Gain compression

When overdriving an amplifier beyond its the linear range, gain compression will occur[1] due to nonlinear circuit characteristics.

And once an amplifier's maximum amplitude is reached, signals will be clipped, resulting in even stronger harmonic distortion.

The front-end RF amps of radio receivers are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon when overloaded by a strong unwanted signal.

A low-noise RF amplifier, if fed by a directional antenna to a consumer 900 MHz receiver, should improve the transmission range.

For example, if channel 54 is transmitting 6 MW of AM, FM, and PM, the RF front end, expecting −80 dBm, would be grossly overloaded and generate mixing products.

Gain compression on the other hand is a consequence of analog amplifier circuit non-linearities that are generally undesired.