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pa0nhc fixed 63dB 50 Ohm attenuator 20180829 / 20181210 / 20200820

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thereby explicitly stating my radio amateur call sign "PA0NHC" as the original writer / designer / photographer / publisher.

Nominal in- and output impedances : 50 +/- 0.2 Ohm.
Nominal attenuation : 63 +/- 0.2 dB.
Max input : 0.25W / 3.5 Vrms.

        Intended use :
Calibrating receiver S-meters to S9+10 dB, by using a 0dBm signal generator as signal source.
With an extra step attenuator the full range of the S-meter can be calibrated.


0dBm generator + fixed 63dB attenuator. Output S9 +- 0.2dB.
Total dimensions 9x3.5 x 2.4 cm3
Rem ; the "73"on the PCB parts text is wrong. Sorry. It should be "63".

The PCB set is available.

IARU "S"

SW
dBm

VHF
dBm

Japanese "S"

9

-73

-93

9

8

-79

-99

7

7

-85

-105

5

6

-91

-111

3

5

-97

-117

1

4

-103

-123

(0)

3

-109

 

(0)

2

-115

 

(0)

1

-121

 

(0)

        According to IARU :
Short Wave : S9 = 50 uV (-73dBm), 1 s-point = 6 dB (2x received voltage difference).

VHF : S9 = 5uV (-93dBm).

         Japanese equipment :
often have S-meters which are indicating differently :
1 s-point = 3dB (2x transmitted power difference).

The total package consists of seven little double sided PCBs.
The main PCB contains the attenuator circuit. 
The other six PCBs are for the construction of a cheap, but neat enclosure. Already painted.

The attenuator circuit consist or 5 stages.  All stages are of the "PI" type, and are connected in series. Fairly accurate results are achieved, by using standard value resistors, connected in parallel. Easy soldering is ensured by using axial wired, 2.5x6.5mm 0.25W metal film resistors, and RM8.6 / 1mm PCB holes.

A full PCB "ground" plane ensures a low inductance ground path, and small parasitic capacitances between each resistor and "ground". This compensates a little for the self inductance of the used resistors, with the goal to achieve a wider frequency range.

        Construction.
The PCBs have solder masks which also serve as outside lacquering. 
On places where the PCB parts should be soldered together, tinned strips are visible.
Correct positions are marked with lines.
See to it, that PCBs have 90 degr. angles in respect to each other.

When soldering panels together, at first just tack-solder each panel in place, so you can correct its position. 
In other words: start using two small solder point at one panel side with little solder. 

Only when all parts fit correctly, you can solder all seems fully. 

        See the photos.
Start with soldering all resistors.
Tack solder the circuit PCB onto one long side.
Tack solder both small end panels
Tack solder the other long side panel.
Check that the lids will fit nicely.

Fill the seems with tin solder and flow nicely.

Install the BNCs, and solder its rim at one point to the outside to the board. This locks the BNC in place and makes tightening the nut easy.
Solder the pins.

You  can first check the attenuation with DC input.
Connect 3.0 Vdc via a series resistor of 50 Ohms to the attenuator input
Connect a load resistor of 50 Ohms to the attenuator output.
The output should be  2.12 mVdc.

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