EmilyHicks showed a package that included a pre-amp.

The antenna is rough 14 dB of gain with another 19 dB for the pre amp.

That gives you roughly 23 dB of gain for the satellite signal. In linear terms that is a 200Xs stronger signal at the reciever port.

Line loss would probably be around 3 dB so it would be a 100 times stronger at the reciever than just a unity gain antenna.

I couldn’t find the gain spec of the typical 18″ antenna but the gain of the recommended system is excellent.

If you are in poor conditions the above system could buy your way out of it.

CE