The Decibel
The decibel (dB) is one of the most widely used measurement units in electrical engineering, but is a common source of misunderstanding for unfamiliar engineers. Fundamentally, the dB is a ratio, but the concept the decibel is also used to describe absolute quantities, of which power is the most common example. This article will cover: Definition of the Decibel When to Use 10log10 or 20log10 Why Engineers Use the Decibel Common Decibel Units Used in Electrical Engineering dB dBm dBW dBc dBa dBi Definition of the Decibel The decibel is a unit of measure that quantifies the ratio of two...