In radio transmission, transmitter power output (TPO) is the actual amount of power (in watts) of radio frequency (RF) energy that a transmitter produces at its output.^[1]

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This is not the amount of power that a radio station reports as its power, as in "we're 100,000 watts of rock 'n' roll", which is usually the effective radiated power (ERP).^{[clarification needed]} The ERP for VHF/UHF transmitters is normally more than the TPO, for LF/MF transmitters it has nearly the same value, while for VLF transmitters it may be less.

The radio antenna's design "focuses" the signal toward the horizon, creating gain and increasing the ERP. There is also some loss (negative gain) from the feedline, which reduces some of the TPO to the antenna by both resistance and by radiating a small part of the signal.

The basic equation relating transmitter to effective power is:

${\displaystyle TPO\ \times \ loss_{feedline}\ \times \ gain_{antenna}\ =\ ERP}$

Note that in this formula the Antenna Gain is expressed with reference to a tuned dipole (dBd)