WSR-88D Math/Formula Page

Below are the most common formula's you will run into while working with the WSR-88D Weather RADAR System.


dB = 10 log Pout / Pin

dBm = 10 log Pout / 1mw

Duty Cycle (DC) =PW@3dB x PRF

DCdB = 10 log DC

Pavg = Ppeak x DC

Ppeak = Pavg / DC

dBmavg = 10 log Pavg / 1mw

dBmpeak = 10 log Ppeak / 1mw

dBmavg = dBmpeak + DCdB

dBmpeak = dBmavg - DCdB

Pavg = (dBmavg / 10) Antilog x 1mw

Ppeak = (dBmpeak / 10) Antilog x 1mw

Microwave loss = dBmant- dBmxmt  (Note: Average or Peak)

Microwave loss = 10 log Pant / Pxmt  (Note: Average or Peak)

For converting 3dB, 4dB, or 6dB PW measurement points to a percentage, for use on the TDS-420 Oscilloscope automatic measurements, the formula is:
% = (-XdB / 20) Antilog x 100