looking at these, whilst cheap enough to buy i did want to ask are they an easy diy project?
the tuning and calibration is the issue for me?
Check out
www.chemandy.com particularly their page for calculators.
My favorite is the PI configuration attenuator at:
https://chemandy.com/calculators/matching-pi-attenuator-calculator.htmbut the tee configuration works as well. Just my particular fetish. If
the PI attenuator configuration yields obtuse values then I try the
tee configuration calculator.
You might also want to check Mini-Circuits website:
https://www.minicircuits.com/WebStore/Attenuators.htmlfor their surface mount and coaxial attenuators. For most works all
you will need is 1 dB, 2 dB, 3dB, 6 dB, 10 dB, 20, db attenuators to give
you a range of 1 dB to 39 dB. You simply cascade the attenuators to
the value you need. So if I wanted 25 dB attenuation then I would
cascade the 2 dB, 3 dB and 20 dB attenuators. I use the lowest
attenuation device first as if I apply to much power then there is a
better chance the lowest attention device will survive due to it dissi-
pating the least amount of power in dB in the cascade.
Surface mount resistors are sold in 10 piece quantities on this side of
the pond. I suspect you have vendors over on your side of the water
which provide similar pricing and quantities.
Please do not discount a used step attenuator but if you cannot test
it then you are at the mercy of the seller. Not a good place to be in
my opinion.
Regards
Chuck