signal-to-noise ratio

3 definitions found

signal-to-noise ratio - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  signal-to-noise ratio
      n 1: the ratio of signal intensity to noise intensity [syn:
           signal-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise, signal/noise ratio
           , signal/noise, S/N]

signal-to-noise ratio - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  signal-to-noise ratio
  SNR
  S/N ratio
  
     1. <communications> (SNR, "s/n ratio", "s:n ratio") "Signal"
     refers to useful information conveyed by some communications
     medium, and "noise" to anything else on that medium.  The
     ratio of these is usually expressed logarithmically, in
     decibels.
  
     2. <networking> The term is often applied to Usenet
     newsgroups though figures are never given.  Here it is quite
     common to have more noise (inappropriate postings which
     contribute nothing) than signal (relevant, useful or
     interesting postings).  The signal gets lost in the noise
     when it becomes too much effort to try to find interesting
     articles among all the crud.  Posting "noise" is probably the
     worst breach of netiquette and is a waste of bandwidth.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1996-01-29)
  

signal-to-noise ratio - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  signal-to-noise ratio
   n.
  
     [from analog electronics] Used by hackers in a generalization of its
     technical meaning. `Signal' refers to useful information conveyed by
     some communications medium, and `noise' to anything else on that
     medium. Hence a low ratio implies that it is not worth paying
     attention to the medium in question. Figures for such metaphorical
     ratios are never given. The term is most often applied to Usenet
     newsgroups during flame wars. Compare bandwidth. See also
     coefficient of X, lost in the noise.