Why does insertion loss matter?

The entire SDRSwitch.com range was designed with the DX'er in mind. Every dB matters when it comes to your DX receiver be it contesting on HF or working stations off the moon on VHF. If you cannot hear them you cannot get them in your Logbook.  

The easiest way to visualize these losses is to think about listening to your TV with the volume set at 100. This would be 0 dB loss. Now turn your TV down to 50, a 3 dB loss. Keep on turning it down to 25 and you now are at the equivalent of a 6 dB loss. By the time you have reached a 19 dB loss your volume is at 1. 

A VHF weak signal DX'er would visualize the same by looking at his antenna. To gain 3 dB he would have to double there antenna size. Think about this on 6 Meters. To increase your gain 3 dB you would have to replace your  3 element beam with a 6 element beam. To get a 6 dB gain, another 3 dB, you would have to replace your 6 element beam with a pair of 6 element beams. If you were looking to add 9 dB of gain to your station then you would be looking at an 4x6 element antenna system. If your SDR Switch has even a 3 dB loss your 6 element LFA is now receiving as if it were a 3 element beam. 

K7IU, Marv, WA2FZW, John, and the ARRL have taken independent Insertion Loss and VSWR measurements. K7IU did a very nice comparison between MFJ and the SDRSwitch.com. We have added this at the bottom as it is well worth taking the time to read.

WA2FZW Amazon SDR Switch v SDRSwitch.com (N2EME) Comparison

ARRL Lab measurements for the MFJ.

K7IU MFJ v SDRSwitch.com Comparison.