dBW

Decibel Watt (dBW) is a unit of power level expressed in decibels relative to one watt. It is commonly used in radio frequency communications and broadcasting to quantify transmitter output, received power, and link budgets. The value is defined as dBW = 10 log10(P / 1 W), where P is the power in watts.

Converting to and from watts: P(W) = 10^(dBW/10). To relate to dBm, dBm = dBW + 30, since 1 W equals 1000 mW. Examples: 0 dBW equals 1 W; 20 dBW equals 100 W; −10 dBW equals 0.1 W; 30 dBW equals 1000 W (1 kW).

Usage and context: dBW provides a logarithmic scale for expressing large ranges of power, which simplifies comparisons and link-budget calculations in RF systems. It is a measure of power relative to a fixed reference (1 W) and is independent of frequency, though in practical RF measurements the power is often specified with respect to a standardized load impedance (such as 50 ohms), since power depends on voltage and impedance via P = V^2 / R.

Notes: dBW is distinct from dBm, which uses 1 mW as the reference. When comparing values, ensure consistent reference and units. Higher dBW indicates higher transmitted or received power; lower dBW indicates lower power.