RF Chain SimulatorSystem Analysis
Build signal paths from transmitter to receiver, watch power flow through amplifiers, cables, antennas, and free-space path loss in real time. Analyze cascaded noise figure and link margin.
Components
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Link Budget Basics
A link budget accounts for all gains and losses in a communication system. Power starts at the transmitter and is modified by each component: amplifiers add gain, cables and free-space introduce loss, and antennas provide directional gain.
Noise Figure
System noise figure determines receiver sensitivity. Using the Friis formula, the first amplifier in the chain dominates the overall noise performance. A low-noise amplifier (LNA) placed early in the chain minimizes the system noise figure.
Link Margin
Link margin is the difference between received power and receiver sensitivity. A margin above 10 dB provides reliable communication, 3-10 dB is marginal, and below 3 dB the link will likely fail under real-world conditions.