> Beta is the current gain of a transistor, HFE and Hfe. Finally something we can agree on. But the way you used "beta" was referring to the net gain of a *circuit* using a transistor in emitter-follower configuration, which I don't think is the correct use for the term, and which is why I put "beta" in quotes in my reply.
> An emitter follower will have power gain only if the > transistor has a beta, HFE or Hfe, greater than 1, but is > active in any case. A transistor is capable of gain, thereby making it an active device. It's gain (or lack thereof) in a maldesigned circuit doesn't change the fact that the device, itself, is still capable of power gain. A dead transistor with an hFE of < 1, in my opinion, makes it no longer a transistor. If we're going to consider broken or burned-out components in our discussions, we're never going to get anywhere... > Yes diodes and transistor have junction capacitance, > resistance, but get their properties from entirely different > means than passive devices such as a resistor. Junction > capacitance is a function of energy supplied to the device. A > capacitor does not change its properties based on energy > supplied, unless one exceeds its specs. A diode does. > A transistor and diode change their properties based on the > energy supplied. This makes both active. Under your definition, if there is a change in one of its properties of a device when energy is supplied to it, the device is active, do I understand that right? A diode's capacitance changes with applied voltage, OK, I concur. The voltage across a resistor changes with current through it. An inductor's reactance changes with frequency. The resistance in a length of copper wire changes with temperature. So I guess all of these are active devices?
