Excessive RF Gain ?

Robert11
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:49 pm

Excessive RF Gain ?

#1

Unread post by Robert11 »

Hi,

Other than, I guess, distorted audio, or perhaps a distorted Spectrum, what do you
experts use as your criteria for excessive RF Gain ?

Is the message that (sometimes) appears an adequate indication of (always) ?

Thanks,
B.

jdow
Posts: 800
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:17 pm

Re: Excessive RF Gain ?

#2

Unread post by jdow »

Generally this is a little fussy to setup. But if you have high level interference as a general rule you can start at low gain and go up step by step. At some point you will most likely hit overload and the spectrum will explode with spurs that go up very rapidly. Drop the gain one step before the step that causes this explosion of spurious signals. Sometimes, as with an rtlsdr dongle in a location with many very strong broadcast FM signals this can sometimes happen before you get the best SNR. Now, if you are raising RF gain and the SNR stops increasing, stop just as the SNR stops increasing and don't bother looking for the spurious explosion.

{^_^}

Robert11
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:49 pm

Re: Excessive RF Gain ?

#3

Unread post by Robert11 »

Hi,

As always, thanks for thoughts and suggestions.
Appreciated.

Lots (for me) to know.

Regards,
Bob

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