SSPAs – Solid State Power Amplifiers basic design finds extensive use in telecommunications, radar applications, defense applications in missile warfare and airborne communications. RF (Radio Frequency), SSPAs,are manufactured with cutting edge technology as diverse applications are made possible. These power amplifiers provide high performance is adverse conditions. High Power microwave SSPAs are based on Power summation concept and are the best alternative to TWT – traveling wave tube technology-based amplifiers. Amplifier designs with Gallium Arsenide or Gallium Nitride power devices are most common.
Generally, SSPAs Solid State Power Amplifiers are designed to customer requirements. The applications differ from customer to customer particularly in the defense sector such as Airborne radars. Generic SSPAs find use in communication and transmission applications in X and Ku Bands as the flexibility of the microwave SSPA design allow the ability to extend to neighboring frequency bands. SSPAs in space applications are growing considering the number of satellite launches. InJanuary of 2017 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 72 low Earth and mid-Earth orbit satellites.
Among the leading SSPA product line is Raditek. Their catalog has an impressive listing that suits every application. Among their other products is the low noise block downconverter which is the device in the center of a satellite dish. The LNB (abbreviation) receives low-level signals from the satellite. The LNB amplifies the signal and changes to a lower frequency. The receiver (inside the building) demodulates the signal that is traveling from the LNB via a coaxial cable. The block is a set of microwave frequencies received from the satellite and down-converted to lower frequencies. LNBs are weatherproofed to withstand exposure to the elements.