Use this electronics calculation for a first-pass component, converter, signal, motor, or sensor estimate when the stated operating conditions and units match the device data.

Tone input level (dBm)

Level of each fundamental test tone.

IM3 product level (dBm)

Measured third-order intermodulation product level.

Extrapolate the third-order intercept point of a mixer from one tone level and its measured third-order intermodulation product. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.^[1]

IP3 (dBm)

Extrapolated input-referred third-order intercept point.

• RF gain, noise, compression, intercept, mismatch, sensitivity, and link calculations require consistent impedance, bandwidth, frequency, reference plane, temperature, modulation, and cascade ordering. Datasheet values at different conditions cannot be combined without correction.
• Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.

Check the result against the current datasheet and worst-case operating corners, then verify the circuit or measurement with simulation and bench testing where failure matters.

• IP3 From Two Tones

  Compute the output third-order intercept point as IP3(dBm) = P(dBm) + (P(dBm) - IM3(dBm)) / 2 from a single tone level and its IM3 product.

• Mixer P1dB Rule

  Estimate the 1 dB compression point of a mixer from its IP3 using the documented mixer-specific rule that P1dB sits 10.5 dB below the third-order intercept.

• Mixer IP3

  Input third-order intercept extrapolated from two-tone fundamental and intermodulation output levels.