overloaded frontend / SNR

Hello All

I have noticed that my LNB with 20m of coax overload my frontend Kenwood TS-711E with 2 S-units or 12 dB. If I push the ATT button the RX-noise goes away. The ATT has an attenuation of about 30 - 33 dB. Now my question:

If I put an attenuator like this one with >12dB in between TS-711 and downconverter is the SNR better or the same as I push the ATT button (-30dB) ? Will the SNR decrease with more attenuation ?

Tnx & 73

Now I inserted a 10dB attenuator and I think it's better. Before I got hot ears.

The difference now is about + a half S-unit/3 dB overload.

Quote from SV1BDS

Hi,

the attenuator is only on Rx path?

Hello George

Yes, between TS-711E (RX) and downconverter.

And I with this one with BNC-plugs. I think the result is the same when you have the attenuator at the receiver. The downconverter is the first version from AMSAT-DL.