Tech - note Author : Robert E . Watson Receiver Dynamic Range : Part 2

The following receiver measurements and specifications attempt to define overall receiver dynamic range as a single number which can be used both to predict overall receiver performance and as a figure of merit to compare competing receivers. They include: 1-dB compression dynamic range, desensitization dynamic range, spur-free dynamic range, and NPR (noise-power ratio) figure of merit (NPRFOM). In general, they are based on the primary measurements of receiver performance, but the NPRFOM test attempts to simulate the actual signal environment in a way that combines all of the receiver dynamic range characteristics (see Table 1). This test is proposed as a practical and realistic measurement of receiver dynamic range.