Use this electronics calculation for a first-pass component, converter, signal, motor, or sensor estimate when the stated operating conditions and units match the device data.

Bandwidth (Hz)

Required number input.

Noise figure (dB)

Required number input.

Required SNR (dB)

Required number input.

Compute the minimum detectable signal as MDS(dBm) = -174 + 10 x log10(BW(Hz)) + NF(dB) + SNR(dB); bandwidth must be positive and the noise figure non-negative. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

Minimum detectable signal (dBm)

The resulting minimum detectable signal returned as a number.

• RF gain, noise, compression, intercept, mismatch, sensitivity, and link calculations require consistent impedance, bandwidth, frequency, reference plane, temperature, modulation, and cascade ordering. Datasheet values at different conditions cannot be combined without correction.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Check the result against the current datasheet and worst-case operating corners, then verify the circuit or measurement with simulation and bench testing where failure matters.

• Receiver Sensitivity

  Compute the thermal-noise-limited receiver sensitivity as -174 dBm/Hz plus ten times the base-ten logarithm of the bandwidth plus the noise figure plus the required SNR.

• SINAD dB

  Compute SINAD in decibels as 20 x log10(Vfundamental / sqrt(noise^2 + distortion^2)); there must be some noise or distortion.

• A-Weighted SNR dB

  Compute A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio snrADb = 20 * log10(signalVrms / noiseFloorVrms) + aWeightCorrectionDb, with the correction defaulting to zero.