dB Calculator, Version 1
by Bruce Carter, Texas Instruments Applications
Voltage Definitions
see tab below
Input 1 V
Reference 1 V
Gain 0 dB
Power Useful Relationships
see tab below
Input 1 W
Reference 1 W
Gain 0 dB
Voltage Conversions
Vrms to: 1 Vrms = 0 dBV = 60 dBmV
dBV to: 0 dBV = 1 Vrms = 1000 mVrms = 1000000
Power Conversions
Watts to: 1 Watts = 30 dBm = 0 dBW = -30
dBm to: 0 dBm = 0.001 Watts = 1 mW = 1000
Power and Voltage Conversions
Termination 50 Ohms
Vrms to: 1 Vrms = 13.01029996 dBm = -16.9897 dBW = -46.9897
dBV to: 0 dBV = 13.01029996 dBm = -16.9897 dBW = -46.9897
dBm to: 13.0103 dBm = 4.33602E-08 dBV = 4.34E-05 dBmV
= 1 Vrms = 1000 mVrms = 1000000
uVrms
dBK
uVrms
dBK
dBK
uVrms
dB Definitions
Unit Usage Definition
Bel power logarithm (10) of the ratio of two powers
dB decibel = 1/10 Bel
dBA The dB SPL figure with a weighting curve applied to it
dBc dB referenced to a carrier (voltage or power)
dBf power dB referenced to a femtowatt
dBi power dB change of an antenna system relative to an isotropic radiator
dBK power dB referenced to a kilowatt
dBm power dB referenced to a milliwatt
dBmV voltage dB referenced to 1 mVrms across 75 ohms
(dBS) (direct broadcast satellite)
dB SPL power dB referenced to 20 uPascals
dBu voltage dB refenced to 0.775 Vrms across 600 ohms
Sometimes dB referenced to 1 uVrms,
hence the alternate terminology below to avoid confusion
dBv voltage Alternate for terminology for dBu (referenced to 0.775 Vrms)
dBV voltage dB referenced to 1 Vrms
dBW power dB referenced to 1 Watt
dBx dB above reference coupling (crosstalk)
Useful Relationships
Voltage dBV Power dBW dBm
10000 80 100000 50 80
1000 60 10000 40 70
100 40 1000 30 60
10 20 100 20 50
3.1622777 10 10 10 40
2 6.0206 2 3.0103 33.01029996
1.9952623 6 3.9810717 6 36
1.4125375 3 1.9952623 3 33
1 0 1 0 30
0.7079458 -3 0.5011872 -3 27
0.5011872 -6 0.2511886 -6 24
0.5 -6.0206 0.5 -3.0103 26.98970004
0.3162278 -10 0.1 -10 20
0.1 -20 0.01 -20 10
0.01 -40 0.001 -30 0
0.001 -60 0.0001 -40 -10
0.0001 -80 1E-05 -50 -20