THS3491 Amplifier Instability Issues

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aryia
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Amplifier
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around amplifying a -6 dBm 75MHz signal to at least 31 dBm using THS3491 evaluation boards. The user removed an attenuation circuit but encountered instability when attempting to increase the gain beyond 10 by adjusting feedback resistors. A second approach using two amplifiers in series yielded lower than expected output (23 dBm instead of 26 dBm) with irregular waveform shapes observed on the oscilloscope. Questions were raised regarding supply voltages and physical layout, indicating potential factors contributing to the instability. The user seeks guidance on their approach and understanding of amplifier behavior.
Aryia
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
TL;DR Summary
Trying to amplify a -6 dBm 75MHz signal but encountering amplifier stability issues
Hello all,
I'm currently trying to amplify a -6 dBm 75MHz signal to at least 31 dBm by using THS3491 evaluation boards. The boards came with an attenuation circuit which I have removed, currently there is only a 50 ohm resistor in series with the output (output-6 dBm). Initially our approach was to tweak the gain by changing the feedback resistors RF/RG but the amplifier seems to become unstable at a gain over 10. Is this normal behavior?

Our second approach was to use two gain amplifiers in series (one 8x with no output resistor into a 10x with a 50 ohm resistor). We received somewhat promising results. We expected 26 dBm output but only measured 23 dBm and the oscilloscope sine wave reading has an irregular shape. *Hopefully I can attach some images*.

I have limited experience with amplifiers, am i approaching the issue wrong?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF.

Aryia said:
to at least 31 dBm
And what output voltage does that correspond to?

What are your supply voltages and how are you laying this out physically?

TI datasheet attached for reference...

EDIT -- the datasheet is too large to attach. Let me find a link...

https://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/ths3491
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Hi all I have some confusion about piezoelectrical sensors combination. If i have three acoustic piezoelectrical sensors (with same receive sensitivity in dB ref V/1uPa) placed at specific distance, these sensors receive acoustic signal from a sound source placed at far field distance (Plane Wave) and from broadside. I receive output of these sensors through individual preamplifiers, add them through hardware like summer circuit adder or in software after digitization and in this way got an...
I have recently moved into a new (rather ancient) house and had a few trips of my Residual Current breaker. I dug out my old Socket tester which tell me the three pins are correct. But then the Red warning light tells me my socket(s) fail the loop test. I never had this before but my last house had an overhead supply with no Earth from the company. The tester said "get this checked" and the man said the (high but not ridiculous) earth resistance was acceptable. I stuck a new copper earth...
Thread 'Beauty of old electrical and measuring things, etc.'
Even as a kid, I saw beauty in old devices. That made me want to understand how they worked. I had lots of old things that I keep and now reviving. Old things need to work to see the beauty. Here's what I've done so far. Two views of the gadgets shelves and my small work space: Here's a close up look at the meters, gauges and other measuring things: This is what I think of as surface-mount electrical components and wiring. The components are very old and shows how...
Back
Top