Shannon Capacity Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the channel bandwidth in Hertz (Hz). This is the maximum frequency range that the channel can transmit.
2. Enter the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in linear scale. SNR is a measure of signal strength relative to background noise.
3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the channel capacity.
4. The result will be displayed in bits per second (bps), representing the maximum data rate that can be achieved over the channel.

Understanding Shannon Capacity

Shannon capacity, also known as channel capacity, is a fundamental concept in information theory that determines the maximum rate at which information can be reliably transmitted over a communication channel. It's calculated using the formula:

C = B × log₂(1 + SNR)

where:

• C = Channel Capacity (bits per second)
• B = Channel Bandwidth (Hz)
• SNR = Signal-to-Noise Ratio (linear)

Practical Applications

This calculator is useful for:

• Designing communication systems to determine theoretical maximum performance
• Comparing different communication technologies
• Evaluating the impact of bandwidth and signal quality on data transmission rates
• Understanding the fundamental limits of communication channels

Example

For a channel with a bandwidth of 1 MHz (1,000,000 Hz) and an SNR of 1000:

C = 1,000,000 × log₂(1 + 1000) ≈ 1,000,000 × 9.96578 ≈ 9.9658 Mbps

This means the channel can theoretically support up to approximately 9.97 Mbps of data transmission.