What is the dynamic range of a receiver?

The dynamic range of a receiver is defined as the ratio of the largest tolerable signal to the minimum discernible signal. This concept is crucial in understanding how well a receiver can process signals of varying strengths. The largest tolerable signal refers to the maximum amplitude of a signal that the receiver can handle without distortion or damage, while the minimum discernible signal is the smallest signal level that can be effectively detected and processed by the receiver.

The importance of dynamic range lies in its ability to indicate how well a receiver can work in environments where signals vary significantly in strength, ensuring that both weak and strong signals can be accurately received without interference or overload. This characteristic ultimately influences the performance and effectiveness of the receiver, especially in densely populated signal environments.

Other options cover different important receiver characteristics but do not define dynamic range. For example, the range of frequencies over which the receiver can operate pertains to bandwidth rather than dynamic range. The difference in signal power from input to output refers to gain, and the maximum gain a receiver can provide indicates its amplification capability, but neither of these concepts directly addresses dynamic range.