Understanding RF Power Units and Conversions

Introduction

This guide explains the different RF power units and how to convert between them.

Common RF Power Units

• Watt (W):
  The standard unit of power, representing the rate at which energy is transferred.

• dBm:
  A logarithmic unit of power relative to 1 milliwatt (mW).

• dBW:
  A logarithmic unit of power relative to 1 watt (W).

RF Power Conversions

• Watts to dBm:
  dBm = 10 * log10(Power in Watts * 1000)