Compute received power, SNR, link margin, and maximum range in real time using the Friis transmission equation. Compare BPSK to 64QAM and include rain fade and atmospheric loss.
Parameters
Presets
TX Power P_t
dBm
Frequency f
GHz
Distance d
km
TX Antenna Gain G_t
dBi
RX Antenna Gain G_r
dBi
Noise Figure NF
dB
Bandwidth BW
Misc Losses L_misc
Rain Fade (ITU-R)
dB
Modulation
Target BER
While paused, move the sliders to update the result instantly.
What exactly is a "link budget"? I hear engineers use it to design wireless systems, but what are they actually calculating?
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Basically, it's an accounting of all the gains and losses in a wireless signal's journey from transmitter to receiver. You start with the power you put in, add antenna gains, subtract all the losses from distance and obstacles, and see what power is left at the receiver. In this simulator, you can see this directly: try increasing the Distance (d) slider and watch the Received Power (P_r) drop dramatically.
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Wait, really? So it's not just about distance? What's the difference between the "Free Space Loss" and the "Misc Losses" in the controls?
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Great question! Free Space Loss (L_fs) is the fundamental, unavoidable loss as the signal spreads out in a perfect vacuum. Misc Losses (L_misc) are the practical, real-world headaches: cable losses, connector imperfections, or signal degradation from going through a wall. For instance, a satellite link might have almost no L_misc, but a Wi-Fi router behind two drywalls would.
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That makes sense. But power is only half the story, right? The results also show SNR and Margin. What's the key thing there, and why does the Modulation choice matter so much?
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Exactly! The Received Power must be compared to the Noise Floor to get the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). The Margin tells you how much "extra" SNR you have above the minimum required for your chosen modulation. Try switching between BPSK and 64QAM up top. 64QAM packs more data but needs a much higher SNR. If your margin goes negative, the link fails—this is how engineers choose the right modulation for a given distance and power.
Physical Model & Key Equations
The core of the calculator is the Friis Transmission Equation in decibel (dB) form. It sums all gains and losses to find the power arriving at the receiver.
Where:
$P_r$ = Received Power (dBm)
$P_t$ = Transmitted Power (dBm)
$G_t, G_r$ = Transmit/Receive Antenna Gains (dBi)
$L_{fs}$ = Free Space Path Loss (dB)
$L_{misc}$ = Miscellaneous Losses (dB)
The Free Space Path Loss is calculated from the distance and the signal's wavelength (which depends on frequency). This equation shows why higher frequencies (like 28 GHz 5G) attenuate much faster over distance than lower frequencies (like 900 MHz IoT).
Where:
$d$ = Distance between antennas (meters)
$f$ = Frequency (Hz)
$\lambda$ = Wavelength (m), where $\lambda = c/f$
The constant -147.55 comes from $20\log_{10}(4\pi/c)$ with $c$ as the speed of light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Received power is typically very small in milliwatts, so it appears as a negative value in dBm notation. For example, 0 dBm equals 1 mW, and -30 dBm equals 0.001 mW. This tool calculates in real time based on the Friis transmission equation, subtracting losses due to distance and frequency from the transmitted power.
Rain attenuation depends on frequency and rainfall intensity (mm/h). This tool adopts the standard model based on ITU-R recommendations. By entering the rainfall intensity in the rain attenuation field on the screen (e.g., 5 mm/h for light rain, 50 mm/h for heavy rain), the loss amount is automatically calculated and reflected in the link margin.
Switching from BPSK to 64QAM increases the number of transmitted bits per symbol, improving spectral efficiency, but also raises the required SNR (signal-to-noise ratio). This tool displays the theoretical required SNR for each modulation scheme and compares it with the current received SNR, allowing you to instantly verify whether the link is feasible.
Atmospheric absorption loss becomes significant mainly in the oxygen absorption band around 60 GHz and the water vapor absorption bands at 24 GHz and 183 GHz. Below 10 GHz, it is typically less than 0.1 dB/km and can be ignored, but in the millimeter-wave band (30 GHz and above) or for long-distance links, it can reach several dB/km, so it must be considered in this tool.
Real-World Applications
Satellite Communication (e.g., Starlink): Engineers use this exact calculation to determine the required power and antenna size on the ground terminal. The Rain Fade parameter is critical here, as heavy rain can absorb and scatter the high-frequency signals, causing a temporary link outage unless extra "margin" is designed in.
5G Cellular Network Planning: When deploying a new 5G small cell, engineers calculate the link budget for the expected cell radius. They balance high-gain antennas (increasing G_t and G_r) with the need for wide coverage, and select a modulation scheme (like 256QAM) that delivers high speed only to users with a strong SNR.
IoT Sensor Networks (e.g., LoRaWAN): For battery-powered sensors that must last years, transmit power (P_t) must be minimized. The link budget is pushed to its limit by using very low data rates (which require minimal SNR), allowing communication over several kilometers with minimal power.
Radar System Design: The Friis equation works in reverse for radar. The transmitted signal reflects off a target, and the budget calculates the tiny fraction of power that returns. This determines the radar's maximum detection range and sensitivity to small objects like drones.
Common Misconceptions and Points to Note
While this calculation tool is powerful, it has several pitfalls. First, it is dangerous to assume that "if the calculation result is positive, communication is absolutely possible". The Friis transmission formula assumes a "Line-of-Sight (LOS) environment". In reality, losses of several dB can occur just from trees, curtains, or even a person walking by. For example, in the 2.4 GHz band, even if you have a calculated margin of 10dB, it can easily be wiped out by a single office partition. Next, do not misunderstand the meaning of antenna gain [dBi]. dBi is a "relative value compared to an isotropic antenna (a hypothetical antenna that radiates equally in all directions)". A 10dBi antenna is not a magical device that amplifies power; its relative strength is achieved by "focusing" the radio waves in a specific direction. Finally, transmit power [dBm] and power consumption [W] are different things. Even if a circuit's power consumption is high, the transmit power will be low if the power supply efficiency to the antenna is poor. Always check the datasheet's "transmit output" and "power consumption" separately.
Enter transmit power (ptNum) in dBm—typical values: 20 dBm for WiFi, 30 dBm for cellular base station
Set frequency (freqNum) in GHz—5 GHz for 802.11ac, 2.4 GHz for 802.11n, 28 GHz for 5G mmWave
Input distance (distNum) in km and combined antenna gain (gtNum) in dBi—omnidirectional antennas ~2 dBi, Yagi ~10 dBi
Simulator computes path loss via Friis equation, received power P_r, and compares modulation schemes (BPSK ~-95 dBm SNR threshold, 64QAM ~-75 dBm)
Read Link Margin M and maximum range where SNR equals receiver sensitivity
Worked Example
LTE backhaul link: transmit power 23 dBm, frequency 2.6 GHz, distance 8 km, combined antenna gain 18 dBi (sector antenna). Friis path loss = 32.4 + 20log(2.6) + 20log(8) = 122.8 dB. Received power P_r = 23 - 122.8 + 18 = -81.8 dBm. For BPSK (sensitivity -93 dBm), link margin M = -81.8 - (-93) = 11.2 dB. Rain attenuation at 2.6 GHz ~0.5 dB per km for heavy rain reduces margin by 4 dB. Maximum range with 10 dB margin: solve 23 - [32.4 + 20log(2.6) + 20log(d)] + 18 = -83, yielding d ≈ 12.5 km.
Practical Notes
Include rain attenuation for frequencies above 10 GHz—millimeter-wave links (28/73 GHz) lose 2–8 dB/km in moderate rain; increase antenna gain or reduce link distance
Account for feeder loss: 0.5–2 dB per 50 m coaxial run reduces effective transmitted power; use low-loss LMR-600 for long runs
Modulation scheme selection: BPSK (robust, low data rate), QPSK (4 bits), 16QAM (8 dB SNR margin required), 64QAM (12+ dB margin); each requires 3–5 dB more SNR than predecessor
Free-space path loss assumes line-of-sight; terrain obstruction adds 6–20 dB depending on fresnel zone blockage percentage