Noise Measurement and noise sources 

 
NEW: Data sheets for surplus MSC noise sources
Microwave Semiconductor Corp (MSC) made solid state noise sources during the 1970s and 1980s for all of the vintage Noise Figure meters, including AIL (later AILTECH), HP, Parabolic AB, and Sanders.  These were branded as MSC, AIL, and Parabolic AB.  All the coaxial units have the same unit, shown on the left in the brochure, inside.  They were usually enclosed in a larger aluminum housing, green for the MSC units and yellow for the AIL, with an integral attenuator to set the output noise level.  The BNC connector is the DC connector, usually +28 volts, while the RF end is either an SMA or N connector.

These units are fairly common surplus items.  The brochure reproduced here lists the standard part numbers, but many others will be found.  The frequency rangelisted is the range for which test data was provided; the limited band units will work over a wider range but the noise output may vary a dB or so.  If you can calibrate at other frequencies against a known noise source, then it will be reasonably accurate.

Brochure:   Page 1    Page 2    Page 3   Page 4
 
From the 1996 Eastern VHF/UHF Conference and Microwave Update '96 Proceedings, updated in November, 1996 QEX
NOISE: Measurement and Generation Now Online

Build and use a noise source like this one:

Indicator for Sun Noise Measurement -- Block Diagram from "More on Parabolic Dish Antennas", QEX, Dec. 1995, pp. 14-22.

Another explanation of Antenna Noise Temperature by Chuck, W8MQH
  • Indicator for Sun Noise Measurement -- Block Diagram from "More on Parabolic Dish Antennas", QEX, Dec. 1995, pp. 14-22.
  • Download NOISE.EXE Version 2 by Mel, WRØI for calculating SUN NOISE of a dish

    •   from: Graves, M.B., WRØI, "Computerized Radio Star Calibration Program," Proceedings of the 27th Conference of the Central States VHF Society, ARRL, 1993, pp. 19-25.
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