A short preliminary report on

ENR Measurement of Noise Source and Noise Generator

BY

Mr. A. PraveenKumar

Mr. Anil Raut

Mrs. Aarti Sandikar

Mr. Abhijit Thakur

I am thankful to Prof. Yashwant Gupta, Prof. S. K. Ghosh and Prof. Jayaram Chengalur for
their guidance and encouragement.

Ideas in this report for measuring ENR are brainchild of Mr. Ajith Kumar, Mr. SureshKumar
and Mr. A. PraveenKumar.

Preface:

This document is not complete in its own. It is intended for ease of understanding. I might have
missed few things in it. I would like to have more cerebration on various methods explained
here.
Abstract:

Homebrewed Noise Generator (Noise cal Injection Unit) is used in each Front-End box for
calibrating RF chain. For accurate calibration, it is very important to know exactly how much
noise is injected in RF path and what are the effects of ambient temperature and supply voltage
variation on injected Noise. Thus output ENR of Noise source has to be measured accurately.

Note:
1. In this context, the term Noise Source is used for readily available noise sources that work on
28V pulsating DC signal from Noise Figure Analyzer while the term Noise Generator is used
for homemade ‘Noise cal Injection Unit’ (that works on +15 DC supply) used in Front-End
Boxes.
2. T he term ‘T em peratu re’ refers to N oise T em perature unless and otherw ise specified.

In this document I will discuss 3 basic things:

1. One method that can directly measure Tcal injected in RF channels

2. Various methods that can be used to measure ENR of Noise Generator/Source
3. Practical measurements using some of above methods

Method that can directly measure Tcal injected in RF channels:

 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Calibrated Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Now connect directional coupler between Calibrated Noise Source and Noise
Figure Analyzer. Make sure that Calibrated Noise Source is connected to incident
port i.e. port1 of directional coupler and NF analyzer is connected to transmitted
port i.e. port2 of directional coupler as shown below.

Calibrated 1 Directional 2 Noise Figure

NS 3 Coupler 4 Analyzer

 Now connect Noise generator output to coupled port i.e. port3 of directional
coupler and terminate isolated port i.e. port 4 as below.
Calibrated Directional Noise Figure
NS Coupler Analyzer

Noise 50 Ω
Generator Termination
 Measure the noise temperature T(ng_off) of Directional coupler on NF Analyzer
keeping Noise Generator off.
 Now switch on Noise Generator and measure Noise Temperature T(ng_on) on
NF Analyzer.
 Then Noise Temperature injected T(inje) in path from Port1 to Port2 is given by
𝑻 𝑰𝒏𝒋𝒆 = 𝑻 𝒏𝒈_𝒐𝒏 − 𝑻 𝒏𝒈_𝒐𝒇𝒇
 Calculate Noise Temperature output T(op) of Noise generator using
𝑻 𝒐𝒑 𝐶𝐹 − 1
𝑇 𝑖𝑛𝑗𝑒 = + 𝑇 𝑑𝑐
𝐶𝐹 𝐶𝐹
where CF is coupling factor (in linear scale) of directional coupler and T(dc) is
noise temperature of directional coupler.

For our application above experimental setup is simplified as

ch1
Calibrated Noise Figure
NS Analyzer
ch2
FE-Box

Noise
Generator

Front-End box is having directional coupler which is used for injecting calibrated
signal in RF channels. Noise temperature of whole FE-Box is calculated with
Noise Generator OFF and then Noise generator ON. Difference in both
measurements is nothing but Tcal injected in RF channel.
Actual Measurements:

Fig: Temperature and Gain of Horizontal channel of 327MHz FE-Box

with Noise Generator OFF

Fig: Temperature and Gain of Horizontal channel of 327MHz FE-Box

with Noise Generator ON (Extra High cal)
 Measurement Results for Tcal injected in Horizantal and vertical channels:

Cal Levels 233MHz FE Box 327 MHz FE Box 610 MHz FE Box
H V E H V E H V E
E.H. cal 2372.41 2388.62 800 723.43 676.33 400 794.85 816.03 400
High cal 552.92 560.48 200 153.28 159.52 100 181.72 178.83 100
Med cal 219.92 242.17 80 53.49 62.83 40 72.69 64.25 40
Low cal 50.73 48.33 20 8.83 21.71 10 24.84 4.95 10
Table: Noise temperature injected in RF channels for various cal levels

All noise temperatures are in Kelvin. Terms H, V and E represent Noise Temperature injected Horizantal
channel, Vertical channel of FE box and expected temperature respectively

Inference drawn from above method:

Noise temperature injected in horizontal and vertical channel of Front-End Box is almost same
for all levels of cal. But measured Tcal values are not matching with expected Tcal values. More
citation is required for finding out reason of mismatch between measured and expected Tcal
values. Suggestions are greatly welcome.
Various methods that can be used to measure ENR of Noise Generator/source:
1. Using Spectrum Analyzer
2. Using Noise-Figure Analyzer
a. Using known Noise Source and calculating NF of DUT.
b. Using known Noise source whose Temperature/ENR is known
c. Using known Noise Source and calculating Temperature of DUT
d. Measuring Phot and Pcold on NFA using manual measurement method.
e. Y-Factor measurement
3. Using power meter.
4. Using ENR meter.

1) Using spectrum Analyzer

Noise Spectrum
Source Analyzer

 Measure Power (in dBm) of Noise Source using Spectrum Analyzer.

 Calculate Temperature (Tn) from measured power using
𝐾 𝑇𝑛 ∆𝐹
𝑃 = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
0.001
Where, P = Power measured using Spectrum Analyzer
K = Boltzman Constant = 1.3806 x 10-23 J/K
Tn = Temperature of Noise source corresponding to given ENR
T0 = Ambient Temperature
∆ F = Video Bandwidth kept on spectrum Analyzer
 Calculate ENR in dB using following Equation
𝑇𝑛 − 𝑇0
𝐸𝑁 𝑅 = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑇0
Limitations:
1. Power measured is not repeatable over a period of measurement.
2. Power cannot be measured accurately because of fluctuation in measurement.
3. To get accurate ENR, precise ambient temperature (T0) has to be known.

Excerpt from Application Note from NoiseWave:

W h y can ’t I see m y n oise sou rce on a sp ectru m an alyzer?

If you are attempting to measure a lower power noise source, < 30 dB ENR, in all probability the
spectrum analyzer Noise Figure, which usually is at a minimum of 25 dB and many times is 35
dB, is above the noise level of noise source. At these levels we can approximate Noise Figure
and ENR and compare directly to see if the noise source will be detectable. This source could be
measured with an LNA in front of the Spectrum Analyzer although to get an exact ENR we
would need to know the NF of the LNA and its gain but we can see if the approximate deflection
occurs. For example a 15 dB ENR noise source should change the noise level about 10 dB if the
noise figure of the LNA is about 5 dB, as long as the LNA gain is sufficient to overcome the
Noise figure of the analyzer. Higher power noise sources can be measured on a spectrum
analyzer for flatness and on a power meter for output power.

What are some pitfalls to watch out for with noise measurements on a spectrum analyzer?
Care must be used when making noise figure measurements on a spectrum analyzer. There are
multiple possible sources of potential error. Since noise sources are very broadband their powers
can increase quickly as gain is added. Couple this with the fact that the noise has large peaks that
can start to compress the amplifier and the high noise figure of spectrum analyzers results in less
range available then one might think.
The spectrum analyzer noise floor can be reduced by pulling out attenuation however if 0 dB is
used then care must be exercised because the VSWR will be degraded, if the broad band
response is very ripple then additional errors can be introduced
For more details see full article at http://www.noisewave.com/faq.pdf
2) ENR measurement Using Noise Figure Analyzer:
Note: First three methods using NF Analyzer can only be used to measure ENR of
readymade Noise Source (which works on pulsed +28V noise source drive output from NF
analyzer.) In case of our Noise Generator (which works on +15V dc), NF analyzer shows
random values and lines.

a) Calculating NF of DUT
 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Known Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Measure NF of DUT (Device Under Test) e.g. LNA, Broadband Amplifier, Fixed
attenuator) using calibrated Noise Source. Measure NF in linear not in dB form.

Known Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Measure NF of DUT using unknown Noise Source whose ENR values are to be
measured. Measure NF in linear not in dB form.

Unknown Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Derive ENR of known calibrated noise source in Linear from given dB values.
 Find out ENR of unknown source using Following equation:
𝑬𝑵 𝑹 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 = 𝑬𝑵 𝑹 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 + 𝑵 𝑭 𝒃𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 − 𝑵 𝑭 𝒃𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏
Note: All values are in linear scale

Advantages:
1. ENR values of unknown Noise Source can be calculated without measuring
ambient Temperature.

Limitations:
1. ENR values of known Noise Source and unknown Source must be closer to
each other. i.e. ENR(known) ≈ ENR(Unknown). If difference in ENR values
is more then, Noise Figure of Source whose ENR values are larger cannot be
shown on NF Analyzer.
 Above method is verified by taking two calibrated noise sources and finding ENR
values of second source using first source.
DUT = Broadband Amplifier in Common-Box

Let us assume that

Known source = Agilent 346A (serial number: 4015A05994)
Unknown source = NoiseCom NC346A (serial number: Z263)

Frequency Known Source Unknown Source

ENR NF NF ENR(calculated) ENR(given)
(dB) (dB) (dB) (dB) (dB)
100MHz 4.8 6.911 5.608 6.103 6
1GHz 4.54 6.985 5.707 5.818 5.72
2GHz 4.82 7.811 6.956 5.675 5.48
3GHz 4.83 9.399 8.801 5.428 5.53

Now, Let us assume that

Known source = NoiseCom NC346A (serial number: Z263)
Unknown source = Agilent 346A (serial number: 4015A05994)

Frequency Known Source Unknown Source

ENR NF NF ENR(calculated) ENR(given)
(dB) (dB) (dB) (dB) (dB)
100MHz 6 6.79 8.082 4.708 4.8
1GHz 5.72 6.928 8.191 4.457 4.54
2GHz 5.48 7.586 8.493 4.573 4.82
3GHz 5.53 9.434 10.163 4.801 4.83

Conclusion drawn from above method:

Calculated ENR of assumed unknown noise source is almost equal to ENR values given in its
ENR table.
b) Using Noise source whose temperature is known:
 Calculate temperature T(known) of known noise source from given ENR values
as
𝑻(𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏) − 𝑇0
𝐸𝑁 𝑅(𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑛) = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑇0
 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Known Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Measure Temperature (say Tmeas) of unknown Noise Source on Noise Figure

Analyzer. This temperature will be with reference to known noise source.

Unknown Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Find out temperature of unknown source using Following equation:

𝑻 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 = 𝑻 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 + 𝑻𝒎 𝒆𝒂𝒔
 Calculate ENR of unknown source using Following equation:
𝑇(𝑢𝑛𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑛) − 𝑇0
𝑬𝑵 𝑹 (𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏) = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑇0

Limitations:
1. ENR values of known Noise Source and unknown Source must be closer to
each other. i.e. ENR(known) ≈ ENR(Unknown). If difference in ENR values
is more then, Temperature cannot be shown on NF Analyzer.
2. To get accurate ENR, precise ambient temperature (T0) has to be known.
c) Calculating Temperature of DUT (slight variation of above)
 Calculate temperature T(known) of known noise source from given ENR values
as
𝑻(𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏) − 𝑇0
𝐸𝑁 𝑅(𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑛) = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑇0
 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Known Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Measure Temperature Tdut(known) of DUT (Device Under Test) e.g. LNA,

Broadband Amplifier, Fixed attenuator) using calibrated Noise Source.

Known Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Measure Temperature Tdut(unknown) using unknown Noise Source whose ENR

is to be measured.

Unknown Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Find out Temperature of unknown source using Following equation:

𝑻 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 = 𝑻 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 + 𝑻𝒅𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 − 𝑻𝒅𝒖𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏
 Calculate ENR of unknown source using Following equation:
𝑇(𝑢𝑛𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑛) − 𝑇0
𝑬𝑵 𝑹 (𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏) = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑇0

Limitations: (Same as in above case)

1. ENR values of known Noise Source and unknown Source must be closer to
each other. i.e. ENR(known) ≈ ENR(Unknown). If difference in ENR values
is more then, Temperature cannot be shown on NF Analyzer.
2. To get accurate ENR, precise ambient temperature (T0) has to be known.
d) Measuring Phot and Pcold using Manual measurement technique of NF analyzer:
 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Known Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Connect the Noise Generator whose ENR is to be measured to Noise Figure

Analyzer.

Noise Noise Figure

Generator Analyzer

 Switch off power supply to generator and measure Pcold. Then Switch on pwer
supply and measure Phot. This measurement techniques are discussed in detail in
m anual of ‘N oise F igure analyzer N 8379A ’ on p age 108 -110.

Unknown Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Calculate ENR of unknown Noise Generator using Following equation:

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡− 𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑
𝑬𝑵 𝑹 (𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏) = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔
𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑

Proof of above equation:

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡− 𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑
RHS = 10𝐿𝑜𝑔 𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑
𝐾 (𝑇ℎ)∆𝐹− 𝐾 (𝑇0)∆𝐹
= 10𝐿𝑜𝑔 𝐾 (𝑇0)∆𝐹
𝑇ℎ− 𝑇0
= 10𝐿𝑜𝑔 𝑇0
= 𝐸𝑁 𝑅(𝑢𝑛𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑛)
= LHS

Note: Above method of manual measurement is explained for homemade Noise

generator. For ENR measurement of Noise source which works on 28V pulsating
DC from NF analyzer, value of Phot and Pcold are internally calculated in NF
analyzer and directly displayed.
e) Using Y-Factor Method:

What is Y-factor?
Y-Factor is ratio of output power when noise source is on to output power when source is
off.

T0
Ξ P1 P2
DUT NS DUT

Thus
𝑃2
Y= 𝑃1

What is relation between Y-factor and ENR?

𝐸𝑁 𝑅
Relation is given by, 𝐹= 𝑌− 1

where F = Noise Factor of DUT, and ENR and Y-factor are in linear scale.

 Calibrate Noise Figure Analyzer using calibrated Noise Source whose ENR
values are known.

Known Noise Figure

NS Analyzer

 Measure NF of DUT (Device Under Test) e.g. LNA, Broadband Amplifier, Fixed
attenuator) using unknown Noise Source whose ENR values are to be measured.

Known Noise Figure

DUT
NS Analyzer

 Measure Y-factor of DUT using unknown Noise Source whose ENR values are to
be measured.

Unknown Noise Figure

NS DUT Analyzer

 Find out ENR of unknown source using Following equation:

𝑬𝑵 𝑹 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏 = 𝑵 𝑭 ∗ (𝒀 − 𝟏)
3) Using Power-Meter:
Measure total power on power meter and calculate ENR from it. This method is useful for
measuring average ENR for all frequencies.

4) Using Noise Figure Meter or ENR-meter:

This is simplest way of measuring ENR of Noise Generator. Noise Figure Meter directly
displays ENR of Noise Generator connected to it.

Along with above discussion, I would like to get suggestions on following things
1. What is expected accuracy for Tcal injected in Front-End box?
2. I would like to get any previously measured values of Tcal injected in RF path
available or its theoretical calculation.
i.e. How it is calculated that 800K is injected in 233MHz FE-Box for Extra High cal?
3. How to theoretically calculate power deflection between Noise ON and Noise OFF?
4. Any suggestions on above methods or refining them for more accuracy or some other
new method.

Conclusion:
There are various methods of finding out ENR of Noise Generator and Noise Source using
different instruments. Using these methods, ENR of noise source can be approximately
measured.