Editing Low-noise amplifier (section)

== Applications ==
LNAs are used in communications receivers such as in [[radio telescope]]s, cellular telephones, [[GPS]] receivers, [[wireless LAN]]s (WiFi), and [[satellite communications]].

In a satellite communications system, the ground station receiving antenna uses an LNA because the received signal is weak since satellites have limited power and therefore use low-power transmitters. The satellites are also distant and suffer [[path loss]]: [[low Earth orbit]] satellites might be {{convert|120|mi|km}} away; a [[geosynchronous satellite]] is {{convert|22,236|mi|km}} away.

The LNA boosts the antenna signal to overcome [[feed line]] losses between the antenna and the receiver.

LNAs can enhance the performance of [[software-defined radio]] (SDR) receiver systems. SDRs are typically designed to be general purpose and therefore the noise figure is not optimized for any one particular application. With an LNA and appropriate filter, performance is improved over a range of frequencies.