You can see the
ment SPAUN Electronic offers ing feature is the adjustable input repeated the voltage results in the “Amplifier gain
a very interesting product of equalizer embedded in the and 22 kHz signal present vs. frequency” graph.
this kind. We decided to check satellite path. Thanks to it, at the SVN 231 F output and
the performance of SVN 231 F you can reduce the gain for generated by our satellite The actual gain matches
Amplifier. lower frequencies of the IF receiver. perfectly the specs: 20 dB at
band. In this way, you com- the level control set to mini-
Features pensate for the cable losses You can use SVN 231 F to mum and 30 dB when the
The device is contained in which are less for lower fre- amplify and combine satel- level control is set to maxi-
typical SPAUN enclosure with quencies than for higher fre- lite and terrestrial signals and mum. The gain is pretty flat
nice looking blue plastic part quencies. According to the insert them into one cable but over the entire IF range.
and perfectly finished alumi- specifications, the adjustment it can be also used as an in-
num covers. The workman- range is from 0 to -12 dB at line amplifier amplifying the The IF is the signal at the
ship, as always with SPAUN the lower end of IF frequency already combined satellite/ output of Ku-Band or C-band
distribution equipment, is range (at 950 MHz). terrestrial signal. In such case LNB. It starts at 950 MHz and
excellent. you use the satellite input of ends at 2150 MHz.
Additionally, SVN 231 F SVN 231 F and set the switch
You can mount SVN 231 F allows you to power the A-B to position B. As mentioned before, the
on the wall with 4 screws but devices installed in the ter- equalizer control allows you
remember that this device restrial input (like antenna Performance to compensate for the losses
must be placed indoor rather amplifier or active antenna), Satellite amplifier perfor- of the cable. According to the
than in the open air. In most satellite input, and even mance was the first to be spec it should adjust the gain
cases, it will be right below insert the DC voltage to its tested. We used the real at the lowest frequency from 0
the roof where the cables output cable. Using the switch world signal from HOTBIRD to -12 dB. Our measurements
from the satellite and terres- “DiSEqC-1-2-3” you can select satellite on 13° East and revealed that the adjustment
trial antennas enter the build- the option you need in your measured its level at the range is even higher, from 0
ing. Of course, you will need installation. In our test circuit input of SVN 231 F and at to -14 dB.
the mains supply (100~240V
47~63Hz) to power the ampli-
fier. Power consumption is
less than 18 W.
As a SAT-IF amplifier with
active terrestrial feed, SVN
231 F has 2 inputs: one to
connect an LNB, and the other
to connect a terrestrial signal.
Speaking of LNB, this can be
Ku-Band or C-Band LNB – it
does not matter. Both kinds of
LNB’s deliver the output signal
in the frequency range: 950-
2150 MHz. As to the terrestrial
signal, it can be the output of
a single antenna or the output
of several terrestrial anten-
nas connected together with
branching filters.
www.TELE-satellite.com — 02-03/2010 — TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 37

3. We are happy to inform you exactly equal to the specifica-
that practically there was no tion: 20 dB for maximum set-
change in the signal quality tings and 10 dB for minimum
between the output and the settings of the terrestrial level
input. The differences of MER control.
parameters were for exam- TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
Download this report in other languages from the Internet:
ple: 13.0 dB vs. 13.2 dB. This Finally, we decided to mea-
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means that the internal noise sure the DVB-T multiplex Indonesian Indonesia www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/bid/spaun.pdf
Bulgarian Български www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/bul/spaun.pdf
of the SVN 231 F is so low that available in our location. The Czech Česky www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ces/spaun.pdf
German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/deu/spaun.pdf
it does not spoil carrier-to- difference of the results versus English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/eng/spaun.pdf
noise ratio at all. the specification was mere 0.2 Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/esp/spaun.pdf
Farsi ‫ﻓﺎﺭﺳﻲ‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/far/spaun.pdf
dB. It is a big pleasure to mea- French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/fra/spaun.pdf
Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/heb/spaun.pdf
After measuring the satel- sure a device whose actual Greek Ελληνικά www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/hel/spaun.pdf
Croatian Hrvatski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/hrv/spaun.pdf
lite signal, we also tried the performance matches that Italian Italiano www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ita/spaun.pdf
Hungarian Magyar www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/mag/spaun.pdf
terrestrial input. Again we closely its specifications! Mandarin 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/man/spaun.pdf
Dutch Nederlands www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ned/spaun.pdf
used the real signal of analog Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/pol/spaun.pdf
terrestrial TV. The results are SVN 231 F is an excellent Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/por/spaun.pdf
Romanian Românesc www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/rom/spaun.pdf
shown in the “Terrestrial signal building block for antenna Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/rus/spaun.pdf
Swedish Svenska www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/sve/spaun.pdf
gain” graph. Pretty like with installations. It offers high and Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/tur/spaun.pdf
Available online starting from 29 January 2010
the satellite signal, also here adjustable gain both for satel-
the actual gain was almost lite and terrestrial signals.
Expert Opinion
+
Very flat gain over the entire band
Adjustable gain for satellite and terrestrial signals
Adjustable equalizer for cable losses compensa-
tion
Jacek Pawlowski
Very low internal noise TELE-satellite
Test Center
Actual performance matches or exceeds the speci- Poland
fication
Low power consumption
Very good workmanship
Can be used as an amplifier / signal combiner (SAT + Terr.) as well
as an in-line amplifier
-
None
TECHNICAL
DATA
Manufacturer SPAUN Electronic, Byk-Gulden-Str. 22,
D-78224 Singen, Germany
Internet www.spaun.com
E-mail contact@spaun.com
Phone +49 - 7731 - 8673-0
Fax +49 - 7731 - 8673-17
Model SVN 231 F
Function SAT-IF/Terrestrial TV amplifier
Inputs Sat: 1 (950…2200 MHz)
Terr.: 1 (47…862 MHz)
Outputs 1 (47… 2200 MHz)
Gain SAT-IF 30 dB
Gain Terr. 20 dB
Level adjustment range 0…-10 dB
Slope correction range 0…-12 dB
Mains power supply 100…240V / 47…63Hz
Power consumption <18W
Ambient temperature range -20…+50 °C
Dimensions 250 x 190 x 77 mm
38 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 02-03/2010 — www.TELE-satellite.com