decibel millivolt (dBmV)

Decibel Millivolt (dBmV) is a reference level for signal strength. dBmV refers to signal strength in transmission lines and is used in community antennas, cable television equipment, audio equipment, and instrumentation. While RF systems work with an impedance of75 ohms, audio and measurement technology work with an impedance of 50 ohms.

A signal level of 1 mV corresponds to 0 dBmV. Smaller signal levels have negative dBmV values, larger ones positive. The prerequisite for this statement is that the impedance is an ohmic resistance and remains constant. As for the dBmV value, the signal level of RF and LF frequencies is about their RMS value. And also about the different impedances. At an impedance of 50 ohms, the dBmV value is equal to 46.99 (derived from the RMS value) plus decibel milliwatts( dBm). At an impedance of 75 ohms, the dBmV value becomes 48.75 plus dBm.

From decibel millivolts (dBmV) you can directly infer decibel microvolts( dBµV). Thus, 0 dBmV corresponds to 60 dBµV.