[Amps] 1 db compression point procedure ?

[David Kirkby]

On 30 June 2010 13:40, Jim Thomson <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
> Ok
>
> What's the exact procedure for finding the ..'1db compression point'   on a HF amp ??
>
> I have conflicting info on the procedure.   With hardly any drive, the typ HF amp has a
> lot of gain.    As drive levels increase, the gain goes down.   Question is.... where is the
> starting point of all this??     With 1 watt of drive... or 5w or what ?   It makes a big diff
> to the results.

The gain should first be measured with low-level signals (mW range).
Then find where the gain has falled by 1 dB.

That probably will give you a figure well below what you want to to
use, but that is the 1 dB compression point.

Basically, all this shows is that it is not a very relevant parameter,
in much the same way as the S-parameters of the amplifier are of no
practical use.

Dave