5.

5 CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
Amplifiers FF cascaded together to provide stage

FF by FF stage power amplifier.

) For two power amplifier of FF G1 G2 FF
cascaded
) the total power gain
GT = G1 x G 2
In general

) If n amplifiers of G1 G2 Gn FF cascaded
) the total gain
GT = G1 x G2 x ..... x Gn
In dB

GT (dB) = G1 (dB) + G2 (dB) + ..... + Gn (dB)

Example (5. 5.1)

 Three amplifiers of 2, 5, and 10 gain power are

connected in series.
What is the total gain ?

GT = 2 x 5 x 10 = 100

Example (5. 5. 2)
Repeat in dB

GT (dB) = 3 (dB) + 7 (dB) + 10 (dB) = 20 dB

5. 6 GAIN AND INSERTION LOSS COMBINED

When using IL and G in practical applications FF all

the calculations will be FF in dB .

amplifier

Pin

out

cable
Pm

 In the fig FF Pin applied to one end of transmission

line of certain IL
Pin FF attenuated FF when pass through the cable

) amplified by an amplifier of a given fixed gain.

What is the output power ?

Pin = 10 dBm (10 mW) and the total IL = 1 dB for

the line
Pm (the signal coming out of the cable) FF Pout
from the cable and Pin to the amplifier.
Pm (dBm) = 10 dBm - 1 dB = 9 dBm
From B
Pout (dBm) = 9 (dBm) + 20 (dB) = 29 dBm

 All the above steps of finding Pout FF can be

summarize as :
Pout (dBm) = Pin (dBm) - IL + G (dB)
OR
Pout = Pin x G / IL
Where power in any consistent unit G IL are
dimensionless.
Example ( 5.6.1)
The signal power leaving a generator is 3 dBm.
It is connected to an amplifier by a cable 4 ft long.
The attenuation per foot of cable is 0.2 dB/ft
The gain of the amplifier is 30 dB .
What is the output power ?
Solution:

) The total attenuation of the cable FF 4ft long.

IL = 4 x 0.2 dB = 0.8 dB.

) The output power of the amplifier is

Pout (dBm) = 3 dBm - 0.8 dB + 30 dB = 32.2 dBm
Example (5.6.2)
G = 20 dB

G3 = 10 dB

G = 15 dB

2
cable 2
1 ft

cable 1
0.3 ft

3
cable 3
5 ft

Pout

In the Fig. FF three amplifiers connected in series

by cables.
The gain and lengths FF of the individual
components are shown
If Pin = - 5 dBm
Calculate Pout
Solution
Pout (dBm) = -5 dBm 0.3 dB + 20 dB 1 dB + 15 dB 5
dB + 10 dB = 33.7 dBm