On 2019-06-11 00:00, Phil via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Thank you Ryan and Scott for your replies. I'm surprised that the RSP1 is more sensitive than the FT-817, which I bought when they first became available.
I've been away from Amateur Radio for quite some time and I feel that advances in the field are passing me by.
Phil-
There is much information available to catch up on recent (and not so recent) advances. The author of Linrad has done some dynamic range comparisons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbSa1G14Nig
Note that a receiver that is too sensitive may be easily overloaded by a strong signal, requiring an attenuator proceeding it and resulting in an increase in noise figure.
A less sensitive receiver that performs better on the "top end" when strong signals are present can be helped out with a switchable LNA at the antenna. Which is, of course, where the LNA should be to set the system noise figure. No strong signals and you need some more sensitivity, switch on the LNA.
https://youtu.be/_-AkINSPkhw?t=505
--- Zach N0ZGO