Passive cable attenuation is considered as part of which budget element?

• A. Link Loss Budget
• B. System gain
• C. Power penalties
• D. Receiver dynamic range

Answer: (A)

Passive cable attenuation is a loss that happens as the signal travels through the cable. In a link budget, you compare what you send (system gain) with what you lose along the path to ensure the received signal stays above the receiver’s minimum level. Since this attenuation reduces the signal along the path, it belongs in the Link Loss Budget. It isn’t system gain, which denotes amplification; it isn’t a separate penalty for non-ideal effects, and it doesn’t define the receiver’s dynamic range, which is about the range of signal levels the receiver can handle.