dBm to Watts Conversion Table

Conversion Formula:

\[ W = 10^{(\frac{dBm - 30}{10})} \]

Converted Value:

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1. What is dBm to Watts Conversion?

dBm (decibel-milliwatts) is a unit of power measurement that expresses power in decibels relative to 1 milliwatt. Converting dBm to watts is essential in radio, microwave, and fiber-optic communication systems where power levels are often expressed in dBm.

2. Conversion Formula

The formula to convert dBm to watts is:

\[ W = 10^{(\frac{dBm - 30}{10})} \]

Where:

\( W \) — Power in watts
\( dBm \) — Power in decibel-milliwatts

Explanation: The formula converts from logarithmic scale (dBm) to linear scale (watts). The -30 in the formula accounts for the conversion from milliwatts to watts (1 W = 1000 mW = 30 dBm).

3. Conversion Table

dBm	Watts	dBm	Watts
0 dBm	0.001000 W	5 dBm	0.003162 W
10 dBm	0.010000 W	15 dBm	0.031623 W
20 dBm	0.100000 W	25 dBm	0.316228 W
30 dBm	1.000000 W	35 dBm	3.162278 W

4. Practical Applications

Details: This conversion is used in RF engineering, telecommunications, and network design to understand absolute power levels from logarithmic measurements.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use dBm instead of watts?
A: dBm provides a logarithmic scale that can conveniently express very large and very small power levels and makes multiplication of gains/losses into simple addition.

Q2: What does 0 dBm represent?
A: 0 dBm equals exactly 1 milliwatt (0.001 W) of power.

Q3: What is the relationship between dBm and dBW?
A: dBW is referenced to 1 watt (0 dBW = 1 W), while dBm is referenced to 1 milliwatt. To convert: dBW = dBm - 30.

Q4: What is a typical Wi-Fi signal strength in dBm?
A: Typical Wi-Fi signals range from -30 dBm (excellent) to -90 dBm (very weak).

Q5: How do I convert negative dBm values to watts?
A: The same formula works for negative values. For example, -30 dBm = 0.000001 W (1 μW).