dBCalc - User Manual of freeware for dB dBm and radio computing

Thank you for using dBCalc, a platform - independent* freeware application for
RF engineers based on html and javascript.

This documentation contains descriptions of each feature that dBCalc offers,

experienced RF engineers may find this unnecessary and will use dBCalc
without this user manual.

Operation :

Besides conversion of Voltage and Power ratio to dB and vice-versa, dBm, V, A,

W, dBµA, dBV, dBµV conversions features also attenuator, matching pad, VSWR
and path loss calculations.

Quickstart :

Enter the value and the

unit to be converted :
for example ' 0 ' and
choose 'dBm' (default
unit), then press the key
of the unit in which you
wish to convert the
value (e.g. : ' V ').

For 'dBm' <->

'voltage/current'
conversions it is
necessary to choose the
impedance (default
value = 50 ohm)!

Attention:

For 'dB' <-> 'ratio'

conversions and for
ratio 'T' 'TT' attenuator
computing, it is
important to select
either 'P' or 'U' (10·log
or 20·log...).

The source impedance ( Ri ; default value = 50 ohm) can be set either by

entering the corresponding ohm value in the x dsiplay and transfered with the
"ohm" button or by click with left mouse button in the r-display and then using
computer keyboard.

- Choose unit to be converted with selector (default value = "dB")

- Enter the value to be converted by means of the keyboard field
  (or by click with left mouse button in the x-field and using the computer
keyboard)
- Push one of the conversion keys in order to obtain the corresponding
conversion.

Decibel :

The Decibel represents a logarithmic relationship between two power levels.

Derived from the Bel (in honor of Alexander Graham Bell) - the Decibel
corresponds to 1/10 of a Bel .
The unit - one Bel at its origin - represents the power ratio of 10 to 1 between
the intensity (power) of two sounds.
A power ratio of  100  (1:1) = 0 Bel ; 101 (10:1) = 1 Bel ; 102 (100:1) = 2 Bels
and 103 (1000:1) = 3 Bels......

The above shows the logarithmic relationship : the logarithm of 100 to the
base 10 is 2 (corresponding to 2 Bels) etc...

The exact relationship for an amplifier is given by the formula : Bel =

log(P2/P1)
P2/P1 represents the power ratio of the output power versus the input power.

For an attenuator the formula is : Bel = log(P1/P2)

P1/P2 represents the power ratio of the input power versus the output power.

As the bel  prooved to be a to large unit, so the decibel or dB, was adopted.
10 decibels make one bel thus the formula becomes :

Decibels (dB) = 10 · (P2/P1)

dB atten = 10 · log (P1/P2) ≡ 20 log (U1/U2)*
dB gain   = 10 · log (P2/P1) ≡ 20 log (U2/U1)*

* However this is only true if R1 = R2, remember : P = U²/R

An important value to remember : 10 · log 2/1 = 3.01 dB ; 100.301 = 2, thus a

gain of ≈3dB doubles the power and an attenuation of ≈3dB halves the power.

dBm :

dBm indicates dB referenced to 1.0 milliwatt. One milliwatt = zero dBm. Thus
P1 in above dB equations becomes 1.0 mW consequently 10 dBm = 10 mW, 30
dBm = 1W...

dBV :

dBV indicates dB referenced to 1.0 V. One volt = zero dBV. Thus U1 in above
dB equations becomes 1.0 V consequently -60 dBV = 1mV...

dBµA :

dBµA indicates dB referenced to 1.0 µA. One microampre = zero dBµA

consequently 120 dBµA = 1A...

dBµV :

dBµV indicates dB referenced to 1.0 µV. One microvolt = zero dBµV. Thus U1 in
above dB equations becomes 1.0 µV consequently 120 dBµV = 1V...