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Understanding dB in Wireless Communications

The document discusses decibels (dB) as a unit used to measure power ratios in communications systems. It provides definitions for dB, dBm, and dBW and examples of calculating power in decibels. Key points covered include: - dB is the logarithm of the ratio between a measured power and a reference power. - dBm indicates power relative to 1 milliwatt, while dBW uses a reference of 1 watt. - Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is important and defined as the ratio between signal power and average noise power. - An example problem calculates required transmit power given SNR and propagation loss in a mobile system.

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281 views6 pages

Understanding dB in Wireless Communications

The document discusses decibels (dB) as a unit used to measure power ratios in communications systems. It provides definitions for dB, dBm, and dBW and examples of calculating power in decibels. Key points covered include: - dB is the logarithm of the ratio between a measured power and a reference power. - dBm indicates power relative to 1 milliwatt, while dBW uses a reference of 1 watt. - Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is important and defined as the ratio between signal power and average noise power. - An example problem calculates required transmit power given SNR and propagation loss in a mobile system.

Uploaded by

muhammadmusakhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

dB in Communications

q The db (decibel) is a relative unit of measurement


commonly used in communications for providing a
reference for input and output levels.
q Power gain or loss.

q Decibels are used to specify measured and calculated


values in
q audio systems, microwave system gain calculations, satellite

system link-budget analysis, antenna power gain, light-budget


calculations and in many other communication system
measurements
q In each case the dB value is calculated with respect to a
standard or specified reference.

EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

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

q The result is multiplied by 10 to obtain the value in dB.

q It can be modified to provide a dB value based on the ratio


of two voltages. By using the power relationship P = V2/R

EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

Definitions of dBm and dBW


q dBm indicates that the specified dB level is relative to a 1
milliwatt reference.
1mW

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.

EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

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)=?

EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)


q The received signal should be greater than the average
noise level at the receiver
q The average noise level is calculated by
Te
Pout ,noise = Gsys FkT0 B = Gsys kT0 B 1 +
T0
q Where Gsys is the overall receiver gain due to cascaded stages
q F is the noise figure of the receiver
q k is Boltzmanns constant (1.3810-23)
q Te=(F-1) T 0 is the effective noise temperature
q For a cascaded system, Tesys = T1 +

T
T2
+ 3 + ....
G1 G1G2

q T0 is ambient room temperature (290K)

q Signal-to-noise ratio is defined as

EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

Example
q A mobile receiver system

Pt
Transmitter

L (dB)

Pr

Mobile receiver
SNR=30 dB

q Determine the average signal strength at the antenna


terminals to provide a SNR of 30 dB at the receiver output
if the average noise level is -119.5 dBm.
q L is the propagation loss
q Pr(dBm)=SNR+(-119.5)=-89.5 dBm
q If the propagation loss is 100 dB, what is the minimum
transmit power?
EE6390 Intro. to Wireless Comm. Systems

Prof. Murat Torlak

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