Bird Electronic Corporation www.bird-electronic.

com (866) 695-4569 2/6/06 JN

By: Jim Norton, Applications Engineer

RF Calculators
Select a calculator tab at the bottom of this page for assistance with your radio frequency (RF) needs.

Calculators available include Power, VSWR & Return Loss, Frequency & Wavelength,
Attenuation, Directivity, Cable Loss, Masking Effect,
Field Strength, Free Space Loss and Metric Conversions.

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

Power Calculator
Enter power and select units to determine equivalent values.

Enter
Power =
Power =
Power =
Power =
Power =
Power =
Power =

100.000
50.000
100,000,000,000,000.000
100,000,000,000.000
100,000,000.000
100,000.000
100.000
0.100

Watts (W)

dBm
Picowatts (pW)
Nanowatts (nW)
Microwatts (uW)
Milliwatts (mW)
Watts (W)
Kilowatts (kW)

1 kW = 1,000 W 1 W = 1,000 mW = 1,000,000 uW

1 W = 1,000,000,000 nW = 1,000,000,000,000 pW
Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB

JN

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

VSWR & Return Loss Calculator

Enter forward and reflected power or match to determine equivalent values.

Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Forward Power
Reflected Power
VSWR
Return Loss
Match Efficiency
Rho

2.00
4.00
-5.83
3.01
-100.00
1.41

Watts
Watts

Enter
Calculates

Power
Power

33.00 Watts
45.19 dBm

Enter
Calculates

Power
Power

33.00 dBm
2.00 Watts

dB
%

Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB

Enter
1.200 VSWR
1
=
1.200 VSWR
= -20.828 Return Loss (dB)
= 99.174 Match Efficiency (%)
=
0.091 Rho

VSWR = Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

Pf = Forward Power (Watts)
Pr = Reflected Power (Watts)
VSWR = [1+Sqrt(Pr / Pf)] / [1-Sqrt(Pr / Pf)]
Return Loss (dB) = 10 x Log ( Pr / Pf )
Match Efficiency (%) = 100% x (1 - Pr / Pf)
Rho = Sqrt ( Pr / Pf )

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Frequency & Wavelength Calculator

Enter frequency or wavelength and select units to determine equivalent values.

Enter
Frequency =
Frequency =
Frequency =
Wavelength =
Wavelength =
Wavelength =
Wavelength =

900.000
900,000.000
900.000
0.900
0.333
33.333
1.094
13.123

Megahertz (MHz)

Kilohertz (kHz)
Megahertz (MHz)
Gigahertz (GHz)
Meters (m)
Centimeters (cm)
Feet (ft)
Inches (in)

1 MHz = 1,000 kHz 1 GHz = 1,000 MHz

Wavelength (Meters) = 300 / Frequency (MHz)

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Attenuation Calculator
Enter power or attenuation to determine values.

Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Input Power
Output Power
Input Power
Output Power
Attenuation

2.00
2.00
33.01
33.01
0.00

Watts
Watts
dBm
dBm
dB

Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Input Power
Attenuation
Input Power
Output Power
Output Power

50.00
3.00
46.99
43.99
25.06

Watts
dB
dBm
dBm
Watts

Enter
Calculates

Power
Power

3.00 Watts
34.77 dBm

Enter
Calculates

Power
Power

47.00 dBm
50.12 Watts

Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Output Power
Attenuation
Output Power
Input Power
Input Power

2.00
0.00
33.01
33.01
2.00

Watts
dB
dBm
dBm
Watts

Output Power (dBm) = Input Power (dBm) - Attenuation (dB)

Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Directivity Error Calculator

Enter directivity, forward power and reflected power to determine directivity errors.
Enter
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Directivity of Coupler
Forward Power
Reflected Power
Forward Power Minimum
Forward Power Maximum
Forward Power Min Error
Forward Power Max Error
Reflected Power Minimum
Reflected Power Maximum
Reflected Power Min Error
Reflected Power Max Error
VSWR Minimum
VSWR
VSWR Maximum
Return Loss Minimum
Return Loss
Return Loss Maximum

30.000
100.000
4.000
98.739
101.269
-1.261
1.269
2.835
5.365
-29.123
34.123
1.402
1.500
1.608
-15.529
-13.979
-12.649

dB
Watts
Watts
Watts
Watts
%
%
Watts
Watts
%
%

Directivity is a measure of the ability of a

directional coupler to discern between the
forward and reflected traveling wave in a
transmission system.
Power meters, antenna monitors and
analyzers are coupler based test
equipment which are used to measure
forward and reflected power as well as
VSWR and return loss.
Directivity errors result in measurements
which may vary between maximum and
minimum values.

dB
dB
dB

The following is a step-by-step procedure to calculate the results which are displayed above:
Given
Given
Given
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Directivity of Coupler
Forward Power
Reflected Power
Directivity Power Ratio
Directivity Forward Power
Directivity Reflected Power
Forward Voltage
Reflected Voltage
Directivity Forward Voltage
Directivity Reflected Voltage

30.000
100.000
4.000
1,000
0.004
0.100
70.711
14.142
0.447
2.236

dB
Watts
Watts
Watts
Watts
Volts
Volts
Volts
Volts

Dir = Directivity of Coupler

Pf = Forward Power
Pr = Reflected Power
Directivity Power Ratio = 10 ^ (Dir / 10)
Pfd = Pr / Directivity Power Ratio
Prd = Pf / Directivity Power Ratio
Vf = Sqrt (Pf x 50 Ohms)
Vr = Sqrt (Pr x 50 Ohms)
Vfd = Sqrt (Pfd x 50 Ohms)
Vrd = Sqrt (Prd x 50 Ohms)

Note, voltage vectors add when in phase or subtract when 180 degrees out of phase with each other
Calculates Forward Voltage Minimum
70.263 Volts
Vf (Min) = Vf - Vfd
Calculates Forward Voltage Maximum
71.158 Volts
Vf (Max) = Vf + Vfd
Calculates Reflected Voltage Minimum
11.906 Volts
Vr (Min) = Vr - Vrd (or 0 if Vrd > Vr)
Calculates Reflected Voltage Maximum
16.378 Volts
Vr (Max) = Vr + Vrd
Calculates Forward Power Minimum
98.739 Watts
Pf (Min) = (Vf (Min) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Forward Power Min Error
-1.261 %
Error = 100% x (Pf (Min) - Pf) / Pf
Calculates Forward Power Maximum
101.269 Watts
Pf (Max) = (Vf (Max) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Forward Power Max Error
1.269 %
Error = 100% x (Pf (Max) - Pf) / Pf
Calculates Reflected Power Minimum
2.835 Watts
Pr (Min) = (Vr (Min) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Reflected Power Min Error
-29.123 %
Error = 100% x (Pr (Min) - Pr) / Pr
Calculates Reflected Power Maximum
5.365 Watts
Pr (Max) = (Vr (Max) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Reflected Power Max Error
34.123 %
Error = 100% x (Pr (Max) - Pr) / Pr
Calculates Rho Minimum
0.167
Rho (Min) = Sqrt (Pr (Min) / Pf (Max))
Calculates Rho
0.200
Rho = Sqrt (Pr / Pf)
Calculates Rho Maximum
0.233
Rho (Max) = Sqrt (Pr (Max) / Pf (Min))
Calculates VSWR Minimum
1.402
VSWR (Min) = (1 + Rho (Min)) / (1 - Rho (Min))
Calculates VSWR
1.500
VSWR = (1 + Rho) / (1 - Rho)
Calculates VSWR Maximum
1.608
VSWR (Max) = (1 + Rho (Max)) / (1 - Rho (Max))
Calculates Return Loss Minimum
-15.529 dB
Return Loss (Min) = 10 x Log (Pr (Min) / Pf (Max))
Calculates Return Loss
-13.979 dB
Return Loss = 10 x Log ( Pr / Pf )
Calculates Return Loss Maximum
-12.649 dB
Return Loss (Max) = 10 x Log (Pr (Max) / Pf (Min))

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Cable Loss Calculator

Enter cable, jumper, connector and other loss parameters to determine transmission cable system insertion loss.
Cable loss is the total insertion loss of your transmission cable system.
This typically includes insertion loss of the transmission cable, jumper cables, connectors and lightning protection.
Loss of other components (e.g. VSWR/power monitor, duplexer, combiner or filter) may also come into play.

Enter
Enter
Calculates
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Enter
Enter
Enter
Calculates

Cable Loss/100 m or ft
Cable Length (m or ft)
Cable Loss
Top Jumper Loss/100 m or ft
Top Jumper Length (m or ft)
Top Jumper Loss
Bottom Jumper Loss/100 m or ft
Bottom Jumper Length (m or ft)
Bottom Jumper Loss
Loss per Connector
Number of Connectors
Connector Loss
Lightning Protection Loss
VSWR/Power Monitor Loss
Other Component Loss
Total Cable System Loss

6.80
50.00
3.40
3.23
10.00
0.32
3.23
20.00
0.65
0.05
8
0.40
0.10
0.00
0.00
4.87

dB
m or ft
dB
dB
m or ft
dB
dB
m or ft
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB

Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency

Length in Meters or Feet
Transmission Cable Insertion Loss
Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency
Length in Meters or Feet
Top/Antenna Jumper Cable Insertion Loss
Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency
Length in Meters or Feet
Bottom/Tx Jumper Cable Insertion Loss
Connector Insertion Loss
Two Connectors per Pair
Connector Insertion Loss
Lightning Protection Insertion Loss
VSWR/Power Monitor Insertion Loss
Loss of Combiner, Duplexer, Filter, etc.
Transmission Cable System Insertion Loss

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Masking Effect Calculator

Enter cable loss and match or forward and reflected power to determine the masking effect.

Enter
Enter
Calculates

Cable Insertion Loss

VSWR at Transmitter
VSWR of Antenna

3.00 dB
1.50
2.33

Enter
Enter
Calculates

Cable Insertion Loss

Return Loss at Transmitter
Return Loss of Antenna

3.00 dB
-14.00 dB
-8.00 dB

CL = Cable Insertion Loss

RLt = Return Loss at Transmitter
RLa = Return Loss of Antenna = RLt - (2 x CL)

Enter
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Cable Insertion Loss

Forward Power at Transmitter
Reflected Power at Transmitter
Rho at Transmitter
VSWR at Transmitter
Return Loss at Transmitter
Forward Power at Transmitter
Forward Power at Antenna
Reflected Power at Transmitter
Reflected Power at Antenna
Forward Power at Antenna
Reflected Power at Antenna
Rho of Antenna
VSWR of Antenna
Return Loss of Antenna

3.00
100.00
4.00
0.20
1.50
-13.98
50.00
47.00
36.02
39.02
50.12
7.98
0.40
2.33
-7.98

CL = Cable Insertion Loss

Pft = Forward Power at Transmitter
Prt = Reflected Power at Transmitter
Rhot = Sqrt (Prt / Pft)
VSWRt = (1 + Rhot) / (1 - Rhot)
RLt = 10 x Log (Prt / Pft)
Pft (dBm) = 10 x Log (Pft (Watts)) + 30 dB
Pfa (dBm) = Pft (dBm) + CL
Prt (dBm) = 10 x Log (Prt (Watts)) + 30 dB
Pra (dBm) = Prt (dBm) - CL
Pfa (Watts) = 10 ^ ((Pfa (dBm) - 30) / 10)
Pra (Watts) = 10 ^ ((Pra (dBm) - 30) / 10)
Rhoa = Rho of Antenna = Sqrt (Pra / Pfa)
VSWRa = (1 + Rhoa) / (1 - Rhoa)
RLa = 10 x Log (Pra / Pfa)

dB
Watts
Watts

dB
dBm
dBm
dBm
dBm
Watts
Watts

dB

Antenna measurements taken

at the transmitter end of the cable
will be masked by the cable loss.

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Field Strength Calculator

Enter signal power level, frequency and antenna gain to determine field strength.

Enter
Enter
Enter
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates
Calculates

Signal Power Level

Frequency
Receive Antenna Gain
Antenna Factor
Signal Level
Signal Level
Field Strength
Field Strength
Field Strength

33.000
900.000
2.000
27.285
140.000
167.285
231.336
###
###

dBm
MHz
dB
dB
dBuV
dBuV/m
V/m
mV/m
uV/m

The field strength of the signal emitted

by a radio antenna is usually expressed
in units of microvolts per meter (uV/m).
This may be calculated if the signal power
level (dBm), frequency and the gain of the
receive antenna are known.

Antenna Factor (dB) = 20 Log (Frequency (MHz)) - Antenna Gain (dB) -29.8
Signal Level (dBuV) = Signal Level (dBm) + 107 dB
Signal Level (dBuV/m) = Signal Level (dBuV) + Antenna Factor (dB)
Field Strength (uV/m) = 10 ^ (Signal Level (dBuV/m) / 20)
1 V/m = 1,000 mV/m = 1,000,000 uVm

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Free Space Loss Calculator

Enter frequency and distance to determine free space loss.

Enter
Enter
Calculates

Enter
Enter
Calculates

Frequency
Distance
Free Space Loss

Frequency
Distance
Free Space Loss

900.000 MHz
1.000 Miles
95.685 dB

900.000 MHz
0.001 Kilometers
31.552 dB

Free Space Loss is the power loss of a

radio signal as it travels through free space.
Losses due to sources such as earth, trees,
buildings, cables and connectors as well as
antenna gains are not considered.

Free Space Loss (dB) = 36.6 + 20 x Log (Frequency (MHz) x Distance (Miles))
1 Mile = 1.6093 Kilometers

Bird Electronic Corporation

www.bird-electronic.com

(866) 695-4569

JN

Metric Conversions
Enter quantity and select units to determine equivalent values.

Length
Enter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

1.000
160,934.400
63,360.034
5,279.936
1,759.979
1,609.344
1.609
1.000

1 in = 2.54 cm

Weight
Miles (mi)

Centimeters (cm)
Inches (in)
Feet (ft)
Yards (yd)
Meters (m)
Kilometers (km)
Miles (mi)

1 m = 3.28 ft

Enter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

1 mi = 1.6 km

1 oz = 28.35 g

Area
Enter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

1.000
10,000.000
1,550.005
10.764
1.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

1.000
1,000.000
35.274
2.205
1.000
0.022
0.001
0.001

Kilograms (kg)

Grams (g)
Ounces (oz)
Pounds (lb)
Kilograms (kg)
Hundredwt (cwt)
Tons (ton)
Tonnes (t)

1 kg = 2.2 lb

1 t = 1.1 ton

Temperature
Square m

Square cm
Square in
Square ft
Square m
Acres
Square km
Square mi

1 sq in = 6.45 sq cm 1 sq m = 10.76 sq ft
1 sq mi = 2.6 sq km

Enter
=
=
=
=

0.000
32.000
0.000
491.690
273.150

Celsius (C)

Fahrenheit (F)
Celsius (C)
Rankine (R)
Kelvin (K)

C = 5/9 (F - 32)
R = F + 459.69 K = C + 273.15

Volume
Enter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

2.000
2,000.000
67.628
2.113
2.000
0.528
0.071
0.002

Liters (l)

Milliliters (ml)
Fluid Oz (fl oz)
Quarts (qt)
Liters (l)
Gallons (gal)
Cubic Ft (cu ft)
Cubic M (cu m)

1 fl oz = 29.6 ml 1 liter = 1.06 qt

1 gal = 3.8 liters 1 cu m = 35.3 cu ft