Noise Ratio Calculator

Signal-to-Noise Ratio Formula:

\[ SNR = 10 \times \log_{10}\left(\frac{P_{signal}}{P_{noise}}\right) \]

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR):

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1. What is Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)?

Definition: SNR is a measure that compares the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise.

Purpose: It quantifies how much a signal has been corrupted by noise in communication systems, audio equipment, and other electronic devices.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ SNR = 10 \times \log_{10}\left(\frac{P_{signal}}{P_{noise}}\right) \]

Where:

\( SNR \) — Signal-to-noise ratio (decibels, dB)
\( P_{signal} \) — Signal power (Watts, W)
\( P_{noise} \) — Noise power (Watts, W)

Explanation: The ratio of signal power to noise power is converted to decibels using a logarithmic scale.

3. Importance of SNR

Details: Higher SNR values indicate better signal quality. Typical applications include audio systems, wireless communications, and scientific measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both signal power and noise power in Watts. Both values must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good SNR value?
A: Generally, SNR > 20 dB is good, > 30 dB is excellent, and < 10 dB is poor quality.

Q2: Can I use voltage instead of power?
A: Yes, but the formula becomes SNR = 20 × log10(Vsignal/Vnoise) when using voltage.

Q3: Why use logarithmic scale for SNR?
A: The logarithmic scale better represents how humans perceive signal quality and compresses the wide range of possible values.

Q4: What if my noise power is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined (division by zero). In practice, noise power is never exactly zero.

Q5: How is SNR different from SINAD?
A: SINAD includes both noise and distortion, while SNR considers only noise.