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Re: [TenTec] Signal Strength

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>,"shristov@ptt.yu" <shristov@ptt.yu>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Signal Strength
From: "Jim Brown K9YC" <k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 07:47:15 -0800
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:16:22 CET, shristov@ptt.yu wrote:

>Receiver's input impedance is irrelevant for sensitivity (and noise figure)
>measurements, which are defined in terms of the "available power" from the
>generator. The generator output impedance should be close to 50 Ohms.
>Receiver input impedance can be very different from 50 Ohms.

No, the input impedance is NOT irrelevant -- it loads the generator and 
reduces the voltage at the receiver input. The difference between a 50 ohm 
load and no load is 6 dB. A lower impedance than 50 ohms would cause an error 
in the opposite direction. 

On the other hand, it is not uncommon for the input impedance of a receiver 
to be significantly different from the "assumed" or "nominal" 50 ohms. To 
measure this, you would need to measure the voltage of the generator using a 
bridging (high Z) RF voltmeter or scope with and without the receiver 
connected, and do so in a manner (and at frequencies) where transmission line 
effects were not contributing errors. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC 


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