Where is an RF preamplifier installed?

An RF preamplifier is a sensitive, low-noise amplifier designed to boost very weak received signals before they reach the main receiver circuitry. Because its job is to help you hear better, it must be placed in the receive path between the antenna and the receiver. Placing the preamplifier as close to the antenna as possible is the most effective setup because it amplifies the weak signal before it suffers attenuation from traveling down the coaxial cable. It is never placed at the transmitter's output, which is where a power amplifier goes.