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Understanding dB, dBm, dBi, and Watts

Decibel (dB) is a unit used to measure the power of a signal relative to a reference level. An increase of 10 dB represents a 10-fold increase in power. dBm is similar to dB but uses a reference of 1 Watt = 0 dBm. To convert dBm to Watts, use the formula: P(Watts) = 10^(P(dBm)/10)/1000. For example, 43 dBm = 19.9526 Watts. Watts measure actual electrical power, which equals voltage multiplied by current. Antenna gain dBi measures signal strength relative to an isotropic radiator.

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600 views6 pages

Understanding dB, dBm, dBi, and Watts

Decibel (dB) is a unit used to measure the power of a signal relative to a reference level. An increase of 10 dB represents a 10-fold increase in power. dBm is similar to dB but uses a reference of 1 Watt = 0 dBm. To convert dBm to Watts, use the formula: P(Watts) = 10^(P(dBm)/10)/1000. For example, 43 dBm = 19.9526 Watts. Watts measure actual electrical power, which equals voltage multiplied by current. Antenna gain dBi measures signal strength relative to an isotropic radiator.

Uploaded by

byarkhan
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 PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fundamentals of dB,Watt,dBm and dBi

Decibel (dB) A unit used to measure the power of a signal, such as an electrical signal or power, relative to some reference level. An increase of ten decibels in the power of a signal is equivalent to increasing its power by a factor of ten. We used logarithmic value with base 10 to represent decibel.

dBm dBm is almost exactly the same as dB. The only difference is that there is a reference of 1 Watt = 0 dB, and 1 mW = 0 dBm. So 1 Watt is equal to 30 dBm.
So the power conversion of dBm to watts is given by the formula: P(W) = 10(P(dBm) / 10) / 1000 = 10((P(dBm) - 30) / 10)
Example Convert 43dBm to watts: = 10(43dBm / 10) / 1000 = 19.9526W

P(W)

Watts Electrical power is measured in watts. In an electrical system power (P) is equal to the voltage (V) multiplied by the current (I). In short its like decreasing the resistance in an electrical system, by increases the current flow. P=VxI

Concept behind the Voltage, Current and Resistance

A picture tells a thousand words: Basic concept of Electrical engineering in simple funny cartoon:)

Conversion Table of dBm, dBW and Power


dBm 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 -60 dB 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 -60 -70 -80 -90 Watts 10 000 000 1 000 000 100 000 10 000 1 000 100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.00001 0.000001 0.0000001 0.00000001 0.000000001 Terminology 10 Megawatts 1 Megawatt 100 kilowatts 10 kilowatts 1 kilowatt 100 watts 10 watts 1 watt 100 milliwatts 10 milliwatts 1 milliwatt 100 microwatts 10 microwatts 1 microwatt 100 nanowatts 10 nanowatts 1 nanowatt

dBi Signal strength relative to an isotropic radiator. Antenna gain is a comparison of the power/field characteristics of a device under test (DUT) to a specified gain standard.

Gain can be associated with coverage distance and/or obstacle penetration (buildings, foliage, etc).
An isotropic antenna is a single point in space radiating in a perfect sphere (not physically possible). A dipole antenna is one radiating element (physically possible). A gain antenna is two or more radiating elements phased together.

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