Because thermal noise is a fundamental limitation in communication systems, we extend our discussion a little farther into how the propagation of power from transmitter to receiver can be handled in terms of signal-to-noise calculations.
Figure 4.17 illustrates a model of a communication system for the transmission of power through free space. as, for example, in a satellite communication system. Such a model is referred to as a communication link.
The transmitter supplies power to the transmitter antenna, which is directive and radiates power within a beamwidth
e to ward the receiver.
If the transmitting antenna were isotropic, it would radiate power uniformly in all directions, and a surface of constant power density at distance d would be a spherical surface of area A 4mdr.
A parameter used to describe the directivity or"gain" of