Thermal Noise and Receiver Sensitivity Calculator
How weak a signal can the receiver still decode?
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Thermal Noise and Receiver Sensitivity Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Thermal Noise and Receiver Sensitivity Calculator works
Enter the channel bandwidth, receiver noise figure and required SINR.
Thermal noise density is kT: −173.98 dBm/Hz at 290 K, and −174 dBm/Hz is the common approximation.
Sensitivity = noise floor + noise figure + required SINR.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Bandwidth (MHz) | 20 |
|---|---|
| Receiver noise figure (dB) | 5 |
| Required SINR (dB) | -1 |
| Temperature (°C) | 17 |
- Noise density at 17°C ≈ -173.97 dBm/Hz.
- Noise floor over 20 MHz = -101.0 dBm; with a 5 dB noise figure = -96.0 dBm; sensitivity at −1 dB SINR = -97.0 dBm.
Result:
| Thermal noise density (dBm/Hz) | -173.97 |
|---|---|
| Noise floor (dBm) | -101.0 |
| Noise floor with NF (dBm) | -96.0 |
| Sensitivity (dBm) | -97.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Why −174 dBm/Hz?
It is the thermal noise power density at about 290 K (17°C), kT in dBm per hertz.
Is sensitivity the same as the cell-edge level?
Sensitivity is the minimum signal at the antenna connector. Cell-edge design adds margins for fading, interference and loss.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.