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Wireless & Mobility · Intermediate

Fade Margin

Extra signal strength above receiver sensitivity planned into a link to absorb fluctuations.

Definition

Fade margin is a design buffer that accounts for weather, multipath fading, and other changes in signal strength. Outdoor point-to-point links commonly use 10 to 25 dB of fade margin. It is added to the receiver sensitivity requirement in the link budget.

Example

A link with -80 dBm sensitivity and 15 dB fade margin is designed to receive -65 dBm.

Exam tip

Fade margin is planned buffer; system operating margin is the actual measured excess.

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