dBc

dBc (decibels relative to the <a href="/facts/Carrier_wave/ae98pBlY">carrier</a>) is the power ratio of a signal to a <a href="/facts/Carrier_wave/ae98pBlY">carrier</a> signal, expressed in <a href="/facts/Decibels/0LyxAPXh">decibels</a>. For example, <a href="/facts/Phase_noise/3WxEUJ7K">phase noise</a> is expressed in dBc/<a href="/facts/Hertz/6Wshj5qm">Hz</a> at a given <a href="/facts/Frequency/QUSbPaW8">frequency</a> offset from the carrier. dBc can also be used as a measurement of Spurious-Free Dynamic Range (<a href="/facts/Spurious-Free_Dynamic_Range/MRycAJLu">SFDR</a>) between the desired signal and unwanted spurious outputs resulting from the use of signal converters such as a <a href="/facts/Digital-to-analog_converter/5loEvAeb">digital-to-analog converter</a> or a <a href="/facts/Frequency_mixer/RopD2DxD">frequency mixer</a>.
If the dBc figure is positive, then the relative signal strength is greater than the carrier signal strength. If the dBc figure is negative, then the relative signal strength is less than carrier signal strength.
Although the <a href="/facts/Decibel/0LyxAPXh">decibel</a> (dB) is permitted for use alongside <a href="/facts/International_System_of_Units/S7YLglNz">SI</a> units, the dBc is not.

dBc open-in-new

dBc