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G8MNY  > TECH     29.08.22 09:07l 49 Lines 2449 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 28355_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: Variable RF Attenuator
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<F1OYP<DK0WUE<GB7CIP
Sent: 220829/0704Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:28355 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To  : TECH@WW

By G8MNY                                     (Updated Mar 10)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)

While working on an old pulse generator that goes up to 50MHz, I was interested
to know how the variable attenuator works. It used a ganged log-antilog pot to
make quite usable approximation to this table.

                                   Attenuation   Log Var     Anti Var
              2k5                     40dB       2500.0ê        0.0ê
  50ê o)ÄÄÂÄÄÄLog<ÄÄÄÂÄÄ(o 50ê        35dB       1406.0ê        0.4ê
 Output³  ³   Var    ³  ³ Input       30dB        790.0ê        1.05ê
       ³ 51ê        51ê ³             25dB        443.0ê        2.5ê
       ³  ÀÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÙ  ³             20dB        248.0ê        5.0ê
       ³       3k       ³             15dB        136.0ê       10.65ê
       ³  Antilog<Ä¿    ³             10dB         70.7ê       22.5ê
       ³      Var  ³    ³              7dB         44.8ê       40.0ê
       ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÙ              6dB         37.7ê      151.0ê
                                       5dB         30.4ê       64.0ê
                                       3dB         17.6ê      120.5ê
                                       2dB         11.6ê      215.0ê 
                                     0.1dB          0.5ê     3000.0ê
HOW IT WORKS
At maximum loss the 2k5 in series with the signal & the 3k is shorted out, the
input & output Z is mainly due to the two 51ê.

o)ÄÄÂÄÄ2k5ÄÂÄÄ(o     o)ÄÄÂÄ44.4ÄÂÄÄ(o o)ÄÄÂÄ44.4ÄÂÄÄ(o     o)ÄÄÂÄÄ0.5êÄÂÄÄ(o
 ³  ³      ³  ³       ³  ³      ³  ³   ³  ³      ³  ³       ³  ³ 0.1dB ³  ³
 ³ 51ê    51ê ³       ³ 131ê   131ê³ = ³ 51ê    51ê ³       ³ 51ê     51ê ³
 ³  ³ 40dB ³  ³       ³  ³  7dB ³  ³   ³  ³  7dB ³  ³       ³  ÀÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÙ  ³
 ³  ³      ³  ³       ³  ³      ³  ³   ³ 80ê    80ê ³       ³     3k      ³
 ÀÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÙ       ÀÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÙ   ÀÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÙ       ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
                                           approx

At minimum loss the 2k5 is a short & the antilog to earth is nearly open
circuit @ 3k. The cleaver bit is mechanically arranging that log & antilog
tracks produce the correct resistance to maintain the 50ê match at all other
settings. Note 7dB is half way around the pot with about equal tracks!

To work well to 50MHz all the leads are quite short & the Rs are not wire wound
types!


Why Don't U send an interesting bul?

73 de John G8MNY @ GB7CIP


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