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6. MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES 
 
6-1. dBm measurement technique 
dBm is defined as above or below a 1mW reference. A voltage 
measurement is converted to dBm using the following formula: 
dBm=10*log 
10 
(1000*voltage value
2
/reference impedance.) 
The reference impedance can be set. 
For example, the reference impedance of 600Ω, 0.7746V will be 
convert to 0 dBm. 
 
6-2. True rms measurement 
The true rms (root-mean-square) value of a waveform is equivalent to 
dc value that causes the same amount of heat to be dissipated in a 
resistor. 
Since average-responding meters have been in use for so long, you 
may have accumulated test or reference data based on them. Figure 
6-1 illustrates the relationship between ac and dc components for 
common waveforms, and compares readings for true rms meters and 
average-responding meters. Figure 6-1 will help you convert between 
the two measurement methods. 
 
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z  Figure 6-1: Voltage Conversion