Comparing two courthouse APs, design notes say one is "3 dB hotter" than the other. What does that relative language mean?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Three dB between two levels is the classic 'about twice the power' handshake in RF talk. It compares one absolute reading to another; it is not three extra bars or three extra channels. Relative dB is the gap, not a new absolute unit.
Full Explanation
A decibel (dB) difference is a relative comparison between two power levels. A 3 dB increase corresponds to approximately a doubling of power in milliwatts, which is why technicians say one AP is "3 dB hotter." That statement does not redefine the UI percentage scale, channel plan, or invent a threefold milliwatt multiplier. Absolute levels may still be expressed in dBm; the "3 dB" phrase only describes the difference between them.