Yes, the ARF in PAW is using the "high power" (sic) bit of the band. What we need and what we can get are unfortunately likely to be poles apart once metalwork gets in the way. The problem with bolting on amps (transmitter or receiver) is the need for T/R switching so that both can use the single antenna. All is possible, of course but the technology isn't commonplace (i.e. cheap). The ARF already has a PA-cum-RF amplifier that includes the T/R switching fabric. (Edit - I see that Jerry has covered some of these points whilst I was doing my one fingered typist trick.)
I'm working up to an experiment. I shall place PAW #1 in the visual control room at my local airfield, then trundle off with PAW #2. In the aircraft I shall have a) the standard whip antenna lurking on the coaming, b) a dipole taped to the canopy, and c) a quarter wave ground plane antenna protruding through a convenient hole in the underside of my aircraft's all metal fuselage (don't ask...!). I'll then do some tests, flying from and to the airfield with the different antenna configurations. All I need is for it to stop raining... should be an interesting test.
I'm not sure what alternatives to the ARF Lee may be considering. If these do not achieve any improvement in transmit power, I wonder if a narrow band ( or even broad band) power amplifier connected to the ARF TX output, might be the way to go (dependent also on TWF's experiment described above).
My thoughts are;
1) Existing ARF antenna retained and used for ARF receive (and low power TX) as at present, via the end feed SMA connector.
2) ARF pig-tail coax connected to ARF output U/FL connector (effectively "T" ee'd off (1) above), and connecting to power amplifier input, via cable's SMA female end.
3) Amplifier output connected to additional antenna (for high power transmit).
4) Separate (high power i.e. 450 mw) antenna and existing ARF antenna gets around Tx/Rx switching referred to by TWF.
Is this too much of a bodge, could it work? Would the "T" reduce the ARF receive sensitivity? I consider the two TX antennas could assist "position diversity" as called for, if connected to PAW using coax cables.
Regards,
Chris