dBm to Watt Conversion Calculator

dBm to Watt Conversion Calculator

This is a free online dBm to watts (W) power conversion calculator. Also, learn how to convert dBm to watts and important conversion values.

Created by Commontools | Updated on: April 02, 2023
       


Enter the value in dBm



Output
In mWatt:
In Watt:




What is the dBm to Watts Conversion Calculator?

The dBm-to-Watts conversion calculator converts power value from dBm into Watts value. Watt (W) can be used to measure power in SI units. dBm can be used for power measurement.

dBm is for decibel-milliwatts. It is a dimensionless unit that can be used to measure signal strength (power level) with reference to one milliwatt. The power level of 0 dBm is 1 milliwatt. The convenient unit of measurement used in radio, microwave, and audio applications to measure signal strength is the dBm.

Signal strength (power) can be expressed in dBm because it allows us to express very large and very small power values (W) by using a simple number. 5 mW equals 7 dBm and 100 KW equals 80 dBm. The decibel unit representation makes it easier to perform multiplication and division operations into addition and subtraction.

What is dBm?

dBm stands for decibels per milliwatt. While dB stands for gain and is not dimensionless, the dBm signification is a concrete measurement of the power level. It is used to measure signal strength in wires and cables for radio and audio frequencies. The dBm measurement is very precise. For calculating dBm, the formula is 10 x log (signal power per milliwatt). The most precise measurement of signal strength in dBm.

We use dB to express a ratio between two values and dBm to determine the power. Both can be used in calculations, such as the following: If your signal is outside at -90 dBm, but your amplifier system is rated at 70dB, you will get a signal that radiates at -20dBm. This means that you will have enough strength to cover approximately 3000 square feet. As you'll see, this number is crucial when selecting a signal booster.

What is a good signal?

The cell tower sends a signal to transmit data. The signal weakens or degrades as it travels away from its tower. Any obstructions in the path, such as trees or buildings, can also affect the signal. The signal strength is strongest when you are near the tower. It will have a lower dBm by the time it reaches you. A signal greater than 70 dBm in dBm can be considered excellent in all networks. Poor signal is defined as a signal that is less than 100 dBm in 3G networks and less than 110 dBm in 4G networks. To determine the strength of your signal, you must measure it in multiple areas. Measure the signal strength before placing a Wi-Fi router or modem in a particular area.

The decibel (dB), a relative scale, is used to measure electronic equipment's power and voltage, such as signal boosters and wires that connect to radios and other audio frequencies. The decibel is logarithmic and, therefore, dimensionless. We use the unit dBm (decibel-milliwatts) as an absolute reference.

This is how power, in this case, signal strength, can be measured. It can be calculated by ten times the logarithm of the signal strength in milliwatts. The dB is simply the ratio of two values. These values are measured using dBm. Once the dBm is established, you can measure any decibel change (dB) once it has been measured.

Because it can express large and small values in a short form, dBm is the preferred measurement in radio, microwave and fibre optic networks. In the world of cell signal boosters, dBm measures the strength of a signal at any location and the power that an antenna can amplify.

What is good signal strength dBm?

A strong signal from the outside would typically be between -50 and -70 dBm. Anything below -100 would be considered weak. (-110 would mean no signal). An indoor antenna can boost the outside signal's dBm exponentially. For example, an indoor antenna radiating -20dBm can cover approximately 3,000 square feet. The logarithm states that the signal strength doubles for every third decibel. This means that a dBm signal strength around -70 is twice as strong as -73 dBm. Although it may not seem like much has changed, the decibels have increased exponentially.

How do I take dBm measurements on my phone?

If the strength of your mobile phone signal is important, don't look at the bars and use the precision of dBm signal strength measurements. Apps like Network Cell Infomation or other pocket Software allow you to measure and monitor the dBm wherever you are, whether to choose the signal booster strength or where it should be installed for maximum efficiency. Android phones have a decibel-reading feature in their settings. Most iPhones can also access decibel information by turning "test mode" on. You can simply "call" the number *3001#12345#* using the keypad. The dB readings will appear either in the top left corner of the screen or by sliding down from its top edge.

A precise reading of your dBm signal strength will optimize the performance and sound quality of your cell phone booster amplifiers and amplifiers.

Watt: What is it?

Watts are the unit of electrical power. A watt is one unit of power. The term "watt" refers to the energy transfer rate. A watt is a unit that represents power. Power is the rate at what energy is produced or consumed by an object.

When watts are used to measure electrical flow, any device or appliance can be viewed as either needing a large or small amount of electrical flow. A 100-watt lightbulb and a 60-watt one can be compared. The 100-watt bulb will require more energy to function.

Types of Watt

Kilowatt- Kilowatt is the measure of 1,000 watts of electrical power. A kilowatt, also known as kW, is a widely accepted standard for measuring electricity. On your electric bill, you may see that the kilowatts are used to measure your home's power consumption or energy use.

Megawatt- Globally, a megawatt (MW), is equal to 1,000 kilowatts. Generators can be rated according to their size in megawatts or kilowatts.

You can rate the electricity consumption of any equipment in your home in watts and kilowatts. A lightbulb might be rated at 60 W, and a microwave at 750 W.

We are an electronic components company and we know that electrical engineers prefer decibel-milliwatts (dBm), which is easier to use for power specifications. Log scales are more convenient than the linear scale for large numbers and dynamic ranges. A decibel milliwatt refers to a unit of power that is used to indicate that a power factor is expressed in decibels, dB, with reference to one megawatt (MW).

A decibel can be used to compare two levels. It is then paired with a watt and transformed into an absolute unit. It's a handy measure of absolute power in radio and microwave communication networks. The power levels expressed in dBm may not be as accurate as those expressed in watts. Our converter is available for your convenience.

What is the equivalent dBm value for 1 watt of electricity?

30 dBm. We can calculate P(dBm), for 1 W using the formula: 

$$P(dBm)=10 \times \log_{10} \left( \frac{1000 \times 1}{1W} ​\right) = 30 \text{  dBm}$$

How can I convert dBm into watts?

Follow these instructions to convert dBm into watts:

  1. Divide power in dBm into 10.
  2. From step 1, multiply 10 by the power of the result.
  3. Divide the value in step 2 by 1000 to get power in watts.

Here is the formula to convert dBm into watts

The following formula will convert dBm into watts:

$$P(W)=1W \times \frac{10^{\frac{P(dBm)}{10}}{}}{1000}$$

Where:

  • P(W) is Power in Watts (W);
  • P(dBm) is Power in decibels-milliwatts (dBm).

We can convert watts to decibels by rearranging the equation.

$$P(dBm)=10 \times \log_{10} \left( \frac{1000 \times P(W)}{1W} ​\right)$$

$$=10 \times \log_{10} \left( \frac{P(W)}{1W} \right) +30$$

This means that decibel milliwatts are converted to watts by multiplying 10 to get the power of decibel milliwatts, then dividing the result by 1000.

Take the following example as an example:

Convert 0.15 decibels-milliwatts into watts

This is the calculation,

$$P(W)=1W \times \frac{10^{\frac{P(dBm)}{10}}{}}{1000}$$

$$P(W)=1W \times \frac{10^{\frac{(0.5)}{10}}{}}{1000}$$

$$= 0.0010351421667 \text{ Watts}$$

You can also use the dBm-to-watts conversion table to convert common values from decibels milliwatts into watts. This conversion is based on a scale of between -30 dBm and 50 dBm.

How to Use The dBm-watts Calculator

Let's now see how to use the dBm-to-watts calculator to convert 50 DBM to Watts.

  1. Select the type of conversions you want, such as dBm or watts.
  2. Enter the power in decibels, i.e. 50 dBm.
  3. This tool will convert power in dBm into power in Watts, i.e. 100 watts. You can choose to convert dBm from mW using the drop-down menu.
  4. This calculator can be used to convert watts/milliwatts into dBm.

dBm to Watt Conversion Table

Power (dBm) Power (W)
-70 dBm 1e-10 W
-60 dBm 1e-9 W
-50 dBm 1e-8 W
-40 dBm 1e-7 W
-30 dBm 0.000001 W
-20 dBm 0.00001 W
-10 dBm 0.0001 W
0 dBm 0.001 W
1 dBm 0.0012589 W
2 dBm 0.0015849 W
3 dBm 0.0019953 W
4 dBm 0.0025119 W
5 dBm 0.0031628 W
6 dBm 0.0039811 W
7 dBm 0.0050119 W
8 dBm 0.0063096 W
9 dBm  0.0079433 W
10 dBm 0.01 W
20 dBm 0.1 W
30 dBm 1 W
40 dBm 10 W
50 dBm  100 W
60 dBm 1000 W
70 dBm 10000 W
80 dBm 100000 W
90 dBm 1000000 W
100 dBm 10000000 W

Conclusion

dBm stands for decibels per milliwatt. While dB can be used to express gain or loss and is not dimensionless, the dBm measurement represents the power level relative to a reference power of 1 milliwatt. It is commonly used to measure signal strength in wires and cables for radio and audio frequencies.

The conversion from dBm to watts is done in decibels using the formula dB = 10 log(P1/P0), where P1 is the power level being measured and P0 is the reference power level of 1 milliwatt for dBm. This formula can be rearranged to solve for P1 in terms of dBm: P1 = P0 x 10^(dBm/10).

References

Category


Cite this tool

Use the citation below to add this tool to your bibliography:


Styles:

×

MLA Style Citation


"dBm to Watt Conversion Calculator." Commontools.org, 2024. Thu. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.commontools.org/tool/dbm-to-watt-conversion-calculator-7>.



Created by
Commontools


Share this tool