Amplifiers Quiet Noise Without Cooling

Oct. 10, 2013

A line of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) in coaxial metal packages promises minimal noise figures at microwave frequencies for setting receiver sensitivities.

Jack Browne

A line of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) from Satellink, Inc. (www.satellink.com) relies on the latest high-frequency active devices and circuit-design techniques to achieve impressive low noise figures at microwave frequencies without cooling. Ideal for setting sensitivity levels in RF/microwave receivers, such as in wireless local area networks (WLANs), these amplifiers are supplied in rugged metal housings with coaxial connectors. As an example, model SHA170-30M is an LNA with noise figure of a mere 0.40 dB from 1.65 to 1.75 GHz with 30-dB gain assuming a 1.25:1 VSWR at input and output ports. At higher frequencies, model SHA470-25M provides 0.60-dB noise figure and 25-dB gain from 4.4 to 5.5 GHz. The firm boasts standard models through 10 GHz and can quickly turnaround custom designs with extremely low noise figures.

About the Author

Jack Browne | Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.