DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : V.S.RAMANJAM
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Communication Engg
Institute : SGPR Govt Polytechnic, Kurnool.
Year / Semester : III Semester
Subject : Analog Communication
Subject Code : EC305
Topic : Understand Communication Systems
Duration : 50 Mts
Sub Topic : Signal to Noise Ratio, Noise Figure and
Noise Temperature
Teaching Aids : Diagrams

EC305.12 1
OBJECTIVES

On completion of this period you would be able to

understand

• Signal to Noise Ratio.

• Noise Figure.

• Noise Temperature.

EC305.12 2
Signal to Noise Ratio
• In any receiver system noise level is not only important
but also the signal level that is present at the system is
important.
• Hence signal to noise level is very important for
comparison of two equipment in their working
performances.
• The signal to noise ratio is used to compare the noise
power with signal power to ensure that the noise is within
the limits.
• If “S” is the signal power and ‘N’ Noise power then,
Signal to noise ratio is

S / N = Ps / Pn
= [ V s / V n ]2
EC305.12 3
Measuring noise
• To quantify the effect of noise on a signal, we use the
signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio or SNR.
– A strong signal and weak noise results in a high S/N
ratio.
– A weak signal and strong noise results in a low S/N
ratio.

signal without noise 20 dB S/N ratio 10 dB S/N ratio

EC305.12 4
Signal-to-noise ratio

• Signal to noise ratio can be expressed in terms

of voltage or power.
 Vs  signal voltage (rms)
 V  noise voltage (rms)
S Vs S Ps 
 or  where  n
N Vn N Pn  Ps  signal power (W)
 Pn  noise power (W)

signal
(Vs or Ps)
+ signal plus noise
noise
(Vn or Pn)
EC305.12 5
Signal-to-noise (decibels)

• Signal to noise ratio is most commonly

represented in decibels( dB )

Vs
S / N ratio (dB) using voltage: dB  20log
Vn
Ps
S / N ratio (dB) using power: dB  10log
Pn

EC305.12 6
Noise ratio (NR) or Noise Figure (F)

• We often need to quantify how much noise a device

adds to a signal as it passes through the device.

• One measure is the noise ratio (NR) which is simply the

ratio of input S/N to output S/N.

amplifier
S / N input
NR 
input signal output signal S / N output

EC305.12 7
Noise figure (NF)
• When the noise ratio (NR) is expressed in decibels, it’s
called the noise figure (NF).

• Since the output S/N ratio will be less than the input, the
NR > 1 and NF > 0.
– For an ideal device, NR = 1.0 and NF = 0 dB.
– In practice, NF less than 2 dB is excellent.

amplifier

NF  10log NR [dB]
input signal output signal

EC305.12 8
Noise Temperature

• Noise Temperature is another way of specifying the

noise performance of a device.

• Noise Temperature is extensively used for antennas and

low-noise microwave amplifiers.

EC305.12 9
EC305.12 10
EC305.12 11
Summary

On completion of this period the student would

be familiar with

• Signal to Noise Ratio.

• Noise Figure.

• Noise Temperature.

EC305.12 12
 Quiz

Vs
/ ratio (dB) using voltage: dB20log =
S/N
Vn
Ps
/ ratio (dB) using power: dB10log =
S/N
Pn

EC305.12 13
• Noise generated by amplifier = ( F-1) KTB
• Teq = 290 (F-1)

EC305.12 14
Examination Questions

• Explain signal to noise ratio, Noise figure and Noise

Temperature ?
• Calculate SNR and Noise Figure of a single stage
amplifier ?

EC305.12 15
Assignment

• An amplifier has a noise figure of 2dB. What is its

equivalent Noise Temperature?

EC305.12 16