Receiver NF and Dynamic Range Spreadsheet for Geeks

[Tom WA3KLR]

Disregard for now.

[WA1GFZ]

Ah RX drag racing can't wait

[Tom WA3KLR]

Well,

I hope I'm not opening a can of worms, BUT I made an Excel spreadsheet that calculates and shows receiver dynamic range and noise figure as it progresses through a receiver system design.

The sheet allows 11 stages PLUS a gain reduction via "Input Loss" box at each stage's input.

The spreadsheet also displays the stage-by-stage dynamic range levels on a chart.

The range-reducing stage is quickly identified.

The spreadsheet has 3 pages - click on the "RX Dyn. Range" tab for the DR sheet. It is pre-filled with a dual-conversion receiver design example.


Send me a PM with your e-mail address to get the .xls file which is about 58 kbytes.

[WA1GFZ]

Rob Sherwood has an interesting list of many receivers he has tested.
I trust his numbers and have come within 1 db of his numbers in a couple cases.
You have to remember phase noise will kill close in dynamic range.  fc

[Tom WA3KLR]

Frank,

Speaking of receiver drag racing, are you aware of the Analog Devices AD831AP mixer i.c.?

[WA1GFZ]

interesting part but I take notice when the ip3 is above plus 35 dBM.
I'm thinking of playing with some h mode mixers this winter. I want to make close in ip3 as good as my synthesizer phase noise. I'm just starting another 6830 chassis with a cool second mixer module that may come close. I have to modify it a bit but looks cool. I think the dynamic range is around 100 dB at 10 khz spacing with a 20 KHz filter. 105 db above 20 KHz spacing and there is a good 5 to 10 dB of MDS hiding in the board. Might to have to roll my own mixer if this doesn't get me there. 1 KHz spacing is in the mid 80s.