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4569

RF Calculators
Select a calculator tab at the bottom of this page for assistance with your radio frequency (RF) needs.

Calculators available include Power, VSWR & Return Loss, Frequency & Wavelength,

Attenuation, Directivity, Cable Loss, Masking Effect, Pulse Power,

Field Strength, Free Space Loss and Metric Conversions.

 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Power Calculator
Enter power and select units to determine equivalent values.

Enter 100.000 4
Power = -10.000 dBm
Power = 100,000,000.000 Picowatts (pW)
Power = 100,000.000 Nanowatts (nW)
Power = 100.000 Microwatts (uW)
Power = 0.100 Milliwatts (mW)
Power = 0.000 Watts (W)
Power = 0.000 Kilowatts (kW)

1 kW = 1,000 W 1 W = 1,000 mW = 1,000,000 uW

1 W = 1,000,000,000 nW = 1,000,000,000,000 pW
Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

VSWR & Return Loss Calculator

Enter forward and reflected power or match to determine equivalent values.

Enter Forward Power 1700.00 Watts Enter 2.000 1

Enter Reflected Power 190.00 Watts = 2.000 VSWR
Calculates VSWR 2.00 = -9.542 Return Loss (dB)
Calculates Return Loss -9.52 dB = 88.889 Match Efficiency (%)
Calculates Match Efficiency 88.82 % = 0.333 Rho
Calculates Rho 0.33

Enter Power 12000.00 Watts VSWR = Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

Calculates Power 70.79 dBm Pf = Forward Power (Watts)
Pr = Reflected Power (Watts)
Enter Power 15.29 dBm VSWR = [1+Sqrt(Pr / Pf)] / [1-Sqrt(Pr / Pf)]
Calculates Power 0.03 Watts Return Loss (dB) = 10 x Log ( Pr / Pf )
Match Efficiency (%) = 100% x (1 - Pr / Pf)
Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB Rho = Sqrt ( Pr / Pf )
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Frequency & Wavelength Calculator

Enter frequency or wavelength and select units to determine equivalent values.

Enter 100.000 2
Frequency = 100,000.000 Kilohertz (kHz)
Frequency = 100.000 Megahertz (MHz)
Frequency = 0.100 Gigahertz (GHz)
Wavelength = 3.000 Meters (m)
Wavelength = 300.000 Centimeters (cm)
Wavelength = 9.843 Feet (ft)
Wavelength = 118.110 Inches (in)

1 MHz = 1,000 kHz 1 GHz = 1,000 MHz

Wavelength (Meters) = 300 / Frequency (MHz)
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Attenuation Calculator
Enter power or attenuation to determine values.

Enter Input Power 100.00 Watts Enter Input Power 100.00 Watts
Enter Output Power 0.00 Watts Enter Attenuation 45.00 dB
Calculates Input Power 50.00 dBm Calculates Input Power 50.00 dBm
Calculates Output Power 5.05 dBm Calculates Output Power 5.00 dBm
Calculates Attenuation 44.95 dB Calculates Output Power 0.00 Watts

Enter Power 50.00 Watts Enter Output Power 25.00 Watts

Calculates Power 46.99 dBm Enter Attenuation 3.00 dB
Calculates Output Power 43.98 dBm
Enter Power 47.00 dBm Calculates Input Power 46.98 dBm
Calculates Power 50.12 Watts Calculates Input Power 49.88 Watts

Output Power (dBm) = Input Power (dBm) - Attenuation (dB)

Power (dBm) = 10 x Log [ Power (Watts) ] + 30 dB
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Directivity Error Calculator

Enter directivity, forward power and reflected power to determine directivity errors.

Enter Directivity of Coupler 28.000 dB Directivity is a measure of the ability of a

Enter Forward Power 1700.000 Watts directional coupler to discern between the
Enter Reflected Power 189.000 Watts forward and reflected traveling wave in a
Calculates Forward Power Minimum 1655.167 Watts transmission system.
Calculates Forward Power Maximum 1745.432 Watts
Calculates Forward Power Min Error -2.637 % Power meters, antenna monitors and
Calculates Forward Power Max Error 2.672 % analyzers are coupler based test
Calculates Reflected Power Minimum 146.562 Watts equipment which are used to measure
Calculates Reflected Power Maximum 236.826 Watts forward and reflected power as well as
Calculates Reflected Power Min Error -22.454 % VSWR and return loss.
Calculates Reflected Power Max Error 25.305 %
Calculates VSWR Minimum 1.816 Directivity errors result in measurements
Calculates VSWR 2.000 which may vary between maximum and
Calculates VSWR Maximum 2.217 minimum values.
Calculates Return Loss Minimum -10.759 dB
Calculates Return Loss -9.540 dB
Calculates Return Loss Maximum -8.444 dB

The following is a step-by-step procedure to calculate the results which are displayed above:

Given Directivity of Coupler 28.000 dB Dir = Directivity of Coupler

Given Forward Power 1700.000 Watts Pf = Forward Power
Given Reflected Power 189.000 Watts Pr = Reflected Power
Calculates Directivity Power Ratio 631 Directivity Power Ratio = 10 ^ (Dir / 10)
Calculates Directivity Forward Power 0.300 Watts Pfd = Pr / Directivity Power Ratio
Calculates Directivity Reflected Power 2.694 Watts Prd = Pf / Directivity Power Ratio
Calculates Forward Voltage 291.548 Volts Vf = Sqrt (Pf x 50 Ohms)
Calculates Reflected Voltage 97.211 Volts Vr = Sqrt (Pr x 50 Ohms)
Calculates Directivity Forward Voltage 3.870 Volts Vfd = Sqrt (Pfd x 50 Ohms)
Calculates Directivity Reflected Voltage 11.607 Volts Vrd = Sqrt (Prd x 50 Ohms)
Note, voltage vectors add when in phase or subtract when 180 degrees out of phase with each other
Calculates Forward Voltage Minimum 287.678 Volts Vf (Min) = Vf - Vfd
Calculates Forward Voltage Maximum 295.418 Volts Vf (Max) = Vf + Vfd
Calculates Reflected Voltage Minimum 85.604 Volts Vr (Min) = Vr - Vrd (or 0 if Vrd > Vr)
Calculates Reflected Voltage Maximum 108.818 Volts Vr (Max) = Vr + Vrd
Calculates Forward Power Minimum 1655.167 Watts Pf (Min) = (Vf (Min) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Forward Power Min Error -2.637 % Error = 100% x (Pf (Min) - Pf) / Pf
Calculates Forward Power Maximum 1745.432 Watts Pf (Max) = (Vf (Max) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Forward Power Max Error 2.672 % Error = 100% x (Pf (Max) - Pf) / Pf
Calculates Reflected Power Minimum 146.562 Watts Pr (Min) = (Vr (Min) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Reflected Power Min Error -22.454 % Error = 100% x (Pr (Min) - Pr) / Pr
Calculates Reflected Power Maximum 236.826 Watts Pr (Max) = (Vr (Max) ^ 2) / 50 Ohms
Calculates Reflected Power Max Error 25.305 % Error = 100% x (Pr (Max) - Pr) / Pr
Calculates Rho Minimum 0.290 Rho (Min) = Sqrt (Pr (Min) / Pf (Max))
Calculates Rho 0.333 Rho = Sqrt (Pr / Pf)
Calculates Rho Maximum 0.378 Rho (Max) = Sqrt (Pr (Max) / Pf (Min))
Calculates VSWR Minimum 1.816 VSWR (Min) = (1 + Rho (Min)) / (1 - Rho (Min))
Calculates VSWR 2.000 VSWR = (1 + Rho) / (1 - Rho)
Calculates VSWR Maximum 2.217 VSWR (Max) = (1 + Rho (Max)) / (1 - Rho (Max))
Calculates Return Loss Minimum -10.759 dB Return Loss (Min) = 10 x Log (Pr (Min) / Pf (Max))
Calculates Return Loss -9.540 dB Return Loss = 10 x Log ( Pr / Pf )
Calculates Return Loss Maximum -8.444 dB Return Loss (Max) = 10 x Log (Pr (Max) / Pf (Min))
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Cable Loss Calculator

Enter cable, jumper, connector and other loss parameters to determine transmission cable system insertion loss.

Cable loss is the total insertion loss of your transmission cable system.
This typically includes insertion loss of the transmission cable, jumper cables, connectors and lightning protection.
Loss of other components (e.g. VSWR/power monitor, duplexer, combiner or filter) may also come into play.

Enter Cable Loss/100 m or ft 1.13 dB Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency
Enter Cable Length (m or ft) 230.00 m or ft Length in Meters or Feet
Calculates Cable Loss 2.60 dB Transmission Cable Insertion Loss
Enter Top Jumper Loss/100 m or ft 3.23 dB Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency
Enter Top Jumper Length (m or ft) 10.00 m or ft Length in Meters or Feet
Calculates Top Jumper Loss 0.32 dB Top/Antenna Jumper Cable Insertion Loss
Enter Bottom Jumper Loss/100 m or ft 3.23 dB Loss per 100 Meters or Feet at Frequency
Enter Bottom Jumper Length (m or ft) 20.00 m or ft Length in Meters or Feet
Calculates Bottom Jumper Loss 0.65 dB Bottom/Tx Jumper Cable Insertion Loss
Enter Loss per Connector 0.05 dB Connector Insertion Loss
Enter Number of Connectors 8 Two Connectors per Pair
Calculates Connector Loss 0.40 dB Connector Insertion Loss
Enter Lightning Protection Loss 0.10 dB Lightning Protection Insertion Loss
Enter VSWR/Power Monitor Loss 0.00 dB VSWR/Power Monitor Insertion Loss
Enter Other Component Loss 0.00 dB Loss of Combiner, Duplexer, Filter, etc.
Calculates Total Cable System Loss 4.07 dB Transmission Cable System Insertion Loss
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Masking Effect Calculator

Enter cable loss and match or forward and reflected power to determine the masking effect.

Enter Cable Insertion Loss 3.00 dB Antenna measurements taken

Enter VSWR at Transmitter 1.50 at the transmitter end of the cable
Calculates VSWR of Antenna 2.33 will be masked by the cable loss.

Enter Cable Insertion Loss 3.00 dB CL = Cable Insertion Loss

Enter Return Loss at Transmitter -14.00 dB RLt = Return Loss at Transmitter
Calculates Return Loss of Antenna -8.00 dB RLa = Return Loss of Antenna = RLt - (2 x CL)

Enter Cable Insertion Loss 3.00 dB CL = Cable Insertion Loss

Enter Forward Power at Transmitter 100.00 Watts Pft = Forward Power at Transmitter
Enter Reflected Power at Transmitter 4.00 Watts Prt = Reflected Power at Transmitter
Calculates Rho at Transmitter 0.20 Rhot = Sqrt (Prt / Pft)
Calculates VSWR at Transmitter 1.50 VSWRt = (1 + Rhot) / (1 - Rhot)
Calculates Return Loss at Transmitter -13.98 dB RLt = 10 x Log (Prt / Pft)
Calculates Forward Power at Transmitter 50.00 dBm Pft (dBm) = 10 x Log (Pft (Watts)) + 30 dB
Calculates Forward Power at Antenna 47.00 dBm Pfa (dBm) = Pft (dBm) + CL
Calculates Reflected Power at Transmitter 36.02 dBm Prt (dBm) = 10 x Log (Prt (Watts)) + 30 dB
Calculates Reflected Power at Antenna 39.02 dBm Pra (dBm) = Prt (dBm) - CL
Calculates Forward Power at Antenna 50.12 Watts Pfa (Watts) = 10 ^ ((Pfa (dBm) - 30) / 10)
Calculates Reflected Power at Antenna 7.98 Watts Pra (Watts) = 10 ^ ((Pra (dBm) - 30) / 10)
Calculates Rho of Antenna 0.40 Rhoa = Rho of Antenna = Sqrt (Pra / Pfa)
Calculates VSWR of Antenna 2.33 VSWRa = (1 + Rhoa) / (1 - Rhoa)
Calculates Return Loss of Antenna -7.98 dB RLa = 10 x Log (Pra / Pfa)
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Field Strength Calculator

Enter signal power level, frequency and antenna gain to determine field strength.

Enter Signal Power Level -30.000 dBm The field strength of the signal emitted
Enter Frequency 155.000 MHz by a radio antenna is usually expressed
Enter Receive Antenna Gain 3.000 dB in units of microvolts per meter (uV/m).
Calculates Antenna Factor 11.007 dB
Calculates Signal Level 77.000 dBuV This may be calculated if the signal power
Calculates Signal Level 88.007 dBuV/m level (dBm), frequency and the gain of the
Calculates Field Strength 0.025 V/m receive antenna are known.
Calculates Field Strength 25.138 mV/m
Calculates Field Strength 25,138.057 uV/m

Antenna Factor (dB) = 20 Log (Frequency (MHz)) - Antenna Gain (dB) -29.8
Signal Level (dBuV) = Signal Level (dBm) + 107 dB
Signal Level (dBuV/m) = Signal Level (dBuV) + Antenna Factor (dB)
Field Strength (uV/m) = 10 ^ (Signal Level (dBuV/m) / 20)
1 V/m = 1,000 mV/m = 1,000,000 uVm
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Free Space Loss Calculator

Enter frequency and distance to determine free space loss.

Enter Frequency 800.000 MHz Free Space Loss is the power loss of a
Enter Distance 1.000 Miles radio signal as it travels through free space.
Calculates Free Space Loss 94.662 dB
Losses due to sources such as earth, trees,
buildings, cables and connectors as well as
Enter Frequency 800.000 MHz antenna gains are not considered.
Enter Distance 1.000 Kilometers
Calculates Free Space Loss 90.529 dB

Free Space Loss (dB) = 36.6 + 20 x Log (Frequency (MHz) x Distance (Miles))
1 Mile = 1.6093 Kilometers
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Metric Conversions
Enter quantity and select units to determine equivalent values.

Length Weight

Enter 1.000 7 Enter 1.000 4

= 160,934.400 Centimeters (cm) = 1,000.000 Grams (g)
= 63,360.034 Inches (in) = 35.274 Ounces (oz)
= 5,279.936 Feet (ft) = 2.205 Pounds (lb)
= 1,759.979 Yards (yd) = 1.000 Kilograms (kg)
= 1,609.344 Meters (m) = 0.022 Hundredwt (cwt)
= 1.609 Kilometers (km) = 0.001 Tons (ton)
= 1.000 Miles (mi) = 0.001 Tonnes (t)

1 in = 2.54 cm 1 m = 3.28 ft 1 mi = 1.6 km 1 oz = 28.35 g 1 kg = 2.2 lb 1 t = 1.1 ton

Area Temperature

Enter 1.000 4 Enter 0.000 2

= 10,000.000 Square cm = 32.000 Fahrenheit (F)
= 1,550.005 Square in = 0.000 Celsius (C)
= 10.764 Square ft = 491.690 Rankine (R)
= 1.000 Square m = 273.150 Kelvin (K)
= 0.000 Acres
= 0.000 Square km C = 5/9 (F - 32)
= 0.000 Square mi R = F + 459.69 K = C + 273.15

1 sq in = 6.45 sq cm 1 sq m = 10.76 sq ft
1 sq mi = 2.6 sq km
 Volume

Enter 2.000 4
= 2,000.000 Milliliters (ml)
= 67.628 Fluid Oz (fl oz)
= 2.113 Quarts (qt)
= 2.000 Liters (l)
= 0.528 Gallons (gal)
= 0.071 Cubic Ft (cu ft)
= 0.002 Cubic M (cu m)

1 fl oz = 29.6 ml 1 liter = 1.06 qt

1 gal = 3.8 liters 1 cu m = 35.3 cu ft
 Bird | The RF Experts www.birdrf.com | 866.695.4569

Pulse Power Calculator

Duty Cycle Caluclations
[From Pulse Width and Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) or Pulse Repetition Intreval (PRI)]

Enter Pulse Width: 20 uS Pulse Width

Enter PRF or PRI: 0.001 kiloHertz (kHz) 2E-05 Seconds (S)
Calculates Duty Factor: 0.0000 0.02 milliSeconds (mS)
Calculates Duty Cycle: 0.00% 20 microSeconds (uS)
20000 nanoSeconds (nS)

Average Power Calculations Peak Power Calculations

[From Duty Cycle and Peak Power or Peak Voltage] [From Duty Cycle and Average Power or Average Volt

Enter Duty Cycle 1% Enter Duty Cycle

Enter Peak W or V 1000 W (Peak Power) Enter Average W or V
Calculates Average Power 10.00 W Calculates Average Power
Calculates Average Power 40.00 dBm Calculates Average Power
Calculates Average Voltage 22.36 V Calculates Average Voltage
Calculates Peak Power 1000.00 W Calculates Peak Power
Calculates Peak Power 60.00 dBm Calculates Peak Power
Calculates Peak Voltage 223.61 V Calculates Peak Voltage
 PRF/PRI
1 Hertz (Hz)
0.001 kiloHertz (kHz)
1E-06 MegaHertz (MHz)
1E-09 GigaHertz (GHz)
1 Seconds (S)
1000 milliSeconds (mS)
1000000 microSeconds (uS)
1000000000 nanoSeconds (nS)

Average Power or Average Voltage]

10 %
61.24 V (Average Voltage)
75.01 W
48.75 dBm
61.24 V
750.07 W
58.75 dBm
193.66 V
microSeconds (uS)
kiloHertz (kHz)

V (Peak Voltage)
W (Peak Power)

V (Average Voltage)
W (Average Power)