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0 pointspalata2y ago0 comments

That's super interesting! Would you have resources to recommend to learn about that?

For instance: where do you get that "the free space path loss at 20kM is 126dB at 2.4GHz in perfect conditions, or 134dB at 5.8GHz"? And why does 1 Watt translate to +30dBm?

0 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

pseudosavant2y ago· 3 in thread

I don't know enough to offer any real sources, but I'll share that I've found ChatGPT very useful for learning stuff like this - really solidly documented and established science/engineering.

I asked* "When making a wireless transmission what is the signal loss at 20km for 2.4Ghz?" and it gave an excellent explanation of free space path loss, stepped through the calculations, and gave the correct answer.

I've had it explain various kinds of first-order filters, especially for electric guitar circuits too. And asking follow up questions works well with how my brain works.

*Link in case you are curious: https://chat.openai.com/share/d0fcf90e-9d2e-4078-9bb4-60717f...

palataOP2y ago

> but I'll share that I've found ChatGPT very useful for learning stuff like this

I get your point, but no way I use ChatGPT. Other than all the ideological issues I have with it, I just can't trust it.

> and gave the correct answer.

Are you saying that because you believe it did, or because you already knew the answer? I don't trust ChatGPT, so I don't want to learn anything it says. And I don't need it for stuff I already know.

TheHappyOddish2y ago

It's not that different to Wikipdia. Trust, but verify. It's usually correct, but regardless it's a useful starting point for a topic.

1 more reply

pseudosavant2y ago

Because there are other ways (simple Google search, asking an EE friend, etc) of validating the answer. Often I'm looking to learn a concept so it isn't like I'm using it to solve a bunch of things. Just validate my learning. It is easily as good as having one of my EE friends explain the concept to me.

magnat2y ago· 1 in thread

https://www.antenna-theory.com/ is a good starter for apprentice-level RF voodoo.

30 dBm = 30 decibels wrt to 1 milliwatt. 10 decibels = 1 bel = 10-fold increase of the base quantity, so 30 decibels = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000x increase, so 30 dBm = 1000x 1 mW = 1 W.

palataOP2y ago

Oh nice, thanks!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

pseudosavant2y ago· 3 in thread

I don't know enough to offer any real sources, but I'll share that I've found ChatGPT very useful for learning stuff like this - really solidly documented and established science/engineering.

I've had it explain various kinds of first-order filters, especially for electric guitar circuits too. And asking follow up questions works well with how my brain works.

*Link in case you are curious: https://chat.openai.com/share/d0fcf90e-9d2e-4078-9bb4-60717f...

palataOP2y ago

> but I'll share that I've found ChatGPT very useful for learning stuff like this

I get your point, but no way I use ChatGPT. Other than all the ideological issues I have with it, I just can't trust it.

> and gave the correct answer.

Are you saying that because you believe it did, or because you already knew the answer? I don't trust ChatGPT, so I don't want to learn anything it says. And I don't need it for stuff I already know.

TheHappyOddish2y ago

It's not that different to Wikipdia. Trust, but verify. It's usually correct, but regardless it's a useful starting point for a topic.

1 more reply

pseudosavant2y ago

magnat2y ago· 1 in thread

https://www.antenna-theory.com/ is a good starter for apprentice-level RF voodoo.

30 dBm = 30 decibels wrt to 1 milliwatt. 10 decibels = 1 bel = 10-fold increase of the base quantity, so 30 decibels = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000x increase, so 30 dBm = 1000x 1 mW = 1 W.

palataOP2y ago

Oh nice, thanks!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse