Background noise

Signal noise, in its most basic sense, is any unwanted interference that degrades a communication signal. Signal noise can interfere with both analog and digital signals; however, the amount of noise necessary to affect a digital signal is much higher. This is because digital signals communicate using a set of discrete electrical pulses to convey digital “bits.”

Conversely, analog signals represent an infinite range of possible values using an established range, such as 4-20 mA or 0-10 V. In this case, any unwanted voltage or current spikes will cause a fluctuation in the message being communicated.

background noise, sometimes called “Ambient noise”, refers to all noise present in a given environment.

Signal noise is an issue that all industrial facilities experience by virtue of having electrical equipment running. Signal noise becomes a problem for these facilities when it interferes with process signals being conveyed between devices. This can lead to inaccurate communication of critical process variables that can hinder or even halt process control systems. Following some simple best practices while planning and installing your process control solution can help to keep the communication flowing and eliminate the current quandary.