What Does Noise Figure (NF) Mean?
Noise figure is a metric used to indicate the quality of amplifiers. It is the decibel representation of the noise factor that determines the sensitivity of the amplifier is decreased to an incoming signal due to its internal noise. It is defined as the ratio of total output noise power to the output noise due to the input source. Noise figure indicates the noise performance of a radio frequency (RF) system. Noise figure is usually measured using standard noise generators or standard signal generators. The lower the noise figure value, the better the performance of the RF system.
Techopedia Explains Noise Figure (NF)
Noise figure is a numerical representation that denotes the quality of an RF system. It is closely related to the noise factor metric that is a ratio of the output noise power to the input noise from the source at standard noise temperature. In the case of resistors, it is the ratio of the noise produced by the resistor to the noise of an ideal resistor at standard temperatures.
- Gain method
- Y-factor method
- Noise figure meter method
Noise figure acts as a yardstick to compare the performance of wireless communication systems where noise performance is necessary for smooth functioning. A high value of noise figure indicates system degradation and poor performance.
