TenTec
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TenTec] OT: Dynamic range of SDR Radios with 16-bit DAC

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Dynamic range of SDR Radios with 16-bit DAC
From: Gary J FollettDukes HiFi <dukeshifi@comcast.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2016 17:26:39 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Now we’re getting somewhere. 

SO, if you sample the voltage appearing at the output of a given RF input 
stage, and it is, say, 2 uV after scaling for whatever gain is in the front 
end, and the A to D LSB size. 

If I leave that 2 uV signal (the one I am trying to hear) at the input, and 
then apply 30 million microvolts (30 volts, which is143 dB over 2 uV) at 
another in band frequency, I will not experience any digitization problems?

Gary



> On Sep 11, 2016, at 5:10 PM, Paul Christensen <w9ac@arrl.net> wrote:
> 
>> "It still does not explain how you can digitize a signal with amplitude
> that is 140 dB signal above one LSB using a 16 bit A to D."
> 
> You're incorrectly applying bit strength based on strictly on voltage.  We
> cannot use the classic format for dynamic range where DR = 20 log2^ (bit
> strength).  That gives 96 dB of DR for a 16 bit voltage based system where
> other factors like ADC clock rate and bandwidth are important.
> 
> Example: the SunSDR Colibri receiver has a 14 bit ADC.  Like all DDC
> receivers, it achieves its DR through the process of decimation and
> filtering.  If a 14 bit ADC is sampling at 80 Msps with decimation occurring
> to a 500 Hz bandwidth, then there's an increase of DR by 10 log(80^e6/500).
> That's 53 dB.  SunSDR uses an ADC used that's specified with a 77 dB SNR at
> 15 MHz.  With decimation, the dynamic range is increased to 77 dB + 53 dB =
> 130 dB. 
> 
> How about a 16-bit receiver that's rated with a 77 dB SNR at 30 MHz.  Assume
> the ADC is clocking at 125 Msps.  10 log(125^e6/500) = 54 dB.  After
> decimation, DR  is 77 dB + 54 dB = 131 dB.
> 
> We gained only 1 dB of DR by going from a 14-bit ADC to a 16-bit ADC.  This
> is exactly why folks have been saying it doesn't make a difference in nearly
> every amateur application.  There may be other design factors to consider
> but DR isn't one of them.  The ANAN-100B has nearly the same DR as the more
> expensive ANAN-100D.  One product uses a 14 bit ADC, the other is 16 bit.
> Let's stop treating the subject like we're calculating the DR of a CD
> player.
> 
> Paul, W9AC
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>