Is the 23W Voyager Transmitter Power Before or After Amplification by the Spacecraft’s Antenna?

-- Ron | January 1, 2024

Question:

I’ve always read what the power output of the Voyager probes is 23 watts. What’s never stated, though is whether that’s transmitter power or factors in the antenna gain making it erp. Which is it?
Thanks, dude.

-- Ron

Answer:

I believe that the 23W transmitter power that you quote is before amplification by the spacecraft’s antenna. The Naked Scientists Forum addressed this question several years ago, and also provided some useful background calculations which explain further the Voyager transmitters capabilities.

-- Jeff Mangum

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