[amsat-bb] Re: New Preamp

[i8cvs]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Memory" <gmemory at tks-net.com>
To: "'i8cvs'" <domenico.i8cvs at tin.it>; "'Amsat-BB'" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 8:26 PM
Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: New Preamp

> Domenico:
>
> Greetings once again.  You sent me a note some time ago that helped to
> amplify my current belief concerning SNR.
>
> I am willing to bet two things.
>
> First, it is difficult (not impossible, just difficult) to obtain a better
> front end noise figure than what the original receiver manufacturer has
> created.

Hi Gary, N7BRJ/DA1BRJ

This is why we use a low noise preamplifiers antenna mounted.
Make an example:
The noise figure of a commercial receiver like a TS-736 is about NF=6.5 dB
corresponding to an equivalent noise temperature T1= 1005 kelvin
If you add a low noise preamplifier antenna mounted with a NF= 0.5 dB and
if the overall noise figure of the system is degradated to NF= 0.7 dB
corresponding to T2 = 51 kelvin then using the same antenna the improvement
of S/N using the above preamplifier is: 10 log     (1005/51) = 13 dB
                                                                         10

  Almost certainly the addition of an outboard amp will add more
> noise.  And this is not always a bad thing.

In the above example the more noise that you see on your S-meter is only
apparent because the gain of the system probably is too great but you can
reduce the noise reading of the S-meter without reducing the S/N ratio
adding an attenuator and this is particularly easy to do if you use a
preamplifier + downconverter + attenuator + IF receiver

>  A preamp can be a great
> addition despite the addition of more noise.

If you get more noise degrading the S/N it meens only that the NF of your
preamplifier is greater then the NF of your receiver or its gain is too low.

> But then you get into a curve
> of cost vs true value of gain.  Is it worth it?  Maybe so.

Adding a low noise preamplifier with the capability of improving the S/N
ratio is always wortwhile.

> Second, it is very unlikely that maximum signal strength will be at the
> same
> point as maximum signal to noise ratio (SNR).

The best noise figure NF of a preamplifier cannot correspond to the maximum
gain as the S-parameters of a device for the lowest NF are showing.

>  Again, maybe this is not a
> bad thing in any one individual case.  Almost certainly the best SNR will
> be
> at a point of gain somewhat less than maximum.

The important of the point is that even if the lowest noise factor F1
do not correspond to the maximum gain the gain G1 obtained from it be
sufficient to get a satisfactory overall noise factor Ft of the system as
the formula for more stages in series is showing:

                  F2-1       F3-1
Ft = F1 + --------+ --------- + ..................
                   G1       G1xG2

> I work with receivers and preamps that cost dozens of thousands of
> dollars.
> Cost and receive noise figure is almost a logarithmic curve.  And it seems
> that only with the very best front ends are SNR and gain at the same
> point.

This is not strictly mandatory for as Radio Amateurs.

>
> Once you get the best receiver, coax and antenna you can afford, that is
> all
> you can do....which seems like a dumb and obvious thing to say.  Beyond
> that, true magic is hard to come by.  And I am not knocking the preamp.
> Again, I own and use them all the time.

Once I get the best receiver and the best antenna I must reduce the thermal
noise of the coax cable wich noise factor is F1 in the above formula so that
to improve the S/N ratio I have to add a low noise preamplifier in F1 with
the maximum possible gain in G1
>
> 73!
>
> Gary, N7BRJ/DA1BRJ
>
Best 73" de

i8CVS Domenico