FCC Exam Question: 6A482

Low sensitivity of a 3 circuit regenerative receiver might be caused by:

A. Faulty tube
B. Out of phase feedback
C. Insufficient feedback
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D

Explanation: A regenerative receiver's high sensitivity comes from carefully controlled positive feedback, which amplifies incoming signals and narrows the bandwidth, approaching the point of oscillation. * **A) Faulty tube:** The vacuum tube is the active amplification component. A weak or faulty tube will provide reduced gain, hindering the feedback process and leading to insufficient signal amplification and detection, thus low sensitivity. * **B) Out of phase feedback:** Regeneration relies on *positive* feedback to increase gain. If the feedback signal is 180 degrees out of phase (negative feedback), it will cancel, rather than reinforce, the input signal, severely reducing or eliminating the receiver's sensitivity. * **C) Insufficient feedback:** The core principle of a regenerative receiver is to increase the Q-factor of the tuned circuit through feedback. If there isn't enough feedback, the gain enhancement won't occur effectively, and the receiver will lack its characteristic high sensitivity. Since each of these conditions independently causes low sensitivity, "All of the above" is the correct answer.

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Includes Elements 1, 3, 6, 7R, 8, and 9.