Learning Decibel Basics: When working in several disciplines of Telecommunication,

a clear understanding of the decibel (dB) is mandatory. The decibel relates to a ratio of two electrical quantities such as watts ,volts, and amperes. If we pass a signal through some device ,it will suffer a loss or achieve a gain. Such a device may be attenuator. amplifier, mixer, transmission line , antenna , subscriber loop , trunk . or a telephone switch among others. To simplify matters , let us call this generic device a network. which has an input port and an output as shown:

The

input and output can be characterized by a signal level, which can be measured in watts, amperes or Volts. The decibel is a useful tool to compare input-to-output levels or viceversa. Certainly we can say that if the out put level is > the input level, the device displays a gain. The signal has been amplified. If the output has a lower level than the input , the network display a loss.

Learning Decibel Basics:

In our discussion we will indicate a gain with +ve sign such as +3 dB, +11 dB etc. and a loss with a ve sign -3dB,-11db etc. At the outset it will be more convenient to use the same unit at the output of a network as at the input , such as watts. If we use watts 1W= 1000mW: 1W= 1000000 microwatts 1kW=1000W We will start off in the power domain (watts, mW) Volts and amperes we will deal later. Again decibel expresses a ratio. In the power domain ,the decibel value of such a ratio is 10X logarithm of the ratio. Consider the network ,

we are concerned about the ratio of P1/P2 or vice versa. Algebraically , we express the decibel by this formula : 100 = the log is 2 , 1000 = the log is 3 etc. 0.1= the log is -1 , 0.01= the log is -2 Decibel values =1 dB value = 10 log 1= 10 X0= 0dB =10 dB value = 10 log 10= 10 X1=10 dB = 100 dB value = 10 log 100= 10 X2= 20 dB = 0.1 dB value = 10 log 0.1= 10 X(-1)=-10dB =0.01 dB value = 10 log0.01= 10 X(-2)=-20dB

dB value = 10 log(P1/P2) or 10 log(P2/P1).

Learning Decibel Basics:

Let us deal with the following situation

Because the output of this network is greater than the input , network has a gain. Thus dB value = 10 log 4/2= 10 log2=10X 0.3010=+3.01 dB. We usually round off this dB value to +3 dB This relationship should be memorized. The amplifying network has a 3 dB gain because the output power was double the input power. With 3-dB rule multiple of 3 are easy. If we have power ratios of 2,4, and 8, that the equivalent dB values are + 3dB,+6 dB and +9 dB respectively.

Let us take the +9 dB as an example problem. A network has an input of 6 mW and a gain of +9 dB. What power level in mW would we expect to measure at the output port?

Learning Decibel Basics:

We break down the +9-dB network into three networks in series, each with a gain of +3 dB. This is shown in the following diagram:

Remember that +3 dB is double the power; the power at the output of a network with +3-dB gain has 2 the power level at the input. Obviously, the output of the first network is 12 mW (point A above). The input to the second network is now 12 mW and this network again doubles the power. The power level at point B, the output of the second network, is 24 mW. The third networkdouble the power still again. The power level at point C is 48 mW.

dBm and dBW

These are the first derived decibel units, these are important. The dBm is also a ratio. It is decibel related to 1mW. The dBW is a decibel value related to 1W. The values dBm and dBW are measures of real levels. Value (dBm) = 10 log P1/(1mW), Value(dBW) = 10 log P1/(1W) The relationships are important: 1 mW = mW =1mW =0dBm (by definition), 1W = W = 1 W = 0dBW (by definition), 1 mW = mW= 0 dBm, 10 mW = mW = + 10 dBm 1000 mW = mW= +30 dBm = 1W = 0dBW 10000 mW= mW = + 40 dBm = 10W = + 10 dBW 0.01 mW =
0.1mW = mW = - 10 dBm

mW = -20 dBm

dBm and dBW

Once we have a grasp of dBm and dBW, we will find it easier to work problems with networks in series. Example:

First we convert the input, 8 mW to dBm. Look how simple it is: 2 mW = +3 dBm, 4 mW = +6 dBm, and 8 mW = +9 dBm. To get the answer, the power level at the output is +9 dBm +23 dB = +32 dBm.

dBm and dBW

In this case the unknown will be the input to a network.

In each case like this we ask ourselves, is the output greater than the input? Because the network is lossy, the input is 17 dB greater than the output. Convert the output to dBm. It is +10 dBm. The input is 17 dB greater, or +27 dBm.