Whats the difference between dB and dBm?

Answer 1

dB is the ratio of 2 powers: 10*log(P2/P1)

dBm is the ratio of 2 powers, but P1 is fixed at 1 mW:
10*log(P2/1mW)

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Answer 2

Db To Dbm

Answer 3

Dbm To Db

Answer 4

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Whats the difference between dB and dBm?

Answer 5

dB vs. dBm

Decibel (dB) and dB relative to a milliwatt (dBm) represent two different but related concepts.

A dB is a shorthand way to express the ratio of two values. As a unit for the strength of a signal, dB expresses the ratio between two power levels. To be exact, dB = log (P1/P2).

Using the decibel allows us to contrast greatly differing power levels (a common predicament in radio link design) with a simple two- or three-digit number instead of a more burdensome nine- or 10-digit one.

For instance, instead of characterizing the difference in two power levels as 1,000,000,000 to 1, it's much simpler to use the decibel representation as 10*log (1,000,000,000/1), or 90 dB. The same goes for very small numbers: The ratio of 0.000000001 to 1 can be characterized as -90 dB. This makes keeping track of signal levels much simpler.

The unit dBm denotes an absolute power level measured in decibels and referenced to 1 milliwatt (mW). To convert from absolute power "P" (in watts) to dBm, use the formula dBm = 10*log (P/1 mW). This equation looks almost the same as that for the dB. However, now the power level "P" has been referenced to 1 mW. It turns out that in the practical radio world, 1 mW is a convenient reference point from which to measure power.

Use dB when expressing the ratio between two power values. Use dBm when expressing an absolute value of power.

Answer 6

A dB is a RELATIVE measure of two different POWER levels.

3dB is twice (or half) as much, 6dB is four times, 10dB is ten times, and so on.

The formula for calculating gain or loss in dB is: 10log P1/P2.

It's used for stating the gain or loss of one device (P1) IN RELATION to another (P2). Thus, I can say that an amplifier has “30 dB of gain”, or I have “6dB total feedline loss”. I CANNOT say, “My amp puts out 30 dB”, or “I have a 24dB antenna”, as you must state what you're referencing it to, which is where the subscript comes in. The dB by itself is not an absolute number, but a ratio.
For amplifiers, a common reference unit is the dBm, with 0dBm being equal to 1 milliwatt. Thus, an amp with an output of 30dBm puts out 1 Watt. How much gain it has is a different matter entirely, and you can have two different amps, each with an output of 30dBm (1Watt), that have different gains, and require different levels of drive power to achieve their outputs. You can also have two different amps with the same gain that have different output powers.

dBm is an abbreviation for the power ratio in decibel (dB) of the measured power referenced to one milliwatt (mW). It is used in radio, microwave and fiber optic networks as a convenient measure of absolute power because of its capability to express both very large and very small values in a short form. dBm (or dBmW) and dBW are independent of impedance (as opposed to dBV which is dependent, for example).

Since it is referenced to the watt, it is an absolute unit, used when measuring absolute power.
It should not be confused with dB, a dimensionless unit, which is used when measuring the ratio between two values, such as signal-to-noise ratio.

For more , pl. visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBm