Following a related thread, are there specifications for the maximum input power on receive ports of the WBX and SBX boards? For the WBX, it looks like it should be around (13 + 1.5 - 22) ~ -7.5 dBm, because the second amplifier (MGA82563) has a maximum rating of 13dBm, the attenuator before it will attenuate by 1.5dB or more, and the gain of the first amplifier (MGA62563) is about 22dB. For the SBX the situation is a bit better, because the first amplifier is an MGA82563, which has only about 15dB of gain, so I think that the SBX should be able to withstand (13 + 1.5 - 15) = -0.5 dBm. As far as I can tell the other components in the receive chain are more robust and will be okay at these input levels. Can somebody from Ettus verify these estimates or provide more accurate ones? It is really too bad (for me) that these levels appear to be below 0dBm, because minicircuits make limiters that output no more than 0dBm, but they don't make ones for lower powers. Perhaps a good solution is a 0dBm limiter followed by a 10dB attenuator? Thanks, Sivan

The WBX actually has a limiter to prevent damage to the second amplifier. You just need to make sure you don't damage the first one. You can also bypass the first amp if you are prepared to solder. Matt On Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 11:09 PM, Sivan Toledo <stoledo@tau.ac.il> wrote: > Following a related thread, are there specifications for the maximum input > power on receive ports of the WBX and SBX boards? > > For the WBX, it looks like it should be around (13 + 1.5 - 22) ~ -7.5 dBm, > because the second amplifier (MGA82563) has a maximum rating of 13dBm, the > attenuator before it will attenuate by 1.5dB or more, and the gain of the > first amplifier (MGA62563) is about 22dB. > > For the SBX the situation is a bit better, because the first amplifier is > an MGA82563, which has only about 15dB of gain, so I think that the SBX > should be able to withstand (13 + 1.5 - 15) = -0.5 dBm. > > As far as I can tell the other components in the receive chain are more > robust and will be okay at these input levels. > > Can somebody from Ettus verify these estimates or provide more accurate > ones? > > It is really too bad (for me) that these levels appear to be below 0dBm, > because minicircuits make limiters that output no more than 0dBm, but they > don't make ones for lower powers. Perhaps a good solution is a 0dBm limiter > followed by a 10dB attenuator? > > Thanks, Sivan > > _______________________________________________ > USRP-users mailing list > USRP-users@lists.ettus.com > http://lists.ettus.com/mailman/listinfo/usrp-users_lists.ettus.com > >