Pasternack Expands Broadband Limiting Amplifier Range

New amplifiers cover a wide frequency range from 1 GHz to 18 GHz

Pasternack, a provider of RF, microwave and millimeter wave products, has expanded its offering of broadband limiting amplifiers which are commonly used in electronic warfare, microwave receivers and broadband communications systems.

Based on a hybrid MIC design and GaAs PHEMT devices, the amplifiers cover a wide frequency range, from 1 GHz to 18 GHz, and are used to protect sensitive microwave receivers by ‘limiting’ excessive input power which could potentially create unwanted distortion or even damage the receiver

These RF amplifiers offer a wide input dynamic range between -61 dBm to +20 dBm, high gain levels of 40 to 80 dB typical while exhibiting excellent gain flatness performance of ±1 dB depending on the specific model.

Additionally, these limiting amplifiers accept a wide range of input power levels while responding with a limited range of output power, between 15 and 19 dBm, with a saturated power output deviation of ±0.5 dB over the frequency range, independent of the input.

Pasternack’s five models include the PE15A6002 which features 60 dB of gain and supports 1 GHz to 2 GHz frequency range; the PE15A6015 which features 40 dB of gain and supports 2 GHz to 4 GHz; the PE15A6007 which features 80 dB of gain and frequency range of 2 GHz to 6 GHz; the PE15A6008 which features 40 dB of gain and a frequency range of 2 GHz to 8 GHz; and the PE15A6012 which offers 40 dB of gain and a frequency range of 6 GHz to 18 GHz.

The amplifiers are housed in hermetically-sealed packages and are designed to withstand harsh environments. Over-voltage protection is installed externally for easy repair and the amplifiers are fully matched internally for 50 Ohm input and output, which eliminates the customer’s need for additional sensitive, external RF tuning components.