What does a decibel loss imply in terms of signal strength?

Decibel loss is a critical concept in telecommunications and networking that quantifies the reduction in signal strength as it travels through a medium, such as a cable or fiber optic line. When referring to decibel loss, an increase in the decibel value denotes a weakness in the signal. Specifically, when you encounter a measurement in negative decibels, it indicates the amount by which the signal has diminished.

In this context, if the answer indicates that a decibel loss implies the signal is weaker, it directly correlates with the fundamental principle that signals degrade over distance due to factors like attenuation, interference, and other losses. The higher the decibel value associated with the loss, the weaker the remaining signal is. This is essential for understanding how well a signal will perform at the receiving end, impacting the quality of data transmission.

Given this understanding of decibel loss being indicative of a reduction in signal strength, it becomes clear why the correct answer highlights the signal's weakened state rather than suggesting it is stronger or unaffected.