How do you calculate receiver sensitivity?

From RF Design Wiki · By the RF Design Wiki editorial team · Published October 21, 2026 · Last reviewed October 21, 2026 · How we research

Receiver sensitivity is the minimum signal power at the input that achieves a specified quality (SNR, bit or packet error rate). For a receiver at 290 K: S(dBm) = −174 + NF + 10·log10(B) + SNR_min, where B is the noise bandwidth in Hz. Halving bandwidth improves sensitivity by 3 dB; every dB of NF costs a dB.^[1]^[2]

What are worked examples?

Narrowband FM voice, B = 12.5 kHz, NF = 5 dB, SNR = 10 dB: −174 + 5 + 41 + 10 = −118 dBm.
20 MHz Wi-Fi channel, NF = 6 dB, SNR = 4 dB (low MCS): −174 + 6 + 73 + 4 = −91 dBm, before implementation loss.
LoRa-type spread spectrum at SNR = −20 dB in 125 kHz, NF 6 dB: −174 + 6 + 51 − 20 = −137 dBm.

How do standards define sensitivity?

Standards specify a test method: signal level, modulation, data rate and an error threshold, e.g. IEEE 802.11 specifies minimum sensitivity per MCS at 10% packet error rate, and 3GPP specifies reference sensitivity at 95% throughput.^[3]^[4]

What degrades real sensitivity?

Losses before the LNA, LO phase noise and spurs, desensitization from blockers and the device’s own digital noise (platform noise), and antenna efficiency. Conducted sensitivity measured at the connector differs from total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) measured over the air.

Frequently asked questions

Why −174 dBm/Hz?

It is kT at 290 K expressed in dBm per hertz.

Is lower sensitivity better?

A more negative dBm value means a more sensitive receiver.

What is TIS?

Total isotropic sensitivity, the radiated sensitivity averaged over all directions.

References

Online sources accessed October 21, 2026; printed works cited by edition. See all sources.

“RF Microelectronics, 2nd ed.”. B. Razavi, Prentice Hall. 2012.
“Microwave Engineering, 4th ed.”. D. M. Pozar, Wiley. 2012.
“IEEE Std 802.11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications”. IEEE. 2020 revision and amendments.
“3GPP TS 38.101-1: NR; User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception; Part 1: Range 1 Standalone”. 3GPP. Release 17 and later.

Categories: Receivers and systems

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