Basic Qualification · B-003 Station assembly, practice and safety · B-003-005-002
In an SSB/CW receiver, what is the purpose of the radio frequency (RF) amplifier?
- A Increase the local oscillator signal to drive the mixer
- B Provide sufficient gain to activate the limiter circuit
- C Increase the sensitivity of the receiver
- D Provide sufficient drive for the automatic gain control circuit (AGC)
Correct answer: C — Increase the sensitivity of the receiver. From the official ISED question bank, verified word for word.
Why
The radio frequency amplifier boosts the very weak signal captured by the antenna before it reaches the rest of the receiver, making faint stations easier to hear and thus increasing overall sensitivity. The full explanation — and one for every question — is in Pro.
Practise this section
Building a station safely: power supplies, grounding, RF exposure, lightning, feedline routing, and what a transmitter, receiver and transceiver actually do.