Antenna dB (decibels) are a unit of measure used to describe the gain, or amplification, of an antenna compared to a reference antenna. Decibels are a logarithmic scale that expresses the ratio of two power levels, and they are commonly used in RF (radio frequency) engineering to compare signal strength, power levels, and antenna gain.
The reference antenna used for dB gain measurements can vary depending on the context. One common reference is the isotropic antenna, which has a gain of 0 dBi in all directions. Another reference is the dipole antenna, which has a gain of 2.15 dBd (decibels relative to a dipole) compared to the isotropic antenna. dB gain is expressed as a positive number, since it represents the amplification of the antenna’s signal relative to the reference antenna.
Here are some examples of popular types of antennas and their typical dB gain:
1. Dipole Antenna: This is a simple antenna consisting of two conductive elements, such as metal rods or wires, that are oriented perpendicular to each other. A dipole antenna typically has a gain of 2.15 dBd.
2. Yagi Antenna: This is a directional antenna consisting of multiple elements, including a driven element, reflector element, and one or more director elements. A Yagi antenna typically has a gain ranging from 6 to 15 dBi, depending on the number and spacing of the elements.
3. Parabolic Dish Antenna: This is a highly directional antenna that uses a curved reflector dish to focus the signal onto a central feed element. A parabolic dish antenna typically has a gain ranging from 20 to 40 dBi, depending on the size of the dish and the frequency of the signal.
4. Patch Antenna: This is a flat antenna consisting of a metallic patch on a dielectric substrate. A patch antenna typically has a gain ranging from 6 to 9 dBi, depending on the size and shape of the patch.
It’s important to note that antenna gain is dependent on frequency, so the gain of an antenna will vary depending on the frequency of the signal being transmitted or received. Additionally, antenna gain is often specified in terms of both dBi and dBd, so it’s important to pay attention to which reference antenna is being used.