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What is Bit Error Rate (BER)?


What is Bit Error Rate (BER)?

The BER indicates how many corrupted bits are received compared to the total number of bits sent. It is the primary figure of merit for any digital communication link.

BER = (number of bits received in error) / (total number of transmitted bits)

What is Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)?

SNR is the ratio of signal power to noise power, typically expressed in decibels (dB) to handle large variations in signal strength.

SNR (dB) = 10 * log10(Signal Power / Noise Power)

Example: An SNR of 3 dB means signal power is 2x stronger than noise.


BER Requirements by Application

Technology Typical Modulation Target BER
5G Mobile Data 256-QAM 10-4 to 10-6
Satellite Comms (Deep Space) BPSK / QPSK 10-3 (Pre-FEC)
Fiber Optic Networks Coherent QAM 10-12
Submarine Cables 8-QAM / 16-QAM 10-15

Quick Knowledge Check

If you double the signal power (increase by 3dB), what happens to the SNR?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good BER for wireless communication?

For voice transmission, a BER of 10^-3 is often acceptable. For high-speed data services, a BER of 10^-6 or lower is typically required.

How does SNR affect BER?

As SNR increases, the signal becomes clearer relative to the noise, resulting in a significantly lower Bit Error Rate.

BER vs SNR Main Page →
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