NTIA Report TR-09-458

Statistical Considerations for Noise and Interference Measurements

November 2008

Roger Dalke

Abstract: The study of noise and interference in the radio environment is essential to the development of efficacious communications systems. Many of the characteristics of radio noise and interference of interest to radio system designers can be expressed in terms of first- and second-order statistics. These statistics are necessarily calculated using measured data. In this report, we discuss uncertainties that arise when measured data sets are used to calculate statistics of radio noise and interference.

Keywords: amplitude probability distribution; average power; measurement uncertainties; power spectrum; radio interference; radio noise

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Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software are identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.