# Signal to noise ratio and multiply const **URL:** \ **Category:** GNU Radio\ **Created:** [October 30, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/signal-to-noise-ratio-and-multiply-const/237219 "2013-10-30T13:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![musicdenotation](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@musicdenotation](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/musicdenotation)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/signal-to-noise-ratio-and-multiply-const/237219/1 "2013-10-30T13:20:13Z")
Hi all, I have simulated ofdm transmitter with 200kbps in grc. Without function multiply const I got a very bad spectrum mask of the transmiitter. If I insert the block multiply const with the 0.05 the spectrum mask and SNR will be much better (see attached pictures). How can I explain it? The dynamic range of the ofdm signal will be reduced if I insert the multiply const? That could be better for the amplifier (PAPR reducing)? Thanks A. Baier ---
**Author:** ![Baier](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Baier](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Baier)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/signal-to-noise-ratio-and-multiply-const/237219/2 "2013-10-31T11:59:03Z")
Thank you very much! Am 30.10.2013 13:38, schrieb Martin B. (CEL): ---
**Author:** ![Baier](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Baier](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Baier)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/signal-to-noise-ratio-and-multiply-const/237219/3 "2013-10-30T13:40:05Z")
On Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 01:18:53PM +0100, Baier wrote: > Hi all, > > I have simulated ofdm transmitter with 200kbps in grc. Without > function multiply const I got a very bad spectrum mask of the > transmiitter. If I insert the block multiply const with the 0.05 the > spectrum mask and SNR will be much better (see attached pictures). > How can I explain it? The dynamic range of the ofdm signal will be > reduced if I insert the multiply const? That could be better for the > amplifier (PAPR reducing)? > Thanks Hi AB, PAPR is part of the reason. Without such a multiplier, your signal clips. In gr-digital/examples/ofdm/tx\_ofdm.grc you will find such a multiplier and a scope sink (this example was recently updated, you should pull it from current master). Use the scope sink to make sure your amplitude stays smaller than 1.0 (lots smaller!). This does mean you’re not using all the bits of the D/A converter (I guess that’s what you mean with dynamic range reduction), but you don’t need them all to produce a clean OFDM signal. On the contrary, you want to stay away from saturating the D/A range in order to avoid signal distortions. As for your comment on SNR: When clipping, you’re increasing the out-of-band emissions. Technically, that’s a kind of SNR but it’s not what people usually think of. MB PS: If you have a copy of Kammeyer’s book, he explains it quite well. – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Communications Engineering Lab (CEL) Dipl.-Ing. Martin B. Research Associate Kaiserstraße 12 Building 05.01 76131 Karlsruhe Phone: +49 721 608-43790 Fax: +49 721 608-46071 www.cel.kit.edu KIT – University of the State of Baden-Württemberg and National Laboratory of the Helmholtz Association