Latest UHF DATA RADIO SCHEMATIC - RF Cafe Forums

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jom
Post subject: Best solution for RF protection Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:13 pm

Captain


Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:40 am
Posts: 14
I've got a specification that allows as much as +20 dBm into a receive input but many LNAs can't take that much power without ruining the amplifier. Is there some kind of diode circuit that can be used for protection against such a RF input without creating distortion at a reasonably lower level? My input is relatively low frequency (1-30 MHz...HF).

Thanks

jom


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jom
Post subject: Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:18 am

Captain


Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:40 am
Posts: 14
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

jom


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nubbage
Post subject: Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:47 pm

General


Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:07 pm
Posts: 218
Location: London UK
There are one or two bits of data missing before I can get my addled head around this one.
Is the frequency of the +20dBm signal very close to weaker signals you are trying to detect/decode? And is it at a fixed frequency or anywhere in the range?
Is the +20dBm signal pulsed or continuous?
Are the weaker signals spread over a random spectrum from 1-30MHz?
I would certainly look around for bomb-proof front-end amplifiers, such as the approach using transmit transistors with a measured and adequately low noise factor as the first stage. This approach has been shown to yield very high IP3 figures.

_________________
At bottom, life is all about
Sucking in and blowing out.


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jom
Post subject: Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:58 pm

Captain


Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:40 am
Posts: 14
The frequency is anywhere in the 1-30 MHz range. This is NOT a performance spec so much as it is a "damage" spec. Another words we don't have to receive anything in particular while this is going on.

I think the damage spec is "continuous".

The one thing that is tough here is that most gain block amps I see have absolute max inputs no more than +18 dBm (most MiniCircuits amps have +13 dBm). It's hard enough just finding an amp that will work in this range anymore (due to most focus on the higher ranges) let alone an absolute max this high. Therefore some sort of circuitry is needed.

jom








Posted  11/12/2012