DBM Tutorial
DBM Tutorial
Calculation of dB
q The dB value is calculated by taking the log of the ratio of
the measured or calculated power (P2) with respect to a
reference power (P1).
P1
P2
P2
P2
dBm = 10 log10
0.001W
q If Power is expressed in watts instead of milliwatts.
q
the dB unit is obtained with respect to 1 watt and the dB values are
expressed as dBW.
Examples
q Important Note: The decibel (dB) is the logarithm of a
power ratio and NOT a unit of power;
q However, dBW and dBm are units of power in the
logarithmic system of numbers
q Convert the following into dBm or dBW
q P=1mW,
P(dBm)=?
q P=0.1mW, P(dBm)=?
q P=10W, P(dBW)=?
q P=1W, P(dBm)=?
T
T2
+ 3 + ....
G1 G1G2
Example
q A mobile receiver system
Pt
Transmitter
L (dB)
Pr
Mobile receiver
SNR=30 dB