1

dBs & Nepers

ITU-R V.574-4 USE OF THE DECIBEL AND THE NEPER IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

. . ,

dB

P2
dB = 10 log10
P1

V2
dB = 20 log10
V1

L = 10 log10

Pt
Pr

G = 10 log10

P0 (reference antenna )
Pa ( given antenna )

dBW, dBm

P
= PdBW
dBW = 10 log10
1W
P
dBm = 10 log10
= PdBm
1mW

PdBm = PdBW +10log10 1000 = PdBW +30

dBmV, dBHz, dBK

V (mV )
dBmV = 10 log10
= VdBmV
1mV
dBHz = 10 log10 ( f Hz ) = f dBHz
dBK = 10 log10 (TK ) = TdBK

dBW/m2, dBV/m
:

S dBW m

) = 10 log S (W
10

1W 0.1mW
2
2
=
= 0 dBW / m = 10 dBmW / cm
2
2
m
cm
:

E ( dBV m ) = 20 log10 E (V m )
0 dBV m = 120 dB V m = 120dBu

-1dB
-2dB

0.8
0.63

1dB

1.25

2dB
3dB

1.6
2

-3dB

0.5

-4dB

0.4

4dB

2.5

-5dB

0.32

5dB

3.2

-6dB

0.25

6dB

0.2

7dB

-7dB
-8dB
-9dB
-10dB

0.16
0.125
0.1

8dB
9dB
10dB

6.3
8
10

dBW:

absolute power level with respect to 1 Watt, expressed in decibels;

1W=0dBW=30dBm

dBm:
absolute power level with respect to 1 milli Watt, expressed in decibels;
1mW=0dBm=-30dBW
dBm0:

absolute power level with respect to 1 milli Watt, expressed in decibels,

referred to a point of zero relative level;

dBm0p: absolute psophometric power level (weighted for telephony) with respect
to 1 milli Watt, expressed in decibels, referred to a point of zero relative level;

dBm0s: absolute power level with respect to 1 milli Watt, expressed in decibels,
referred to a point of zero relative level in sound programme transmission;

dBm0ps: absolute psophometric power level (weighted for sound-programme

transmission) with respect to 1 milli Watt, expressed in decibels, referred
to a point of zero relative level in sound programme transmission.

dB or dBu: absolute level of the electromagnetic field with respect to 1 mV/m,

expressed in decibels

audio
dBu:

absolute voltage level with respect to 0.775 V;

dBu0: absolute voltage level with respect to 0.775 V, referred to a point

of zero relative level;

dBu0s: absolute voltage level with respect to 0.775 V, referred to a point

of zero relative level in sound-programme transmission;

dBq:

absolute noise voltage level with respect to 0.775 V;

dBqps: absolute weighted voltage level in sound-programme

transmission;

dBq0ps: absolute weighted voltage level with respect to 0.775 V referred

to a point of zero relative level in sound-programme transmission;

dBq0s: absolute unweighted voltage level in sound-programme

transmission with respect to 0.775 V referred to a point of zero
relative level.
,

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dBi:

in relation to an isotropic antenna;

dBd:

in relation to a half-wave /2 dipole.

dBd = dBi - 2.15

dBi = dBd + 2.15