Hz to kbps Calculator

by

In this post we explain how to convert Bandwidth (Hz) to Data throughput (kilobits per second) for digital communication systems*.

The tool answers the question: What is the maximum data rate (measured in kilobits per second) that can be supported for a given Bandwidth (Hz)? 🤔

*Click here if you’re interested in the Hz to kbps calculator for audio systems

In the calculator below, enter the bandwidth and the SNR (dB)

kbps to Hz

Example Calculation

For 100 Hz of bandwidth and 10 dB Signal to noise ratio, the maximum throughput is 0.35 kbps.

For a fixed bandwidth, throughput increases with SNR.

For instance at 15 dB SNR, the max data rate is 0.51 kbps.

Formula

To calculate the bit rate we use the Shannon-Hartley formula

C = B*Log2(1 + S/N)

where,

  • C is the throughput in bits per second
  • B is the bandwidth in Hz
  • S/N is the signal-to-noise ratio

Key Assumptions

The Shannon-Hartley formula makes the following assumptions:

  • The noise is white Gaussian. In other words it does not consider the effect of Fading which can cause additional signal losses.
  • The throughput in bit-per-second is an upper bound. It represents an ideal condition that can be achieved with an arbitrarily low error rate.

Related Calculators