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    Decibel, DBM, Dbi, DBD: Lora / Lorawan Tutorial 5

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    The document discusses different units used to measure radio signal strength on a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale. It explains dB as a ratio of power levels, dBm which uses a reference of 1mW, and dBi and dBd which measure antenna gain relative to an isotropic or dipole antenna. Converting between dB, dBm, dBi, and dBd allows comparison of signal strengths and antenna performance using a standardized logarithmic scale.

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    Decibel, DBM, Dbi, DBD: Lora / Lorawan Tutorial 5

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    37 views18 pages
    The document discusses different units used to measure radio signal strength on a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale. It explains dB as a ratio of power levels, dBm which uses a reference of 1mW, and dBi and dBd which measure antenna gain relative to an isotropic or dipole antenna. Converting between dB, dBm, dBi, and dBd allows comparison of signal strengths and antenna performance using a standardized logarithmic scale.

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    The document discusses different units used to measure radio signal strength on a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale. It explains dB as a ratio of power levels, dBm which uses a reference of 1mW, and dBi and dBd which measure antenna gain relative to an isotropic or dipole antenna. Converting between dB, dBm, dBi, and dBd allows comparison of signal strengths and antenna performance using a standardized logarithmic scale.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    37 views18 pages

    Decibel, DBM, Dbi, DBD: Lora / Lorawan Tutorial 5

    Uploaded by

    gamdoun
    The document discusses different units used to measure radio signal strength on a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale. It explains dB as a ratio of power levels, dBm which uses a reference of 1mW, and dBi and dBd which measure antenna gain relative to an isotropic or dipole antenna. Converting between dB, dBm, dBi, and dBd allows comparison of signal strengths and antenna performance using a standardized logarithmic scale.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 18

    mobilefish.

    com

    LORA / LORAWAN TUTORIAL 5

    Decibel, dBm, dBi, dBd

    v1.0.0
    mobilefish.com
    INTRO
    • In
    this tutorial I will explain what the decibel is and what the purposes are of the units
    dBm, dBi and dBd.
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dB
    •A deciBel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the ratio of powers, sound
    pressures or others things on a logarithmic scale. The deciBel was invented by Bell
    Labs and named after Alexander Graham Bell. 

    In this tutorial the deciBel is used to express the ratio of electrical powers
    (meaning Watts).

    A = 10 x log10(Po / Pi) dB

    Where Pi is the input power and Po the output power.
    2W 6W
    Amplifier A(gain)= 10 x log10(6/2) = 4.7 dB
    
 10mW 8mW
    Cable A(loss)= 10 x log10(8/10) = -0.96 dB

    • Convert deciBel to power ratio: Po/Pi = 10(A/10)


    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dB
    • The logarithmic scale is used to avoid very big or very small numbers, meaning the
    ratios. Using decibels is easier to work with.

    example: 

    • For
    A power ratio of 1,000,000 (1 million) can be expressed by 60 dB.

    A power ratio of 0,000001 can be expressed by -60 dB.

    •A power ratio of 1,000,000,000,000,000 (1 quadrillion) can be expressed by 150 dB.



    A power ratio of 0,000000000000001 can be expressed by -150 dB.

    •A power ratio of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1 septillion) can be expressed


    by 240 dB.

    A power ratio of 0,000000000000000000000001 can be expressed by -240 dB.
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dB
    • Remember: The unit dB is a ratio, it does not represent an absolute value.

    Pi device Po The only thing you know about this


    3dB device is that it has a gain of 3dB.

    • Question: If Pi = 1 mW. Do you know what Po is?

    • Answer:

    Po/Pi = 10(A/10) 

    Po/1 = 10(3/10)

    Po = 10(3/10) = 1.995 mW
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    • dB is a ratio it does not represent an absolute value.

    • If
    we use a reference input power of 1mW (Pi =1 mW) the unit is expressed as dBm.

    A = 10 x log10(Po / 1) dBm

    Po/Pi = 10(A/10) P = 10(A/10) mW

    • Unit dBm represents an absolute value because it uses a fixed reference value 1mW.
    Transmitter
    80dBm P=10(80/10)= 108 mW = 105 W = 100 kW
    Transmitter
    27dBm P=10(27/10)= 501.18 mW ≈ 500 mW
    Receiver
    -73dBm P=10(-73/10)= 5.01 x 10-8 mW ≈ 5 x 10-8 mW
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    • There
    is an easy way to convert dBm values to its absolute power value (Po).

    Remember this:

    10 dB = x10 The rule of 10s and 3s

    -10 dB = ÷10
    3 dB = x2
    -3 dB = ÷2
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    dB Power ratio (Po/Pi) Power ratio (Po/Pi)
    50 100000 x100000
    A = 10 x log10(Po/Pi) dB
    40 10000 x10000
    30 1000 x1000
    Po/Pi = 10(A/10)
    20 100 x100
    10 10 x10
    3 1.995 ≈ 2 x2 watch out
    1 1.259 x1.259
    0 1 x1
    -3 0.501 ≈ 0.5 ÷2 watch out
    -10 0.1 ÷10
    -20 0.01 ÷100
    -30 0.001 ÷1000
    -40 0.0001 ÷10000
    -50 0.00001 ÷100000
    -60 0.000001 ÷1000000
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    • You can calculate any number by only using the values 10 and 3.

    1 = 10 - 3 - 3 - 3

    2 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 - 10

    3 = 3

    4 = 10 - 3 - 3

    5 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 - 10

    6 = 3 + 3

    7 = 10 - 3

    8 = 10 + 10 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 

    9 = 3 + 3 + 3
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    10 = 10

    11 = 10 + 10 - 3 - 3 - 3

    12 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3

    13 = 10 + 3

    14 = 10 + 10 - 3 - 3

    15 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3

    16 = 10 + 3 + 3

    17 = 10 + 10 - 3

    18 = 10 + 10 + 10 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 

    19 = 10 + 3 + 3 + 3

    20 = 10 + 10
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    41 = 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 - 3 - 3 - 3

    -25 = -3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 10

    -28 = -10 - 10 - 10 - 10 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3

    • Rules: 

    Only use a multiple of 10’s and 3’s (positive and negative) to represent a value.

    If possible avoid using 3’s and never use more than five 3’s!

    • Incorrect: 

    8 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 - 10 

    Correct: 

    8 = 10 + 10 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    • If
    a transmitter has 6 dBm, how much power does it generates?

    Answer:

    Pi is always 1 mW (remember the m in dBm)
 10 dB = x10
    6dB = 3dB + 3dB
 -10 dB = ÷10
    1mW x2 x2
 3 dB = x2
    6dBm ≈ 4mW -3 dB = ÷2

    • If
    a transmitter has 17 dBm, how much power does it generates?

    Answer:

    17dB = 10dB + 10dB - 3dB

    1mW x10 x10 ÷2

    17dBm ≈ 50mW
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    • The
    receiver has a sensitivity of -138 dBm, how much power is this?

    Answer:

    -138dB = -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 (-100)

    -10 -10 -10 (-30)

    -10 -10 +3 +3 +3 +3 dB (-8)

    1mW ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 

    ÷10 ÷10 ÷10 

    ÷10 ÷10 x2 x2 x2 x2 


    -138dBm ≈ 1mW x 10-10 x 10-3 x 10-2 x 16 ≈ 16x10-15 mW



    -138dBm ≈ 16x10-15 mW = 16 x 10-15 x 10-3 W ≈ 16 x 10-18 W
    mobilefish.com
    PREFIXES USED WITH SI UNITS
    Symbol Prefix Scientific notation
    E exa 1018
    P peta 1015
    T tera 1012
    G giga 109
    M mega 106
    k kilo 103
    h hecto 102 SI is French for Systeme Internationale
    da deka 101 which means International System of Units
    - - 100
    d deci 10-1 For example:
    c centi 10-2 Powers (Watt), distance (meter),
    m milli 10-3
    time (seconds) etc.
    μ micro 10-6
    n nano 10-9
    p pico 10-12
    f femto 10-15
    a atto 10-18
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBm
    -138dBm ≈ 16 x 10-18 W ≈ 16 aW

    • The
    receiver has a sensitivity of -14 dBm, how much power is this?

    Answer:

    -14dB = -10 -10 +3 +3 db

    

    1mW ÷10 ÷10 x2 x2

    -14dBm ≈ 1mW ÷10 ÷10 x2 x2 ≈ 4x10-2 mW ≈ 0.04 mW


    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBi, dBd
    • Other notable deciBel notations are: dBi and dBd (these also represents ratios)

    • Antenna manufacturers are using these units to measure antenna performance and is
    useful for comparison purpose.

    Manufacturer A has an 868MHz antenna, its gain is 3 dBi

    Manufacturer B has an 868MHz antenna, its gain is 2.5 dBi

    • dBi
    refers to the antenna gain with respect to an isotropic antenna. This is an
    hypothetic point source antenna, that radiates its power uniformly in all directions.

    radiation pattern point source

    Radiation or antenna pattern reflects the strength of the radio waves



    from the antenna in different directions.
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBi, dBd
    • dBd refers to the antenna gain with respect to a reference dipole antenna.
    ¼ wavelength

    radiation pattern dipole


    dipole antenna looks like a “donut”
    mobilefish.com
    DECIBEL: dBi, dBd
    • The
    relationship between dBd and dBi

    dBi = dBd + 2.15
    radiation pattern isotropic antenna

    2.15db

    radiation pattern dipole antenna

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