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DB DBM DBW

The document discusses decibels (dB), dBm, and dBw. It explains that dB, dBm, and dBw are used to express power or gain ratios on a logarithmic scale relative to a reference value of 1 Watt, 1 mW, or 1 Watt respectively. Specifically, it notes that dBm expresses power relative to 1 mW, dBw expresses power relative to 1 Watt, and gain in dB expresses the ratio of output power to input power. The document cautions that while arithmetic operations can be performed on dB values, the results do not have a clear physical meaning and it is better to convert to linear units before adding or subtracting values expressed in decibels.

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zbalouch15
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552 views7 pages

DB DBM DBW

The document discusses decibels (dB), dBm, and dBw. It explains that dB, dBm, and dBw are used to express power or gain ratios on a logarithmic scale relative to a reference value of 1 Watt, 1 mW, or 1 Watt respectively. Specifically, it notes that dBm expresses power relative to 1 mW, dBw expresses power relative to 1 Watt, and gain in dB expresses the ratio of output power to input power. The document cautions that while arithmetic operations can be performed on dB values, the results do not have a clear physical meaning and it is better to convert to linear units before adding or subtracting values expressed in decibels.

Uploaded by

zbalouch15
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

09/20/02

dB.doc

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dB, dBm, dBw


dB, or decibel, is a function that operates on a unitless parameter:

dB

10 log10 (x)

where x is unitless!

Q: Unitless! What good is that ! ? A: Many values are unitless, for example ratios and coefficients.

For instance, gain is a unitless value! E.G., amplifier gain is the ratio of the output power to the input power:

Pout =G Pin
Gain in dB = 10 log10G

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Wait a minute! Weve seen statements such as: . the output power is 5 dBw . or . the input power is 17 dBm .

Power is not unitless ( but Watt is the unit ?) !! True! But look at how power is expressed; not in dB, but in dBm or dBw.

Q: A:

What does dBm or dBw refer to ?? Its sort of a trick !

Say we have some power P. We can express P in dBm or dBw as:

dBw = 10 log10 P 1 W

) )

dBm = 10 log10 P 1 mW

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Therefore dBw and dBm express P relative to 1 Watt and 1 mWatt, respectively !
Note: The argument of the log10 function is a ratio (i.e., unitless).

For example,
20

dBm means 100 x 1mW = 100 mW 3 dBw means 2 x 1W = 2W


and

Make sure you are careful when doing math with decibels! Standard dB Values Note that 10 log10(10) = 10. Therefore an amplifier with a gain G = 10 is said to have a gain of 10 dB.
Yes of course; then a 20 dB gain amplifier has G=20 and a 30 dB gain amp has G=30. I comprehend all!

09/20/02

dB.doc

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NO! Do not make this mistake!

Note that:

10log10 10n = n 10log10 [ 10 ] = 10n

In other words, G =100 = 102 is equal to 20 dB, while 30 dB indicates G = 1000 = 103. Likewise 100 mW is denoted as 20 dBm, and 1000 Watts is denoted as 30 dBW. Note also that 0.001 mW = 10-3 mW is denoted as 30 dBm. Another important relationship to keep in mind when using decibels is 10log10 [ 2 ] 3.0 . This means that:

10log10 2n = n 10log10 [ 2 ] 3n

As a result, a 15 dB gain amplifier has G = 25 = 32, or 0.125 = 2-3 mW is denoted as 9 dBm.

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Multiplicative Products and Decibels Other logarithmic relationship that we will find useful are: 10log10 [ x y ] = 10log10 [ x ] + 10log10 [ y ] and its close cousin:

x 10log10 y

= 10log10 [ x ] 10log10 [ y ]

Thus the relationship Pout = G Pin is written in decibels as:

10log10 10log10

Pout Pout 1mW Pout 1mW Pout 1mW

G Pin G Pin 1mW


10log10

G Pin 1mW
10log10

10log10 G

Pin 1mW

Pout (dBm )

G (dB )

Pout (dBm )

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It is evident that deebees are not a unit! The units of the result can be found by multiplying the units of each term in a summation of decibel values.
But of course I am typically and impressively correct in stating that, for example:

6 dBm + 10 dBm = 16 dBm

NO! Never do this either! Logarithms are very helpful in expressing products or ratios of parameters, but they are not much help in expressing sums and differences!

10log10 [ x + y ] = ???? So, if you wish to add power denoted as 6dBm to power denoted as 10 dBm, you must first convert back to nondecibel parameters. 10 dBm = 10 mW and 6 dBm = 4 mW Thus the power of the sum of these two is 10 + 4 = 14 mW. Expressed in dBm, 14 mW is 11.46 dBm ( 16 dBm ).

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We can mathematically add 6 dBm and 10 dBm, but we must understand what result means (nothing useful!).

4mW 10mW 6 dBm + 10 dBm = 10log10 + 10log10 1mW 1mW 40 mW 2 = 10log10 1mW 2 = 16 dB relative to 1 mW2

Thus, mathematically speaking, 6 dBm + 10dBm implies a multiplication of power, resulting in a value with units of Watts squared ! A few more tidbits about decibels: 1. 1 is 0 dB 2. 0 is dB 3. 5 is 7 dB (can you show why?)

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