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 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. 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]

Receiver sensitivity (dBm)

The resulting receiver sensitivity 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.

• MDS Calculator

  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.

• Mixer Noise Figure

  Mixer noise figure from input and output SNR measurements in decibels over equal bandwidth.

• Thermal Noise Power dBm

  Calculate kTB thermal noise power in dBm over a given bandwidth at room temperature.