Q Wiley, AA5FA, asks, “If a specification is noise limited, is that a good or a bad thing?”
A The term “noise limited” means that the noise level in the receiver increased for that measurement in such a way as to cause the audio output to be all noise with no tone (for a two-tone measurement) or to increase by 1 dB (in the case of blocking). Practically, the only time it is a consideration is when you are comparing receivers of similar performance levels. For two radios with the same (within a couple of dB) dynamic range figures, the one that is not noise limited is preferable. But if the two receivers are not equal and the one that is noise limited has better numbers, that one is preferable.
From QST August 1999
