A radio frequency tuner is provided for selecting channels from a cable
distribution network or other reception system. The tuner has one or more
stages whose performance, such as signal to noise plus intermodulation,
and gain are functions of the stage power consumption. A comparator
compares the tuner performance, such as bit error rate, with a
predetermined performance. When the tuner performance exceeds the
predetermined performance, a power consumption control circuit reduces
the power consumption of one or more of the stages so as to reduce the
tuner power consumption while maintaining acceptable tuner performance.
As an alternative, the control circuit may have an input which allows the
power consumption to be preset in accordance with the tuner application.
The control circuit also controls a variable gain arrangement to
compensate for changes in gain resulting from changes in power
consumption.