A Postdetection Method of Measuring Predetection RF Signal-to-Noise Ratio

A method of determining the predetection signal-to-noise power ratio in a radio receiving system by measurement of average postdetection signal-plus-noise and noise-only voltages (dc output of the detector) is described. The principle has actually been known for many years, but does not seem to be well known or widely used, possibly because of some associated computational difficulties. Some digital computer tabulated results are presented which remove these difficulties, and measurement techniques are discussed. The calculation of expected signal-to-noise ratio for radio and radar systems is briefly reviewed.