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G8MNY  > TECH     29.03.24 11:01l 49 Lines 2439 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 4298_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: Variable RF Attenuator
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<GB7CIP
Sent: 240329/0802Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:4298 [Caterham Surrey GBR] $:4298_GB
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       2500R         0R0
50 ohm o)ÄÄÂÄÄÄLog<ÄÄÄÂÄÄ(o 50 ohm     35dB       1406R         0R4
  Output³  ³   Var    ³  ³ Input       30dB        790R         1R05
        ³ 51R        51R ³             25dB        443R         2R5
        ³  ÀÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÙ  ³             20dB        248R         5R0
        ³       3K       ³             15dB        136R        10R65
        ³  Antilog<Ä¿    ³             10dB         70R7       22R5
        ³      Var  ³    ³              7dB         44R8       40R0
        ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÙ              6dB         37R7      151R0
                                        5dB         30R4       64R0
                                        3dB         17R6      120R5
                                        2dB         11R6      215R 
                                      0.1dB          0R5     3000R
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 51Rs.

o)ÄÄÂÄÄ2K5ÄÂÄÄ(o     o)ÄÄÂÄ44R4ÄÂÄÄ(o o)ÄÄÂÄ44R4ÄÂÄÄ(o     o)ÄÄÂÄÄ0R5ÄÄÂÄÄ(o
 ³  ³      ³  ³       ³  ³      ³  ³   ³  ³      ³  ³       ³  ³ 0.1dB ³  ³
 ³ 51R    51R ³       ³ 131R   131R³ = ³ 51R    51R ³       ³ 51R     51R 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 80R    80R 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 50 ohm 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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