This calculator determines the minimum detectable signal (MDS) for satellite receivers. It is ideal for RF engineers assessing GEO/LEO/MEO terminal performance under varying modulation schemes and environmental noise.

Example:

For a receiver with temperature set to 290 K, Noise Bandwidth of 10 kHz, Noise Figure of 5 dB and a Signal to Noise Ratio of 10 dB:

Thermal Noise Power = -174 + 10 log10(104) = -134 dBm.

Noise Floor = -134 + 5 = -129 dBm.

Receiver Sensitivity = -129 + 10 = -119 dBm.

Temperature is set to 290 K, representing standard room temperature (about 17°C), which determines the thermal noise level in the receiver. Bandwidth defines the frequency range over which noise is integrated, directly affecting Thermal Noise Power. Noise Figure quantifies receiver-added noise beyond thermal limits, with lower values indicating better performance. A minimum Signal to Noise Ratio is needed for reliable demodulation or bit error rate targets in digital systems.