> "Laryn Lohman" <lar...@...> wrote: > Why, and how, would the lower-gain preamp amplify > less noise than signal?
Depends on whose camp your in... A lot of the above thinking is probably related to much earlier semiconductor performance versus what is now available for the same application. Phempt and GasFet semiconductor technologies should pretty much discard a number of the earlier general rules applied to Bipolar and DG Mosfet RF Preamplifier designs. Old ingrained methods and ideas die hard... > Would the preamp not amplify anything presented to it's > input that is within it's operating parameters an equal > amount? > Laryn K8TVZ As you're thinking... yes it would. As others might nit pick the specifics no. A very strong signal might in theory be amplified less because the gain of the preamplifier might be less at higher signal levels presented to the input. But the stronger signal level where the above really starts to become a serious issue is probably way above a level where you'd need to be overly concerned with it. Based on the performance of the current technologies... it's really OK to rock and roll with a higher gain preamp if its delivered performance values properly plug into your situation. Jump in, the water is fine... cheers, s.
