Introduction To The dB (http://www.satcom.co.uk/article.asp?

article=10)

Describing Power

Signal stages are cascaded, so powers are multiplied by gain or loss. This yields a lot of multiplications. This suggests the need for a
logarithmic representation of power.

A logarithmic scale is used to

Condense wide range of numbers

Ease multiplication

Logarithms
Log(x) = power to which base must be raised to give x. The base is chosen to be 10.
Log(x) = y means that x = 10y
Log(A x B) = Log(A) + Log(B)
Hence: Log(xN) = N x Log(x)
Some example logarithm values:

Log(100) = 2 because 102 = 100.

Log(1000000) = 6 because 106 = 1000000.

Log(1000) = 3 because 103 = 1000.

Log(10) = 1 because anything to the power of 1 is itself.

Log(1) = 0 because anything to the power of 0 is 1.

Log(1/10) = -1 because 10-1 = (1/10)

Log(1/1000) = -3

The deciBel
Represent gains or attenuations logarithmically (base 10) (the Bel)
But to make numbers more convenient, scale by a factor of 10 (the deciBel or dB)
Then, G = 10Log(Pout / Pin) in dB
Examples:

An amplifier has a power gain of 1000. What is this in dB?

G = 10Log(1000) = 10 x 3 = 30 dB
An attenuator has its output power 1/10th of its input. What is its transfer function in dB?
G = 10Log(1/10) = 10 x -1 = -10 dB. (Note - dB can be negative)

Since Log(A x B) = Log(A) + Log(B) we can add gains and losses.

PR = PT + 20 - 1 + 30 - 2 - 204 + 30 -1 + 60 = PT - 68 dB
For converting from a power ratio to dB, first work out powers of 10, e.g:

Ratio

dB

1000

= 103

30 dB

= 100

0 dB

1/1000000

= 106

-60 dB

Then note the smaller factors:

Factor of 2 is 3 dB (remember this!)

Factor of 4 = 2 x 2 is 3 + 3 = 6 dB etc.

Ratio
20

dB
2 x 10 is 3 + 10

13 dB

1/400

4 x 100 is 6 + 20

-26 dB

Examples of converting from dB to a Ratio (or more generally, ratio = 10 dB/10):

dB
23

Ratio
3 + 20 is 2 x 100

-3
-63

200
1/2

-60 - 3 is 1/106 x 1/2

1/2000000
10-16

-160
-167

-170 + 3 is 10-17 x 2

2 x 10-17

10 - 3 is 10/2

3 + 3 + 3 is 2 x 2 x2

10-9 is 10/8

1.25

Applying dB to Other Units

By default, dB is a power ratio. But it can be other things, for example, dB banana = dB relative to 1 banana.
dBW = dB relative to 1 watt, so:

3 dBW = 2 W

-60 dBW = 1 W (1 micro-watt) = -30 dBm

-30 dBW = 1/1000 W = 1 mW (1 milli-watt) = 0 dBm (m here - milliwatt)

Bandwidth in Hz can be expressed in dB-Hz

1 MHz = 60 dB-Hz

Similarly, Noise Temperature:

200 K = 23 dB-K

By default, with dBs we are dealing with power.

P = V2 / R where V is the root mean square voltage, VRMS
Thus a change in power (e.g. due to amplification) can be represented by:
10Log(P2 / P1) = 10Log(V22 / V12) = 20Log(V2 / V1) since Log(xN) = NLog(x)
TIP: Take care with "Voltage gain in dB" which is usually a power gain, i.e 20Log(V 2 / V1)
How Big Is A dB?
Examples of BER vs. Eb/No in dB:

1dB is approximately 25%

change in power
1 dB is approximately the
smallest detectable audio power
change

0.1 dB is a practical measurement limit

But 1 dB is significant in digital demodulation

Copyright 2002 Satcom Online (http://www.satcom.co.uk)

27/05/2014 04:50:43