[Hackrf-dev] I lost the pre-amp on the HackRF. How to get it back ?

[Guan Yang]

On Mon, Aug 25, 2014, at 21:14, scateu wrote:
> The preamp is electrostatic sensitive device. It seems to be broken
> easily. 
> 
> I had to replace it with soldering iron.
> 
> I think the other reason maybe transmitting while antenna port connects
> nothing, the reflection of RF signal breakdown the MGA-81563 preamp.

My preamp might be broken too. When I check with a broadcast FM station,
it goes from -24dBFS without preamp to -36dBFS with preamp. (Identical
IF and BB gain settings.) I don't have any weak signals I know well to
test with, but my local NOAA broadcast station can be received without
preamp and I can't hear it with preamp.

Are there instructions for replacing it somewhere, including a photo of
where it's located? Is Digi-Key part 516-1586-1-ND the correct part?

I'm not very good at de-soldering. What's the best way? I'm thinking
that maybe I can cut the legs on the existing part, and then de-solder
each leg separately.