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DB, DBM, DBW
DB, DBM, DBW
dB.doc
1/9
dB 10 log10 (x)
where x is unitless!
Pout
=G
Pin
Gain in dB = 10 log10G G (dB )
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
2/9
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
3/9
P
P (dBw ) 10 log10
1W
For example, P = 100 Watts can alternatively be expressed as
P (dBw ) = +20 dBw . Likewise, P = 1 mW can be expressed as
P (dBw ) = 30 dBw .
P
P (dBm ) 10 log10
1 mW
For example, P = 100 Watts can alternatively be expressed as
P (dBm ) = +50 dBm . Likewise, P = 1 mW can be expressed as
P (dBm ) = 0 dBm .
Make sure you are very careful when doing math with
decibels!
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
4/9
Standard dB Values
Note that 10 log10 (10 ) = 10dB
Therefore an amplifier with a gain G = 10 is likewise said to
have a gain of 10 dB.
Now consider an amplifier with a gain of 20 dB
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
5/9
G = 10n
G (dB ) = 10n
G = 2n
G (dB ) 3n
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
6/9
= 10log10 [ x ] 10log10 [ y ]
Pout = G Pin
G Pin
Pout
=
1mW
1mW
G Pin
P
1mW
1mW
P
P
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
7/9
PT = P1 + P2 ?
P1 =10 dBm = 10 mW
Jim Stiles
and P2 =6 dBm = 4 mW
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
8/9
PT = P1 + P2
= 4.0 mW + 10.0 mW
= 14.0 mW
Now, we can express this total power in dBm, where we find:
14.0 mW
= 11.46 dBm
1
.
0
mW
PT (dBm ) = 10 log10
The result is not 16.0 dBm !.
4mW
10mW
6 dBm + 10 dBm = 10log10
+ 10log10
1mW
1mW
40 mW 2
= 10log10
1mW 2
= 16 dB relative to 1 mW2
Thus, mathematically speaking, 6 dBm + 10 dBm implies a
multiplication of power, resulting in a value with units of
Watts squared !
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS
2/15/2005
dB.doc
9/9
1.
1 .0
0 dB
2.
0.0
dB
3. 5n
7n dB
I wish I had a
nickel for every
time my software
has crashed-oh
wait, I do!
Jim Stiles
Dept. of EECS