The Siemon Company

Whats in a dB?
The decibel (dB) is considered the baseline by which all telecommunications designers look to compare
cabling system performance. But, what is a dB? And, what performance advantage does a margin of a
few decibels really offer? The answer can be found by looking at the origins of the terminology.
First used for measuring the intensity of sound,
the decibel was named after Alexander Graham
Bell. A decibel is a convenient way for engineers
to describe the input to output ratios of either
power or voltages as shown in Figure 1. The
benefits of specifying performance in units of
decibels include:

Decibels can be used to describe

performance independently of an
applications operating voltage or power
therefore, it is a generic performance
specification.

The decibel is calculated on a logarithmic

scale that allows performance specification
across a wide range of voltage/power.

Decibels may be added and subtracted

(versus multiplying and dividing their
corresponding ratios), thereby facilitating
calculations and graphical solutions.

Basic Definitions of dB

B = Bel =

P
log 10 1
P2

dB = decibel = 10

=2

P
log 10 1
P2

V
log 10 1
V2

(1)

V
= 20 log 10 1

V2
(2)

where,

P1
P2
V1
V2

=
=
=
=

measured power in watts

reference power in watts
measured power in volts
reference power in volts
Figure 1

Transmission performance is most commonly specified in units of dB.

The simplest way to examine how the decibel function operates is to assume a reference voltage of 1.
Substituting 1 volt into the decibel function and solving for the corresponding decibel that relates to half of
the signal strength (0.5 volts) demonstrates that an improvement in performance by 6 dB results in a
reduction in the signal strength by one-half.

6 dB = 20

V
log 10 1
V2

0 .5
= 20 log 10

(3)

This means that:

A 6 dB crosstalk requirement would translate to 50% of the signal voltage being allowed to couple
onto adjacent pairs

A 6 dB return loss requirement would translate to 50% of the signal voltage being reflected back on a
transmission line

A 6 dB attenuation requirement would translate to 50% of the signal voltage being lost along a
transmission line

As these equations demonstrate:

better crosstalk loss (NEXT, FEXT, and ELFEXT) and return loss performance is specified by a larger
performance limit (in decibels) because less signal voltage is coupled or reflected, and

better attenuation performance is specified by a smaller performance limit (in decibels) because less
signal voltage is lost or attenuated

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The Siemon Company

The second column of Table 1 lists the

equivalent voltage loss per 1 volt that a
sampling of decibel values correlate to. Note
that every 6 dB results in a 50% change in
signal voltage.

Table 1
Table of dB vs Voltage and Power Ratios
dB

Voltage Ratio*

Power Ratio*

1V

-1

0.891

0.794

-2

0.794

0.631

-3

0.707

0.500

-4

0.631

0.398

-5

0.562

0.316

-6

0.500

0.250

-7

0.447

0.224

-8

0.398

0.158

-9

0.355

0.125

-10

0.316

0.100

-11

0.282

0.079

-12

0.250

0.063

-13

0.224

0.050

-14

0.200

0.040

-15

0.178

0.031

-16

0.158

0.025

This means that:

-17

0.141

0.020

A 3 dB crosstalk requirement would

translate to 50% of the signal power being
allowed to couple onto adjacent pairs!

-18

0.125

0.016

-19

0.112

0.013

A 3 dB return loss requirement would

translate to 50% of the signal power being
reflected back on a transmission line!

-20

0.100

0.010

-30

0.032

0.001

A 3 dB attenuation requirement would

translate to 50% of the signal power being
lost along a transmission line!

-40

0.010

0.000

-50

0.003

0.000

The third column of Table 1 lists the equivalent

power loss or drop per 1 watt that a sampling
of decibel values correlates to.

-60

0.001

0.000

-80

0.000

0.000

-100

0.000

0.000

-120

0.000

0.000

Actual voltage drops can be calculated by

multiplying output signal voltage by the
equivalent decibel loss on a per volt basis. For
example, if an Ethernet application operates at
2.5 volts, then a 40 dB NEXT loss value is
equivalent to:
(0.01) (2.5 V) = .0025 V of NEXT loss

A Note about Power

Telecommunications decibel limits are
typically cross-referenced back to voltage
ratios. However, power ratios can be
specified just as easily. Substituting 1 volt into
the decibel function and solving for the
corresponding decibel that relates to half of
the signal power (0.5 watts) demonstrates that
an improvement in performance by 3 dB
results in a reduction in power by one-half.

P1
3 dB = 10 log 10
P2

0 .5
= 10 log 10

* Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage

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The Siemon Company

Converting decibels to simpler units

Converting a specified decibel limit to an actual percentage of voltage magnitude that is coupled, lost, or
reflected in a given application can simplify comparison of actual performance benefits delivered by
different category-rated components. The example that follows will focus on connecting hardware
performance, however, this comparison method is applicable to all component and cabling system claims.
Table 2 provides the 568-A category 5, proposed SP-4195-A category 5e, and proposed TIA PN-2948
category 6 requirements for connecting hardware at 100 MHz.
Table 2
TIA Specified Limits at 100 MHz in decibels
Parameter

568-A category 5

SP-4195-A category 5e

PN-2948 category 6

Attenuation

0.4 dB

0.4 dB

0.2 dB

NEXT Loss

40 dB

43 dB

54 dB

FEXT Loss

35 dB*

35 dB

43 dB

Return Loss

14 dB

18 dB

22 dB

* Category 5 FEXT loss requirements have not been specified for legacy category 5 connecting
hardware. New category 5 designs shall comply with category 5e FEXT loss requirements.
Table 3 depicts the same category 5, category 5e, and category 6 connecting hardware attenuation,
return loss, far-end (FEXT) crosstalk, and near-end (NEXT crosstalk) limits converted to percentage of
voltage magnitude coupled, lost, or reflected.
Table 3
TIA Specified Limits at 100 MHz
Converted to Percentage of Voltage Magnitude Coupled, Lost, or Reflected
Parameter

568-A category 5

SP-4195-A category 5e

PN-2948 category 6

Attenuation

4.5 % lost

4.5 % lost

2.3 % lost

NEXT Loss

1.0 % coupled

0.7 % coupled

0.2 % coupled

FEXT Loss

1.8 % coupled

1.8 % coupled

0.7 % coupled

Return Loss

20.0 % reflected

12.5 % reflected

7.9 % reflected

It is interesting to see how the decibel function can prove misleading when comparing performance data.
For example, an 8 dB improvement in connecting hardware return loss performance (from category 5 to
category 6) results in a 60% drop in reflected signal voltage, while a 14 dB improvement in connecting
hardware NEXT performance (from category 5 to category 6) results an 80% drop in coupled signal
voltage.

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The Siemon Company

What do decibel values correlate to in terms of performance headroom claims?

Performance claims in decibels may also be converted to a voltage percentage lost, coupled, or reflected
for any cabling product or system. An example of such a conversion using the typical and worst case
performance claims for the Siemon category 6 MAX 6 outlet follows. Refer to Table 4 for guaranteed
worst case and typical Siemon category 6 MAX 6 outlet performance at 100 MHz. These values will be
used as a baseline for all decibel to voltage percentage conversions.
Table 4
Siemon MAX 6 Guaranteed Performance at 100 MHz in decibels
Parameter

MAX 6 Worst Case Performance

MAX 6 Typical Performance

Attenuation

0.06 dB

0.05 dB

NEXT Loss

54.8 dB

58.4 dB

FEXT Loss

45.1 dB

48.1 dB

Return Loss

28.9 dB

30.3 dB

Table 5 depicts the same MAX 6 outlet attenuation, return loss, far-end (FEXT) crosstalk, and near-end
(NEXT crosstalk) limits at 100 MHz converted to percentage of voltage magnitude coupled, lost, or
reflected.
Table 5
Siemon MAX 6 Guaranteed Performance at 100 MHz
Converted to Percentage of Voltage Magnitude Coupled, Lost, or Reflected
Parameter

MAX 6 Worst Case Performance

MAX 6 Typical Performance

Attenuation

0.7 % lost

0.6 % lost

NEXT Loss

0.2 % coupled

0.1 % coupled

FEXT Loss

0.6 % coupled

0.4 % coupled

Return Loss

3.6 % reflected

3.1 % reflected

One of the advantages of comparing data on a percentage voltage basis is that signal performance
margin is independent of the normalizing tendency of the decibel function. For example, the Siemon
MAX 6 outlet worst case return loss performance of 28.9 dB calculates to a 6.9 dB margin over the TIA
performance limits, but this performance actually delivers more than a 50% drop in reflected signal
voltage. The charts in Figure 2 depict the comparative voltage percentages for all category connecting
hardware attenuation, return loss, far-end (FEXT) crosstalk, and near-end (NEXT crosstalk) limits versus
typical and worst case MAX 6 outlet values.
Understanding the decibel function can provide additional insight into performance claims. Note that, in
addition to reviewing specific frequency points of interest, an important aspect of complete component
qualification includes knowledge of worst case performance specifications and margins guaranteed over
the full category frequency range of interest. Furthermore, always be sure to look for linear frequency
response in addition to worst case values when analyzing performance data.

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The Siemon Company

Percent Signal Voltage Lost

(Connecting Hardware Attenuation)
at 100 MHz
5

4.5

Percent Signal Signal Reflected

(Connecting Hardware Return Loss)
at 100 MHz
25

4.5

20
20

15

12.5

2.3
10

0.7

0.6

7.9
3.6

3.1

MAX 6

MAX 6

0
5

5e

MAX 6

MAX 6

WC

TYP

5e

WC

Category or Product

TYP

Category or Product

Percent Signal Voltage Coupled

(Connecting Hardware NEXT loss)
at 100 MHz

Percent Signal Voltage Coupled

(Connecting Hardware FEXT loss)
at 100 MHz
2

1.25

1.8

1.8

1
1.6

0.7

0.75

1.2

0.7

0.8

0.5

0.2

0.25

0.6
0.4

0.18

0.4

0.1
0

0
5

5e

MAX 6

MAX 6

WC

TYP

Category or Product

5e

MAX 6
WC

MAX 6
TYP

Category or Product

Figure 2 Comparative Voltage Percentages Various Categories and the MAX 6 outlet
Conclusion:
Converting decibel claims and margins to percentage voltage loss, coupled, or reflected can provide
meaningful insight into the magnitude of a manufacturers performance claims.

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