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Telamon

In article om,
wrote:

John - KD5YI wrote:
wrote:

I would guess I am running maybe 5mW into a modified CB ground
plane antenna. Serious mismatch, but my "beacon" was only
intended to reach about 1 mile. For an S2 reading I had to back
the power down ~50% from max legal. So assume I am running 2.5mW
with no attenuation, so for extra credit, what is my power level
at -63dB?

Terry

Your question makes no sense. What is the reference level? 1 watt,
1 mW, 5 mW, 2.5 mW?

.5 microwatts is 63 dB below a Watt. .5 nanowatts is 63 dB below a
milliwatt. 2.5 nanowatts is 63 dB below 5 milliwatts. 1.25
nanowatts is 63 dB below 2.5 milliwatts. (Is this the one you
want?)

2.5 milliwatts is 3 dB below 5 milliwatts.

See a pattern in any of this?

Once again I see why I should not take up comedy. It wasn't a serious
question.

I was reffereing to 5mW at 50 Ohms.

Fewer people would get confused by posts if dBm instead of dB were used
when transmit power level or receiver sensitivity is spoken. I know I
would.

dB being a relative measure should only be used when speaking of a
component like an attenuator or amplifier not a level of power and just
invites the possibility of confusing the reader.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California