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DECIBEL (dB)
The Decibel is a subunit of a larger unit called the bel. As originally used, the bel represented the
power ratio of 10 to 1 between the strength or intensity i.e., power, of two sounds, and was named after Alexander
Graham Bell. Thus a power ratio of 10:1 = 1 bel, 100:1 = 2 bels, and 1000:1 = 3 bels. It is readily seen that the
concept of bels represents alogarithmic relationship since the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2 (corresponding
to 2 bels), the logarithm of 1000 to the base 10 is 3 (corresponding to 3 bels), etc. The exact relationship is
given by the formula
[1] Bels = log(P2/P1) where P2/P1
represents the power ratio. Since the bel is a rather large unit, its use may prove inconvenient. Usually a
smaller unit, the Decibel or dB, is used. 10 decibels make one be. A 10:1 power ratio, 1 bel, is 10 dB; a 100:1
ratio, 2 bels, is 20 dB. Thus the formula becomes [2] Decibels (dB) = 10 log(P2/P1)
The power ratio need not be greater than unity as shown in the previous examples. In equations [1] and [2], P1
is usually the reference power. If P2 is less than P1, the ratio is less then
1.0 and the resultant bels or decibels are negative. For example, if P2 is one-tenth P1, we
have
bels = log(0.1/1) = -1.0 bels and dB = 10 log(0.1/1) = -10 dB. It should be clearly understood
that the term decibel does not in itself indicate power, but rather is a ratio or comparison between two power
values. It is often desirable to express power levels in decibels by using a fixed power as a reference. The most
common references in the world of electronics are the milliwatt (mW) and the watt. The abbreviation dBm indicates
dB referenced to 1.0 milliwatt. One milliwatt is then zero dBm. Thus P1 in equations [1]
or [2] becomes 1.0 mW. Similarly, The abbreviation dBW indicates dB referenced to 1.0 watt, with P2
being 1.0 watt, thus one watt in dBW is zero dBW or 30 dBm or 60 dBuW. For antenna gain, the reference is the
linearly polarized isotropic radiator, dBLI. Usually the 'L' and/or 'I' is understood and left out.
dBc is the power of one signal referenced to a carrier signal, i.e. if a second harmonic signal at 10 GHz
is 3 dB lower than a fundamental signal at 5 GHz, then the signal at 10 GHz is -3 dBc.
THE DECIBEL, ITS USE IN ELECTRONICS
The logarithmic characteristic of the dB makes it very convenient for expressing electrical power and
power ratios. Consider an amplifier with an output of 100 watts when the input is 0.1 watts (100 milliwatts); it
has an amplification factor of P2/P1 = 100/0.1 = 1000 or a gain of: 10
log(P2/P1) = 10 log(100/0.1) = 30 dB. (notice the 3 in 30 dB corresponds to the number of zeros in the
power ratio)
The ability of an antenna to intercept or transmit a signal is expressed in dB referenced to an isotropic antenna
rather than as a ratio. Instead of saying an antenna has an effective gain ratio of 7.5, it has a gain of 8.8 dB
(10 log 7.5). A ratio of less than 1.0 is a loss, a negative gain, or attenuation. For instance, if 10
watts of power is fed into a cable but only 8.5 watts are measured at the output, the signal has been decreased by
a factor of 8.5/10 = 0.85 or 10 log(0.85) = -0.7 dB.
This piece of cable at the frequency of the measurement has a gain of -0.7 dB. This is generally referred to as a
loss or attenuation of 0.7 dB, where the terms "loss" and "attenuation" imply the negative sign. An attenuator
which reduces its input power by factor of 0.001 has an attenuation of 30 dB. The utility of the dB is very
evident when speaking of signal loss due to radiation through the atmosphere. It is much easier to work with a
loss of 137 dB rather than the equivalent factor of 2 x 10-14. Instead of multiplying gain or
loss factors as ratios we can add them as positive or negative dB. Suppose we have a microwave system with a10
watt transmitter, and a cable with 0.7 dB loss connected to a 13 dB gain transmit antenna. The signal loss through
the atmosphere is 137 dB to a receive antenna with a 11 dB gain connected by a cable with 1.4 dB loss to a
receiver. How much power is at the receiver? First, we must convert the 10 watts to milliwatts and then to dBm:
10 watts = 10,000 milliwatts and 10 log (10,000/1) = 40 dBm Then 40 dBm - 0.7 dB + 13 dB -
137 dB + 11 dB - 1.4 dB = -75.1 dBm. dBm may be converted back to milliwatts by solving the formula: mW =
10(dBm/10)
giving 10(-75.1/10)= 0.00000003 mW Voltage and current ratios can also be expressed in terms of
decibels, provided the resistance remains constant. First we substitute for P in terms of either voltage, V, or
current, I. Since P=VI and V=IR we have: P = I2R = V2/R Thus for a voltage
ratio we have
dB = 10 log[(V22/R)/(V12/R)] = 10 log(V22/V12)
= 10 log(V2/V1)2 = 20 log(V2/V1) Like power, voltage
can be expressed relative to fixed units, so one volt is equal to 0 dBV or 120 dBuV. Similarly for current ratio
dB = 20 log(I2/I1) Like power, amperage can be expressed relative to fixed units, so
one amp is equal to 0 dBA or 120 dBA. Decibel Formulas (where Z is the general form of R,
including inductance and capacitance) When impedances are equal:

When impedances are unequal:
SOLUTIONS WITHOUT A CALCULATOR
Solution of radar and EW problems requires the determination of logarithms (base 10) to calculate some of
the formulae. Common "four function" calculators don't usually have a log capability (or exponential or fourth
root functions either). Without a scientific calculator (or math tables or a Log-Log slide rule) it is difficult
to calculate any of the radar equations, simplified or "textbook". The following gives some tips to calculate a
close approximation without a calculator.
DECIBEL TABLE

For dB numbers which are a multiple of 10
An easy way to remember how to convert dB values that are a multiple of 10 to the absolute magnitude of
the power ratio is to place a number of zeros equal to that multiple value to the right of the value 1.
i.e. 40 dB = 10,000 : 1 (for Power) Minus dB moves the decimal point that many places to the left of 1.
i.e. -40 dB = 0.0001 : 1 (for Power) For voltage or current ratios, if the multiple of 10 is even, then
divide the multiple by 2, and apply the above rules. i.e. 40 dB = 100 : 1 (for Voltage) -40 dB = 0.01 : 1
If the power in question is not a multiple of ten, then some estimation is required. The following tabulation
lists some approximations, some of which would be useful to memorize.


You can see that the list has a repeating pattern, so by remembering just three basic values such as
one, three, and 10 dB, the others can easily be obtained without a calculator by addition and subtraction of dB
values and multiplication of corresponding ratios.
Example 1:
A 7 dB increase in power (3+3+1) dB is an increase of (2 x 2 x 1.26) = 5 times whereas A 7 dB decrease
in power (-3-3-1) dB is a decrease of (0.5 x 0.5 x 0.8) = 0.2. Example 2: Assume you know
that the ratio for 10 dB is 10, and that the ratio for 20 dB is 100 (doubling the dB increases the power ratio by
a factor of ten), and that we want to find some intermediate value.

We can get more intermediate dB values by adding or subtracting one to the above, for example, to find the
ratio at 12 dB we can: work up from the bottom; 12 = 1+11 so we have 1.26 (from table) x 12.5 = 15.75
alternately, working down the top 12 = 13-1 so we have 20 x 0.8(from table) = 16. The resultant numbers are
not an exact match (as they should be) because the numbers in the table are rounded off. We can use the same
practice to find any ratio at any other given value of dB (or the reverse).
dB AS ABSOLUTE UNITS
Power in absolute units can be expressed by using 1 Watt (or1 milliwatt)as the reference power in the
denominator of the equation for dB. We then call it dBW or dBm. We can then build a table such as the adjoining
one.

From the above, any intermediate value can be found using the same dB rules and memorizing several dB
values i.e. for determining the absolute power, given 48 dBm power output, we determine that 48 dBm = 50 dBm - 2
dB so we take the value at 50 dB which is 100W and divide by the value 1.58 (ratio of 2 dB) to get: 100 watts/1.58
= 63 W or 63,291 mW. Because dBW is referenced to one watt, the Log of the power in watts times 10 is dBW.
The Logarithm of 10 raised by any exponent is simply that exponent. That is: Log(10)4 = 4. Therefore, a
power that can be expressed as any exponent of 10 can also be expressed in dBW as that exponent times 10. For
example, 100 kW can be written 100,000 watts or 105 watts. 100 kW is then +50 dBW. Another way to
remember this conversion is that dBW is the number of zeros in the power written in watts times 10. If the
transmitter power in question is conveniently a multiple of ten (it often is) the conversion to dBW is easy and
accurate.
Table of Contents for Electronics Warfare and Radar Engineering Handbook
Introduction |
Abbreviations | Decibel | Duty
Cycle | Doppler Shift | Radar Horizon / Line
of Sight | Propagation Time / Resolution | Modulation
| Transforms / Wavelets | Antenna Introduction
/ Basics | Polarization | Radiation Patterns |
Frequency / Phase Effects of Antennas |
Antenna Near Field | Radiation Hazards |
Power Density | One-Way Radar Equation / RF Propagation
| Two-Way Radar Equation (Monostatic) |
Alternate Two-Way Radar Equation |
Two-Way Radar Equation (Bistatic) |
Jamming to Signal (J/S) Ratio - Constant Power [Saturated] Jamming
| Support Jamming | Radar Cross Section (RCS) |
Emission Control (EMCON) | RF Atmospheric
Absorption / Ducting | Receiver Sensitivity / Noise |
Receiver Types and Characteristics |
General Radar Display Types |
IFF - Identification - Friend or Foe | Receiver
Tests | Signal Sorting Methods and Direction Finding |
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) / Reflection Coefficient / Return
Loss / Mismatch Loss | Microwave Coaxial Connectors |
Power Dividers/Combiner and Directional Couplers |
Attenuators / Filters / DC Blocks |
Terminations / Dummy Loads | Circulators
and Diplexers | Mixers and Frequency Discriminators |
Detectors | Microwave Measurements |
Microwave Waveguides and Coaxial Cable |
Electro-Optics | Laser Safety |
Mach Number and Airspeed vs. Altitude Mach Number |
EMP/ Aircraft Dimensions | Data Busses | RS-232 Interface
| RS-422 Balanced Voltage Interface | RS-485 Interface |
IEEE-488 Interface Bus (HP-IB/GP-IB) | MIL-STD-1553 &
1773 Data Bus | This HTML version may be printed but not reproduced on websites.
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