How to determine senr?

How to Determine SENR?

Today, since we’ve already explored related metrics like SINR and RSRP, it’s time we talk about SENR — a key measurement used in 5G networks, particularly when evaluating signal quality in beam-based communication. I’ll explain it to you step by step, so you clearly understand what SENR means, how it’s measured, and why it matters.

First, let me remind you that SENR stands for SSB-based Energy per Resource Element over Noise Ratio. It’s a specific form of signal quality measurement, calculated by considering the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) energy over the noise. Unlike traditional SINR, which uses broader signal sources, SENR is focused only on the SSB portion of the signal. This is especially useful in 5G beamforming-based systems where users are served via narrow beams.

Why SENR is Important?

In beam-based 5G, where the user equipment (UE) connects through directional beams, the network needs a way to evaluate the quality of each beam to decide which one is best for you. SENR gives that beam-level insight. If you remember when we discussed SS-RSRP and SS-RSRQ earlier, those also help evaluate beam performance. SENR is part of that same group, but focuses purely on energy over noise — making it critical for beam selection and mobility decisions.

Steps to Determine SENR

To help you understand how SENR is determined, I’ve broken it down into simpler steps:

• 1. Measure the Energy of the SSB: First, the UE measures the received energy of the SSB (Synchronization Signal Block). This is a set of OFDM symbols transmitted periodically and used for initial access and beam management.
• 2. Measure the Noise Power: The UE then measures the background noise on the same frequency band where the SSB was received. This noise is everything except the intended signal.
• 3. Calculate the SENR: SENR is then calculated as a ratio of the average SSB energy per Resource Element (RE) to the measured noise power. This ratio is expressed in dB.

Formula for SENR

You don’t have to calculate it manually, but it’s good for you to see what it looks like:

So, if the energy per resource element is high and the noise is low, you’ll have a higher SENR, meaning better signal quality. If the noise increases or signal energy drops, SENR will fall — affecting beam tracking and quality of communication.

Where SENR is Used?

Let’s connect it with what we discussed earlier in 5G beamforming. When your device measures multiple beams during an SSB burst set, it reports the SENR for each. The base station uses this report to select the optimal beam to serve you. This helps with better mobility, better connection stability, and faster speeds.

Also, just like SINR helps in LTE, SENR becomes a beam-based SINR indicator for 5G. This makes it highly relevant in high-frequency deployments like mmWave, where precise beam alignment is necessary.

Comparison with SINR

Now that you know how SENR is determined, you can see how vital it is in managing your 5G connection, especially in networks using advanced antenna techniques. And as we previously discussed about SS-RSRP and SS-RSRQ, SENR adds to the toolkit for ensuring the best beam is selected for you.