dB Units

Decibel (dB) is a mathematical expression showing the relationship between two values.
The RF power level at either transmitter output or receiver input is expressed in Watts, but it can also be
expressed in dBm. The relation between dBm and Watts can be expressed as follows:
P dBm = 10 x Log P mW
For example: 1 Watt = 1000 mW; P dBm = 10 x Log 1000 = 30 dBm
100 mW; P dBm = 10 x Log 100 = 20 dBm

dBm Watt
0

0.001

10

0.01

20

0.1

30

40

10

What is an antenna and how does it work?

Antennas are fundamental components of all radio systems and use free space as the carrying medium.
They are used to interface the transmitter or receiver to free space.
The operation of a simple transmitting antenna can be illustrated by thinking of an open-circuit cable with
two conductors. At the open end, a phase reversal results, causing some of the incident voltage to be
radiated away from the transmission line instead of reflected as is normally the case. The radiated energy is
in the form of transverse electromagnetic waves and the amount of radiation emitted can be varied by the
increasing or decreasing the distance between the conductors
Basically, a transmitting antenna transmits by exciting it at the base (or at a pair of antinodes), while in a
receiving antenna, the applied electromagnetic field is distributed throughout the entire length of the
antenna to receive the signal.
The magnetic field that the transmitting antenna radiates will produce an electric current on any metal
surface that it strikes. However, if the metal that the signal strikes has a certain length relation to the
wavelength the induced current will be much stronger on the object.
We stated before that as a signal at 2.4GHz travels through the air, it completes a cycle in approximately 12
cm. If the signal strikes a 12 cm antenna or fractions of it (1/2 or 1/4 wavelength = 6 or 3 cm), then the
induced current will be much higher than if the signal struck a metal object that was not some appreciable
fraction of the wavelength. This is known as antenna resonance. Every antenna has at least one exact
resonance point.
Note that an antenna also transmits a stronger signal if it is resonant on the frequency used.
Antennas have a number of important parameters, those of most interest include the gain, radiation pattern,
bandwidth and polarization.