BL>   Is there a Telecom Tech in the house?





I used to was!



 BL>   The bit I don't understand is that 13dB to 9dB is only a small

 BL> change (60%). Why is it so touchy? Or are we *already* overdriving

 BL> their amplifiers?



The "dB" is not a linear scale, rather logrithmic. A 3dB increase
represents 

a doubling of the quantity being measured. A 6dB decrease represents a 75%

reduction (half of a half). Line levels are represented in dBm which is a

ratio of 1mW across 600ohms. The logrithmic ratio still applies. A -3dBm 

level represents .5mW into 600ohms or any ratio appropriate i.e 1mW into

300 ohms or .25mW into 1200 ohms.

 Most line amplifiers are input limited which means that once the input

reaches a pre-defined level, the out-put remains constant regardless of

further excursions of input.

Regards, Robert



... ... I like kids, but I couldn't eat a whole one.



--- PPoint 1.92