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Quick Poll: What’s Your Go-To RF PA Topology?

March 21, 2024

Out of these 10 most common RF amplifier classes, which is your default style?

Check out other Microwaves & RF Quick Polls.

The last thing a signal sees before reaching an antenna to be radiated out into free space is an RF power amplifier (PA). That signal made its way through various other components and circuits such as low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), mixers, and other signal-processing elements. But it’s the RF PA that will punch the signal up to the level it needs to ensure reliable communication.

There’s a few basic amplifier classes as well as several advanced RF PA types to select from when you’re designing the final stages of a transmitter. Tell us which one you use most often, and feel free to expound on why in the comments below.

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

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About me:

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.