Why does the DB function not return the proper power ratio in Signal Processing Toolbox?

I expect DB to always be power ratio and not amplitude ratio. Hence, dB should equal 10*log10 (value) and not 20*log10(value) for amplitude to power conversion.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This bug has been fixed in Release 2007a (R2007a). For previous product releases, read below for any possible workarounds:

Generally for engineers of communications and electronics background, "dB" unit represents a ratio, for example, between input and output. On the other hand "dBm" unit represents a magnitude of power. However, in this case "dB" is used as a magnitude of power.

You can use the following syntax of the DB function as a workaround. If X is the value in question, use:

 db(X,'power')  

To get the 10*log10(X) instead of the 20*log10(X).