Noise Figure (NF)

Noise Figure (NF) measures how much a device, like a receiver or amplifier, adds unwanted background noise to a signal. It compares the total noise you get after the device to the noise that would be present if only the original signal and ideal conditions were involved. A lower NF indicates a cleaner, clearer signal with less additional noise, which is crucial for sensitive applications like radio or satellite communications. In essence, NF helps quantify a device’s effectiveness in preserving signal quality without amplifying background noise excessively.