College of Engineering University of St.

La Salle

I. DECIBEL MEASUREMENTS
Decibel (dB)
measurement unit widely used in transmission

systems; it is logarithmic with the number base 10 unit that describes a ratio express the magnitude of a change in signal or sound level + dB means a gain - dB - means a loss

Relationship between L and G:

G dB = - L dB Ex. 6 dB loss

L dB = 6 dB G dB = -- 6 dB
useful for calculating gains, losses and power levels

Power: dB = 10 log P out P in Voltage: dB = 20 log E out E in Current: dB = 20 log I out I in

o

Amplifiers in Cascade
P1

P2
GidB G2dB

P3
G3dB

P4

Over-all gain, GT In decibel,

GT = G1 G2 G3 .. Gn

GTdB = G1dB + G2dB + G3dB + + GndB

Reference Powers
dB
dBm dBW

dBf
dBrn dBa dBrap dBrnC

= = = = = = = =

6 mW reference 1 mW ref. ( most common ) 1 W ref. ( used in microwave ) 10 -15 W ref. 10 -12 W ref. 10 11.5 W ref. 10 -16 W ref. (threshold of hearing) 10 -12 W ref.

Example:
1) dBm = 10 log P___ 1 mW P___ 6 mW P___ 10 -12 W

2)

dB = 10 log

3)

dBr n = 10 log

Comparison of +, -- , and 0 dB values:

+ dB = power level is greater than the reference -- dB = power level is less than the reference 0 dB = power level is equal to the reference Then, 0 dBm = 1 mW 0 dBr n = 10 -12 W

4) dBW

P (dBW ) = 10 log P__ 1 W

+ 30 dBm = 0 dBW -- 30 dBW = 0 dBm

5)

dB mV used in video transmission

V (mV)_ 1 mV V is measured at 75 ohm impedance

P (dBmV ) = 20 log

Sample Problems:
1. An amplifier has an output of 20 watts. What is the output in dBm? P (dBm) = 10 log 20 W = + 43 dBm 1 mW 2. Find Pi and Po in dBm and get the gain. G Pi Po GidB 10 uW 1W

Relationships:

dBm + dB = dBm
dBmV + dB = dBmV dBW + dB = dBW

Decibel Sample Problems

1. ( ECE November 1992 ) A TV antenna receives a signal measured at 200 uV and is immediately amplified by a preamplifier with a 15 dB gain. This amplified signal then passes through a coaxial cable with 3 dB loss, what is the resulting input to the TV set, in dBmV?

2. ( ECE September 1984 ) An amplifier has an input resistance of 200 ohms and output resistance of 6400 ohms. When 0.5 volt is applied across the input, a voltage of 400 volts appears across the output. a. What is the power output of the amplifier? b. What is the power and voltage gain measured in decibels?

3. ( ECE November 1989 ) If you have available number of power amplifiers with a gain of 100 each, how many such amplifiers do you use to cascade to give an over-all gain of 60 dB?

Transmission Problems
4. Find the ERP in watts of an antenna having a transmitter output power of 25 W, a line loss of 6 dB and a connector loss of 0.5 dB and an antenna gain of 25 dB.
5. What is the ERP in dBw of a 50 dB antenna connected to a transmitter with an output of 10 kW through a transmission line loss of 5 dB?

Seatwork Sample Problems

1. ( ECE February 1975 ) An amplifier has an input resistance of 500 ohms and output resistance of 8600 ohms. When 2.5 volt is applied across the input, a voltage of 600 volts appears across the output. a. What is the power output of the amplifier in watts? b. What is the power gain measured in decibels?

2. ( ECE August 1976 ) An amplifier has an output level of 43 dBm connected to a load of 8 ohms. If the input is supplied by a microphone with an output of 60 dBm and 200 ohm impedance, determine the following: a. power amplifier gain in dB b. power amplifier output in watts, and the load voltage and current Note: Use as reference P1 = 0.001 watts

3. Transmission Problems
What is the ERP in dBw of a 50 dB antenna connected to a transmitter with an output of 10 kW through a transmission line loss of 5 dB?

II. Radio Wave Propagation - 1

History

1865 predicted mathematically by James C. Maxwell

1887 - demonstrated experimentally by Heinrich R.

Hertz Introduction Radio waves are one form of electromagnetic radiation ( Ex. infrared, visible light, UV, X-rays, gamma rays ) Electromagnetic radiation has a dual nature: In some cases, it behaves as waves In other cases, it behaves as particles (photons)

 For radio frequencies the wave model is generally more

appropriate Electromagnetic waves can be generated by many means, but all them involve the movement of electrical charges
Propagation: how radio waves get from point A to

point B. The events occurring in the transmission path between two stations that affect the communications between the stations.

 When the electrons in a conductor, (antenna wire) are

made to oscillate back and forth, Electromagnetic Waves (EM waves) are produced. These waves radiate outwards from the source at the speed of light, 300 million meters per second. Light waves and radio waves are both EM waves, differing only in frequency and wavelength. EM waves travel in straight lines, unless acted upon by some outside force. They travel faster through a vacuum than through any other medium.

Electromagnetic spectrum

Elec. Spec.

E. M. Waves
Electromagnetic radiation comprises both an Electric

and a Magnetic Field. The two fields are at right-angles to each other and the direction of propagation is at right-angles to both fields. The Plane of the Electric Field defines the Polarisation of the wave.

 Two types of waves:

Transverse waves and Longitudinal Waves Transverse Wave

vibration is from side to side; that is, at right angles to

the direction in which they travel Guitar string vibrates with transverse motion. Electromagnetic transmissions move in space as Transverse waves

 Longitudinal waves: Vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation.

Sound waves, Pressure waves are longitudinal.Oscillate back and forth, vibrations along or parallel to their direction of travel Ex. A wave in a "slinky" is a good visualization.

Polarization:
The polarization of an antenna is the orientation of

the electric field with respect to the Earth's surface and is determined by the physical structure of the antenna and by its orientation Radio waves from a vertical antenna will usually be vertically polarized. Radio waves from a horizontal antenna are usually horizontally polarized.

 For both reflection and refraction, it is assumed that

the surfaces involved are much larger than the wavelength; if not, diffraction will occur Reflection of waves from a smooth surface (specular reflection) results in the angle of reflection being equal to the angle of incidence

 Refraction A transition from one medium to another results in

the bending of radio waves, just as it does with light Snells Law governs the behavior of electromagnetic waves being refracted: