Question 3-42F4

Excessive gain in a VHF receiver front end pushes the amplifier into its non-linear operating region. When an amplifier operates non-linearly, it generates unwanted signals, including harmonics and intermodulation products. If multiple strong signals (like those from nearby transmitters) are present, they can mix within this non-linear stage to create new signals (intermodulation products) that fall within the receiver's desired passband. This makes it difficult to hear weak desired signals and is known as intermodulation interference. A) Local signals do not become weaker; they are amplified, but they can cause *desensitization* or *blocking* of weaker signals due to the non-linearity. B) Impedance matching is a design consideration and not directly affected by excessive gain *level* during operation. C) While current might slightly increase with higher gain, it's not usually a "dramatic" increase or the primary operational problem associated with too much gain.