Meaning
System performance describes the increase in the noise-to-signal ratio as an electronic signal passes through an amplifier or receiver chain. In wireless communications, noise figure degradation occurs when internal components add more random thermal noise than expected to the signal. This reduction in quality limits the range and data rate of the communication link.
Amplifier Linearity
Operating a device near its saturation point can introduce nonlinearities that raise the noise floor. While trying to achieve maximum gain, the amplifier may also amplify its own internal fluctuations.
Thermal Noise
Atomic vibrations in resistors and transistors generate a baseline level of electrical interference that increases with temperature. If the cooling system of a receiver fails, the noise figure degradation becomes more severe and can cause the link to drop. Using high-quality components with low internal resistance helps to keep this baseline as low as possible.
Proper thermal management prevents the build-up of heat that would otherwise compromise the sensitivity of the antenna front-end module.
System Sensitivity
Receiver sensitivity is directly tied to the total noise added by the first few stages of the signal path. Even a small increase in the noise figure can require a much larger transmission power to compensate for the lost signal quality. Regular testing of the hardware is necessary to confirm that it continues to meet the stringent requirements of modern network standards.
