Most often, but not always, engineers interpret a power ratio as "gain'' if the output power is expected to be greater than input power (e.g., as expected for an amplifier) and as "loss'' if output po...Most often, but not always, engineers interpret a power ratio as "gain'' if the output power is expected to be greater than input power (e.g., as expected for an amplifier) and as "loss'' if output power is expected to be less than input power (e.g., as expected for a lossy transmission line). A power expressed in dB relative to 1 mW is said to have units of "dBm.'' For example, "0 dBm'' means 0 dB relative to 1 mW, which is simply 1 mW.
Most often, but not always, engineers interpret a power ratio as "gain'' if the output power is expected to be greater than input power (e.g., as expected for an amplifier) and as "loss'' if output po...Most often, but not always, engineers interpret a power ratio as "gain'' if the output power is expected to be greater than input power (e.g., as expected for an amplifier) and as "loss'' if output power is expected to be less than input power (e.g., as expected for a lossy transmission line). A power expressed in dB relative to 1 mW is said to have units of "dBm.'' For example, "0 dBm'' means 0 dB relative to 1 mW, which is simply 1 mW.
