Component reference¶

Every component implements propagate_signal(signal_power, noise_power) and is importable directly from linkbudget. name and description come first (positional in most, keyword-with-default in a few — check the signature).

Sources and gains¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`SignalSource`	Inject signal and/or noise power (a transmitter, or a noise source)	`signal_power`, `noise_power` (linear, added to the chain)
`Gain`	Apply a gain/loss to both signal and noise	`gain`, `db=True`, `role=None` (`"tx"`/`"rx"`)
`RFComponent`	Generic gain block with a noise figure (an amplifier)	`gain` (dB), `noise_figure` (dB), `noise_bandwidth` (Hz, opt-in Friis)
`NoiseFigure`	Add the noise of a noise-figure stage; signal unchanged	`noise_figure` (dB), `noise_bandwidth` (Hz, opt-in Friis)
`ArrayFactor`	Array gain from element count	`num_elements`, `role=None`
`Integrate`	Coherent integration: signal ×`timespan`, noise unchanged	`timespan`

Path loss (tagged `is_propagation`)¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`FreeSpacePathLoss`	Free-space path loss	`distance` (m), `frequency` (Hz)
`RadarPathLoss`	Two-way radar path loss in one step	`distance` or `tx_distance`+`rx_distance`, `frequency`, `rcs_db`
`RadarPathLossOneWay`	One calibrated leg of a two-way radar path	`distance` (m), `frequency` (Hz)
`RadarCrossSection`	RCS scaling as a plain dB multiplier	`rcs_db` (dB rel. 1 m²)
`AtmosphericAbsorption`	ITU-R P.676 gaseous absorption	`frequency`, `path_length_km` or `elevation_deg`
`RainAttenuation`	ITU-R P.838 / P.618 rain	`frequency`, `rain_rate`, `path_length_km` or slant-path args
`CloudFogAttenuation`	ITU-R P.840 cloud / fog	`frequency`, `liquid_water_path` or `liquid_water_density`+`path_length_km`
`TroposphericScintillation`	ITU-R P.618 §2.4.1 scintillation	`frequency`, `elevation_deg`, `antenna_diameter`
`TwoRayGroundReflection`	Plane-earth two-ray (terrestrial)	`distance`, `tx_height`, `rx_height`, `frequency`

See Propagation models for details and validity ranges.

Antennas¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`ParabolicDish`	Dish gain + beamwidth from geometry	`diameter`, `frequency`, `efficiency`, `role=None`
`BeamPointingLoss`	Pointing loss from beamwidth + error	`pointing_error_deg`, `half_power_beamwidth_deg` or `diameter`+`frequency`
`PolarizationMismatchLoss`	Loss from axial ratios + tilt	`axial_ratio_db_tx`, `axial_ratio_db_rx`, `tilt_angle_deg`
`AntennaNoiseTemperature`	Antenna noise floor: sky + ground pickup + ohmic loss	`sky_temp_k`, `ground_coupling`, `radiation_efficiency`, `bandwidth`

See Antenna models.

Losses¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`ImplementationLoss`	Aggregate implementation margin loss (signal only)	`cable_loss_db`, `pointing_loss_db`, `polarization_loss_db`, `other_loss_db`
`CableLoss`	`ImplementationLoss` with just a cable term	`loss_db`
`PointingLoss`	`ImplementationLoss` with just a pointing term	`loss_db`
`PolarizationLoss`	`ImplementationLoss` with just a polarization term	`loss_db`

ImplementationLoss attenuates the signal only. For a physical attenuator that reduces signal and noise together, use a negative-dB Gain.

Frequency conversion and digitisation¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`Mixer`	Up/down-conversion, conversion loss, noise figure, image noise	`lo_frequency`, `rf_frequency`, `conversion_loss_db`, `mode`, `noise_figure_db`, `image_reject_db`, `noise_bandwidth`
`SubBandTune`	Filter/retune to a sub-band, reducing signal and noise bandwidth	band-edge frequencies (Hz)
`QuantizationNoise`	Add quantization noise from bit depth + headroom	`total_bits`, `headroom_db`
`AnalogToDigitalConverter`	Buffer gain/NF then quantization noise, in one step	`gain_db`, `noise_figure_db`, `total_bits`, `headroom_db`, `sample_rate`, `noise_bandwidth`
`DigitalToAnalogConverter`	Quantization noise then output driver gain/NF	`total_bits`, `headroom_db`, `gain_db`, `noise_figure_db`, `sample_rate`, `noise_bandwidth`

Noise floor and analysis¶

Component	Purpose	Key arguments
`ThermalNoise`	Physical thermal noise floor `k·T·B` (watts)	`temperature_k` (default 290), `bandwidth` (Hz)
`AntennaNoiseTemperature`	Antenna noise floor from sky + ground + ohmic loss	`sky_temp_k`, `ground_temp_k`, `ground_coupling`, `radiation_efficiency`, `bandwidth`
`LinkMargin`	Compare achieved link vs a requirement; report closure	one of `required_ebno_db` / `required_esno_db` / `required_cn_db` / `required_snr_db`

By default the noise-figure stages use a scale-free N_out = N_in · G · F, in which a stage's noise figure hurts the SNR by the same amount wherever it sits in the chain. Pass a noise_bandwidth (Hz) to RFComponent / NoiseFigure / Mixer to switch to the Friis added-noise form N_out = (N_in + (F − 1)·k·T₀·B)·G, where the excess noise is referred to the stage input and a noisy late stage is suppressed by all the preceding gain. This is an absolute power (watts), so use it with a ThermalNoise or AntennaNoiseTemperature floor. See Noise modelling.

See Figures of merit & link margin.