LOW-NOISE AMPLIFIER
Satellite Communications Glossary
Satellite Communications — Low-noise Amplifier
Information on Low-noise Amplifier (LNA)
At the satellite communications transponder, the weak RF uplink signal is amplified in a special low-noise amplifier (LNA). Commonly the LNA has been constructed using a low-noise device such as a tunnel-diode amplifier. Modern C-band and KU-band transponders tend to use either gallium-arsenide Schottky barrier field-effect transistors (GaAs FET) or high-mobility electron transistors (HMETs). Ka-band transponders are mainly based on parametric amplifiers. The total noise at the input of the LNA is a function of bandwidth so, before amplification, the RF uplink signal is band-limited by a BPF. The gain of the receiving section of the transponder is approximately 60-70 dB.
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