dB OPERATIONS

dB CALCULATIONS

Signals in communication system span a

range of extremely wide magnitude. The
decibel scale, which uses ratios and
logarithms, compresses this wide span
into a smaller, easier to manipulate range
of numbers.
 dB CALCULATIONS

DECIBEL
Used to compare any two
signals and can also be
used to measure one
A unit that signal against another
signal of defined value.
describes a
ratio
 Table 1.

Power Ratio dB Power Ratio dB

101 (10) +10 10-1 (1/10) -10

102 (100) +20 10-2 (1/100) -20

103 (1000) +30 10-3 (1/1000) -30

104 (10000) +40 10-4 (1/10000) -40

105 (100000) +50 10-5 (1/100000) -50

106 (1000000) +60 10-6 (1/1000000) -60

 dB CALCULATIONS

Change in POWER PdB = 10 log (Pout/Pin)

expressed in Decibels

Change in VOLTAGE VdB = 20 log Vout/Vin ;

expressed in Decibels (if R2=R1)

Change in CURRENT IdB = 20 log Iout/Iin ;

expressed in Decibels (if R2=R1)
BASIC DERIVED DECIBEL UNITS
1. dBm is a power level related to 1mW

Note: 0 dBm = 1 mW

Power (dBm) = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-3 W)

Examples:
1. An amplifier has an output of 20W. What is its output in
dBm?
2. The input to a network is 0.0004 W. what is the input in
dBm?
BASIC DERIVED DECIBEL UNITS
2. dBW is used extensively in microwave applications. It
is an absolute decibel unit and may be defined as decibel
referred to 1W.
Remember the following relationships:
+30 dBm = 0 dBW
-30 dBW = 0 dBm

Power (dBw) = 10 log (Plevel/1 W)

Examples:
Consider this network:

1W 20 dB dBW?
gain
3. dbmV
The decibel millivolt which is a voltage level referred to one millivolt and it is
abbreviated as dbmV, normally standardized to a 75 ohms impedance level
for input and output and mostly used in the TV and CATV industry.

The voltage given in dbmV is = 20 log ( v /0.001v)

Example:
How much a 0.002, 0.010, 0.10 and one volt correspond in dbmv?

Answer:

0.002 volts = 20 log10 (0.002/0.001v) = 20 log (2) = 6.02 dbmv

0.10 volts = 20 log10 (0.010/0.001v) = 20 log (10) = 20 dbmv

1volts = 20 log10 (1/0.001v) = 20 log (1000) = 60 dbmv

From this example it can be concluded that each time the voltage is
doubled, the voltage gain in dbmv is 6, if the voltage gain is 10 times the
voltage gain in dbmv is 20, and if the voltage gain is 1000 times the voltage
gain in dbmv is 60.
POWER with RESPECT to SPECIFIC
REFERENCE POWER LEVEL

dBk = 10 log (Plevel/1x103 W)

dBw = 10 log (Plevel/1 W)

dBm = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-3 W)

dBu = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-6 W)
dBn = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-9 W)

dBp = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-12 W)

dBf = 10 log (Plevel/1x10-15 W)
 SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1. How much in decibels is 125 W larger than 45 W?

a. 2. 78 dB
b. 4.44 dB
c. 27.8 dB
d. 44.4 dB

2. Determine the attenuation in decibels for the attenuator

having an input power of 100mW and an output power of 3.5
mW.
a. 0.035 dB
b. -1.46 dB
c. 14.6 dB
d. -14.6 dB
 SAMPLE QUESTIONS

3. Express 38 dB as a voltage ratio.

a. 6309
b. 79.43
c. 158.87
d. 63.09

4. Express 425 mW as dBm.

a. 2.63 dBm
b. 26.3 dBm
c. -2.63 dBm
d. -26.3 dBm
dB OPERATIONS
dB1 + dB2 = dBT

dB + dBm = dBm
dB + dBu = dBu
dB + dBk = dBk
 SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. What is the power output of a 3-stage amplifier having gains equal to 25 dB, -35 dB and 50 dB
respectively, if the input power is 10 mW?
a. 100 W
b. 100 mW
c. 10 W
d. 10 mW

2. The input to a three-stage system is -12 dBm. The power gain of

the first stage is 40 dB, for the second stage a loss of 35 dB, and for
the third stage, a gain of 25 dB. What is the power output in dBm?
a. -18 dBm
b. 18 dBm
c. 36 dBm
d. -36 dBm
 SAMPLE QUESTIONS

3. What is the difference between -18 and 22 dBm?

a. 40 dB
b. 40 dBm
c. 4 dB
d. 4 dBm
 POWER EXPRESSED in NEPERS

Power can also be defined in terms of the When defined as

natural logarithm to the base
the natural
e=2.718281828. logarithm, the
unit is Neper.

PNeper = ln (Pout/Pin)

1 Neper = 8.686 dB ; 1 dB = 0.1151 Neper

end