AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL

(AGC)

• AGC samples the signal strength at the detector and then

feeds back a control signal to adjust the gain of the earlier
stages.

RF IF AF
Mixer Detector
Amp Amp Amp

AGC
LO Circuit
 Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
Automatic gain control (AGC) is a system which will
change the overall gain of the receiver automatically.
It is used to control the gain of one or more of the RF and IF
amplifiers (Receiver).
Why is AGC required ?
• Incoming signal level varies due to atmospheric losses.
• This results , the amplitude of IF signal at the detector
input may vary as much as 30-40dB.
• This results in corresponding variations in general level
of receiver audio output.
 Types of AGC

• There are two types of AGC:-

• Simple AGC
• Delayed AGC
 Simple AGC
• It is improvement over no AGC situation.
• It is quite closer to ideal AGC.
• However, it attenuates the incoming weak signals, which is
not required.
• In simple AGC the received AM signal is detected by diode
detector.
• Simple AGC bias is proportional to the strength of received
signal
Disadvantages of simple AGC

When there is no AGC, the received output is directly

proportional to the strength of incoming signal, hence
strong stations create loud noise.
The reduction in the gain of the receiver will take place
 Delayed AGC

1) The delayed AGC is applied

only when the strength of
the receiver carrier signal
becomes higher than some
predetermined level.
2) The predetermined level for
delayed AGC is set by using
delay or AGC diode or delay
control.
3) The gain is reduced only for
strong signals, not for weak
signals.
Squelch or muting circuit