The Response of Radio Noise Meter Detectors to Modulated Gaussian Noise

Abstract

The response of noise meter detectors to gaussian noise modulated by a rectangular wave is calculated. The detectors considered are a) average of the envelope, b) quasi-peak with charge and discharge time constants of 1 and 600 milliseconds, respectively, and c) rms of the envelope. The average and rms values are obtained explicitly. The quasi-peak value is obtained in the form of an implicit relationship, which was solved numerically and a family of curves plotted to give the quasi-peak to average and quasi-peak to rms ratios as a function of the duty cycle of the modulation. The response of the same detectors to interrupted gaussian noise is also evaluated. All the results obtained are presented in tabular form for easy reference and comparison purposes. The primary usefulness of the results obtained lies in the fact that they can be used for the construction of the physical models of noise sources; these models make it possible to bring together in the laboratory, in a controlled manner, noise sources and communication systems for interference studies.