[NLRS] Attenuators rated to 26.5 ghz

[John P. Toscano]

Mike A. King - KM0T wrote:
> Hi all, does anyone know of a good source for attenuators rated to 26.5 ghz?
> 
> Midwest Microwave has them, about 80 bucks a pop.  Ebay also, Im sure the
> price will get up there are well as the bids end.
> 
> Pasternack too, but way to big bucks.
> 
> Just looking for options.
> 
> Looking for 2 watt, 6, 10, 15 db

Hi, Mike.  On what frequency do you need the attenuation?  We needed a 
cheap, effective, foolproof attenuator for our Burnsville repeater when 
we switched to a power amp that had lower drive requirements, and Kevin 
and Phil made one out of a paint can, a couple of N connectors, and a 
length of cheap Radio Shack RG-58.  Calculated the length of cable 
needed to get the required attenuation, cut to fit, attached the two N 
connectors, punched two holes in the paint can lid so the N's could peek 
out, and coiled up the RG-58 nice and neat and dropped it into the can.

A very low-buck solution.  It's highly unlikely we could EVER exceed its 
power rating, even if it was accidentally plugged into the OUTPUT of the 
PA instead of the INPUT, and even though FM is 100% duty cycle.  The 
only disadvantage would be that the amount of attenuation is highly 
frequency-dependent, so a 6 dB attenuator designed for 144 MHz would be 
something quite different at 432 MHz, etc.

If you need a coax length vs attenuation calculator, there is a link on 
the NLRS page to the Times Microwave calculators on the web (one runs 
right on their web server, and one can be downloaded and run independent 
of the internet on a Windows PC.)  Go to the very BOTTOM of the NLRS 
home page, look for the "Webmaster's links", and you should find it there.

73 de W0JT