Jedinice za mjerenje snage i pojaanja/dobiti

Measurement Units for Power and Gain

Microwave and RF amplifiers are devices used to amplify a small signal so the system can use them
to receive and transmit signals. Since microwave signals have such a high frequency, the wave form
can not be seen on the scope. They are measured by the thermal energy or detector. The units for this
power are always converted to dBm, and the gain is dB. The definition for m! is " dBm, and !
#""" m!$ is "%log """ & '(" dBm.
)*ample+
,ower
" m! '" dBm
"" m! '-" dBm
"""m! #!$ '(" dBm
"" ! '." dBm
Gain
/ain is defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power in dB. 0ssume that the input power
is " m! #'" dBm$ and the output power is ! #""" m!, '(" dB$. The ratio will be """1" &
"", and the gain will be " % log "" & -" dB.
2t is much easier to calculate gain by converting the power to dBm first, so the gain of the above
amplifier will be ("3" & -" dB. 0 simple reduction will reveal the gain. 2n tradition, all power is read in
dBm and the gain is in dB.

)*ample+ 0 low noise amp #(" dB gain$ cascades with a driver amp #-" dB gain$
and a power amp #" dB gain$. The total gain will be ("'-"'" & 4"
dB.
Gain Flatness
The difference between the ma*imum and minimum gain is the gain flatness. 2t can be written as **
dB pea5 to pea5 or 6 **1- dB.

)*ample+
7igh gain ((dB, low gain (" dB. The gain flatness will be #((3("$1- & 6
.. dB.
Noise Figure
The amplifier generates its own noise #white noise$. The ratio between the signal and the noise level
is the 8signal to noise ratio.8 2t is often described in dB. 9oise figure is always written as :: dB,
ma*imum. Most noise figure measurements are done at '-. ;<, unless it is specified at different
temperatures. 9oise figures for the amplifiers are affected by the outside environment. 2t may go up .
". dB1;<. So a (dB 9.F. amlifier #at '-. ;<$ may have (." ' .". * #=.3-.$ & (.> dB 9F at '=. ;<.
0n amplifier with low noise figure is called low noise amlpifier #?90$. 0 lower noise figure is always
desired for a receiver.

P1dB
The output power of the amplifier is measured in dBm. Most amplifiers are used in the linear region
which have low distortion and harmonics. 2n the linear region, the output power is the sum of the input
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Jedinice za mjerenje snage i pojaanja/dobiti
power and the gain #& " dBm, /ain -" dB, '-" dBm$. 0s input power increases, the output power will
increase proportionally to the gain until it starts to compress. !hen the difference is between the
small signal gain to the actual gain dB, we call it one dB compression point. The amplifier will have
high distortion and harmonics beyond ,dB point. So most communication systems are operated @ to
" dB below ,dB point.
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