Question 6A398

A detector's function is to convert the modulated RF signal into an audio frequency (AF) signal. While doing so, some of the original RF carrier frequency or its harmonics often remain in the output. If these residual RF components are passed to the following audio amplifier stages, they can cause distortion, instability, or unwanted noise, as audio amplifiers are designed to process much lower frequencies. An RF filter (typically a low-pass filter or an RF choke and capacitor network) placed in the plate circuit of the tube detector serves to block or bypass these unwanted RF signals, allowing only the desired audio signal to proceed to the audio amplifier stages. This ensures clean, undistorted audio output. Therefore, **A) Prevent RF variations from affecting the following audio stages** is correct. **B) Alter the impedance of the detector load circuit** is incorrect. While any component can affect impedance, the primary purpose of this filter is frequency discrimination, not impedance transformation. **C) Insert RF variations from affecting the audio stages** is incorrect. The filter's purpose is to *remove* or *prevent* unwanted RF, not to introduce it. **D) To prevent RF variations from affecting the following RF stages** is incorrect. After the detector, the signal is audio frequency (AF), and it goes to AF stages, not further RF stages. RF stages precede the detector.