Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sometimes it is necessary to know the actual field intensity or power density at a given distance from a transmitter
instead of the signal strength received by an antenna. Field intensity or power density calculations are necessary when
estimating electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects, when determining potential radiation hazards (personnel safety), or
in determining or verifying specifications.
Field intensity (field strength) is a general term that usually means the magnitude of the electric field vector,
commonly expressed in volts per meter. At frequencies above 100 MHZ, and particularly above one GHz, power density
(PD) terminology is more often used than field strength.
Power density and field intensity are related by equation [1]:
PD '
E2
E2
E2
'
'
Z0
120B
377
[1]
where PD is in W/m2, E is the RMS value of the field in volts/meter and 377 ohms is the characteristic impedance of free
space. When the units of PD are in mW/cm2, then PD (mW/cm2) = E2/3770.
Conversions between field strength and power density when the impedance is 377 ohms, can be obtained from
Table 1. It should be noted that to convert dBm/m2 to dBFV/m add 115.76 dB. Sample calculations for both field intensity
and power density in the far field of a transmitting antenna are in Section 4-2 and Section 4-8. Refer to chapter 3 on
antennas for the definitions of near field and far field.
Note that the / term before m, m2, and cm2 in Table 1 mean per, i.e. dBm per m2, not to be confused with the
division sign which is valid for the Table 1 equation P=E2/Zo. Remember that in order to obtain dBm from dBm/m2 given
a certain area, you must add the logarithm of the area, not multiply. The values in the table are rounded to the nearest dBW,
dBm, etc. per m2 so the results are less precise than a typical handheld calculator and may be up to dB off.
VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS
Coaxial cabling typically has input impedances of 50, 75, and 93S, (2) with 50S being the most common. Other
types of cabling include the following: TV cable is 75S (coaxial) or 300S (twin-lead), audio public address (PA) is 600S,
audio speakers are 3.2(4), 8, or 16S.
In the 50S case, power and voltage are related by:
P'
E2
E2
'
' 50I 2
Z0
50
[2]
Conversions between measured power, voltage, and current where the typical impedance is 50 ohms can be obtained
from Table 2. The dBFA current values are given because frequently a current probe is used during laboratory tests to
determine the powerline input current to the system .
MATCHING CABLING IMPEDANCE
In performing measurements, we must take into account an impedance mismatch between measurement devices
(typically 50 ohms) and free space (377 ohms).
4-1.1
PD
(watts/m2)
10 Log PD
(dBW/m2)
Watts/cm2
dBW/cm2
mW/cm2
dBm/cm2
dBm/m2
7,000
5,000
3,000
4,000
1,000
197
194
190
186
180
130,000
66,300
23,900
10,600
2,650
+51
+48
+44
+40
+34
13
6.6
2.4
1.1
.27
+11
+8
+4
0
-6
13,000
6,630
2,390
1,060
265
+41
+38
+34
+30
+24
+81
+78
+74
+70
+64
700
500
300
200
100
177
174
170
166
160
1,300
663
239
106
27
+31
+28
+24
+20
+14
.13
.066
.024
.011
.0027
-9
-12
-16
-20
-26
130
66
24
11
2.7
+21
+18
+14
+10
+4
+61
+58
+54
+50
+44
70
50
30
20
10
157
154
150
146
140
13
6.6
2.4
1.1
.27
+11
+8
+4
+0
-6
1.3x10-3
6.6x10-4
2.4x10-4
1.1x10-4
2.7x10-5
-29
-32
-36
-40
-46
1.3
.66
.24
.11
.027
+1
-2
-6
-10
-16
+41
+38
+34
+30
+24
7
5
3
2
1
137
134
130
126
120
.13
.066
.024
.011
.0027
-9
-12
-16
-20
-26
1.3x10-5
6.6x10-6
2.4x10-6
1.1x10-6
2.7x10-7
-49
-52
-56
-60
-66
.013
66x10-4
24x10-4
11x10-4
2.7x10-4
-19
-22
-26
-30
-36
+21
+18
+14
+10
+4
0.7
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.1
117
114
110
106
100
1.3x10-3
6.6x10-4
2.4x10-4
1.1x10-4
2.7x10-5
-29
-32
-36
-40
-46
1.3x10-7
6.6x10-8
2.4x10-8
1.1x10-8
2.7x10-9
-69
-72
-76
-80
-86
1.3x10-4
66x10-4
24x10-4
11x10-4
2.7x10-6
-39
-42
-46
-50
-56
+1
-2
-6
-10
-16
70x10-3
50x10-3
30x10-3
20x10-3
10x10-3
97
94
90
86
80
1.3x10-5
6.6x10-6
2.4x10-6
1.1x10-6
2.7x10-7
-49
-52
-56
-60
-66
1.3x10-9
6.6x10-10
2.4x10-10
1.1x10-10
2.7x10-11
-89
-92
-96
-100
-106
1.3x10-6
66x10-8
24x10-8
11x10-8
2.7x10-8
-59
-62
-66
-70
-76
-19
-22
-26
-30
-36
7x10-3
5x10-3
3x10-3
2x10-3
1x10-3
77
74
70
66
60
1.3x10-7
6.6x10-8
2.4x10-8
1.1x10-8
2.7x10-9
-69
-72
-76
-80
-86
1.3x10-11
6.6x10-12
2.4x10-12
1.1x10-12
2.7x10-13
-109
-112
-116
-120
-126
1.3x10-8
66x10-10
24x10-10
11x10-10
2.7x10-10
-79
-82
-86
-90
-96
-39
-42
-46
-50
-56
7x10-4
5x10-4
3x10-4
2x10-4
1x10-4
57
54
50
46
40
1.3x10-9
6.6x10-10
2.4x10-10
1.1x10-10
2.7x10-11
-89
-92
-96
-100
-106
1.3x10-13
6.6x10-14
2.4x10-14
1.1x10-14
2.7x10-15
-129
-132
-136
-140
-146
1.3x10-10
66x10-12
24x10-12
11x10-12
2.7x10-12
-99
-102
-106
-110
-116
-59
-62
-66
-70
-76
7x10-5
5x10-5
3x10-5
2x10-5
1x10-5
37
34
30
26
20
1.3x10-11
6.6x10-12
2.4x10-12
1.1x10-12
2.7x10-13
-109
-112
-116
-120
-126
1.3x10-15
6.6x10-16
2.4x10-16
1.1x10-16
2.7x10-17
-149
-152
-156
-160
-166
1.3x10-12
66x10-14
24x10-14
11x10-14
2.7x10-14
-119
-122
-126
-130
-136
-79
-82
-86
-90
-96
7x10-6
5x10-6
3x10-6
2x10-6
1x10-6
17
14
10
6
0
1.3x10-13
6.6x10-14
2.4x10-14
1.1x10-14
2.7x10-15
-129
-132
-136
-140
-146
1.3x10-17
6.6x10-18
2.4x10-18
1.1x10-18
2.7x10-19
-169
-172
-176
-180
-186
1.3x10-14
66x10-16
24x10-16
11x10-16
2.7x10-16
-139
-142
-146
-150
-156
-99
-102
-106
-110
-116
4-1.2
[3]
or in log form:
[4]
Then
[5]
c2
@
480B2
conversions
(Watts to mW)
as required (volts to v)2 (Hz to MHz or GHz)2
Values of K4 (dB)
Ae = 82G/4B
Pr = PDAe
Pr
= ( E2/120B
8 = c /f
)(
82G/4B)
terms
Pr
E1
f1 (Hz)
f1 (MHz)
f1 (GHz)
Watts
(dBW)
volts/meter
132.8
12.8
-47.2
v/meter
12.8
-107.2
-167.2
volts/meter
162.8
42.8
-17.2
v/meter
42.8
-77.2
-137.7
mW
(dBm)
(v2/m2S)(m2)
dBV
dBFV
Watts
dBW
dBm
dBFA
700
500
300
200
100
56.0
53.9
49.5
46.0
40.0
176.0
173.9
169.5
166.0
160.0
9800
5000
1800
800
200
39.9
37.0
32.5
29.0
23.0
69.9
67.0
62.5
59.0
53.0
142.9
140.0
135.5
132.0
126.0
70
50
30
20
10
36.9
34.0
29.5
26.0
20.0
156.9
154.0
149.5
146.0
140.0
98
50
18
8
2
19.9
17.0
12.5
9.0
3.0
49.9
47.0
42.5
39.0
33.0
122.9
120.0
115.5
112.0
106.0
7
5
3
2
1
16.9
14.0
9.5
6.0
0
136.9
134.0
129.5
126.0
120.0
0.8
0.5
0.18
0.08
0.02
0
-3.0
-7.4
-11.0
-17.0
29.9
27.0
22.5
19.0
13.0
102.9
100.0
95.6
92.0
86.0
0.7
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.1
-3.1
-6.0
-10.5
-14.0
-20.0
116.9
114.0
109.5
106.0
100.0
9.8 x 10-3
5.0 x 10-3
1.8 x 10-3
8.0 x 10-4
2.0 x 10-4
-20.1
-23.0
-27.4
-31.0
-37.0
9.9
7.0
2.6
-1.0
-7.0
82.9
80.0
75.6
72.0
66.0
.07
.05
.03
.02
.01
-23.1
-26.0
-30.5
-34.0
-40.0
96.9
94.0
89.5
86.0
80.0
9.8 x 10-5
5.0 x 10-5
1.8 x 10-5
8.0 x 10-6
2.0 x 10-6
-40.1
-43.0
-47.4
-51.0
-57.0
-10.1
-13.0
-17.7
-21.0
-27.0
62.9
60.0
55.6
52.0
46.0
7 x 10-3
5 x 10-3
3 x 10-3
2 x 10-3
1 x 10-3
-43.1
-46.0
-50.5
-54.0
-60.0
76.9
74.0
69.5
66.0
60.0
9.8 x 10-7
5.0 x 10-7
1.8 x 10-7
8.0 x 10-8
2.0 x 10-8
-60.1
-63.0
-67.4
-71.0
-77.0
-30.1
-33.0
-37.4
-41.0
-47.0
42.9
40.0
35.6
32.0
26.0
7 x 10-4
5 x 10-4
3 x 10-4
2 x 10-4
1 x 10-4
-64.1
-66.0
-70.5
-74.0
-80.0
56.9
54.0
49.5
46.0
40.0
9.8 x 10-9
5.0 x 10-9
1.8 x 10-9
8.0 x 10-10
2.0 x 10-10
-80.1
-83.0
-87.4
-91.0
-97.0
-50.1
-53.0
-57.4
-61.0
-67.0
22.9
20.0
15.6
12.0
6.0
7 x 10-5
5 x 10-5
3 x 10-5
2 x 10-5
1 x 10-5
-84.1
-86.0
-90.5
-94.0
-100.0
36.9
34.0
29.5
26.0
20.0
9.8 x 10-11
5.0 x 10-11
1.8 x 10-11
8.0 x 10-12
2.0 x 10-12
-100.1
-103.0
-107.4
-111.0
-117.0
-70.1
-73.0
-77.4
-81.0
-87.0
2.9
0
-4.4
-8.0
-14.0
7 x 10-6
5 x 10-6
3 x 10-6
2 x 10-6
1 x 10-6
-104.1
-106.0
-110.5
-114.0
-120.0
16.9
14.0
9.5
6.0
0
9.8 x 10-13
5.0 x 10-13
1.8 x 10-13
8.0 x 10-14
2.0 x 10-14
-120.1
-123.0
-127.4
-131.0
-137.0
-90.1
-93.0
-97.4
-101.0
-107.0
-17.1
-20.0
-24.4
-28.0
-34.0
7 x 10-7
5 x 10-7
3 x 10-7
2 x 10-7
1 x 10-7
-124.1
-126.0
-130.5
-134.0
-140.0
-3.1
-6.0
-10.5
-14.0
-20.0
9.8 x 10-15
5.0 x 10-15
1.8 x 10-15
8.0 x 10-16
2.0 x 10-16
-140.1
-143.0
-147.4
-151.0
-157.0
-110.1
-113.0
-117.4
-121.0
-127.0
-37.1
-40.0
-44.4
-48.0
-54.0
4-1.4