PA1B 20 - 10 - 7 - 3 dB power attenuator measured

We measured the new built 6 watt PA1B  Power Attenuator, in the shack of Mischa PA1OKZ.
The attenuator is built with metal film resistors of 2 watts, 600 mW and 400 mW, from the E12-series.
I was curious how well the metal film would do HF.       Click for schematic

Conclusions
* The 20 - 10 - 7 - 3 dB  sections are very accurate
* The 20 and 10 dB  sections show an accuracy of 0.1 dB to 0.2 dB at 30 MHz
* When all sections are switched OFF, the attenautor has a attenuation of
    0.13 dB at 1 MHz  to 0.61 dB at 30 MHz.
    This "extra" attenuation is frequency dependent.

Relative attenuation
The purpose of an attenuator is to attenuate the signal with the value 
of the sections, that are switched "ON".
In this table the attenuation with all section switched OFF is 0 dB.
The table shows the "extra" attenuation of this section, when a section is switched "ON ".

Relative attenuation of the PA1B  20 - 10 - 7 - 3 dB power attenuator    

At 10 MHz all sections are very accurate.
The 10 dB and 20 dB sections are more frequency dependent.
The section of 3 dB is the most accurate section. The section of 7 dB has an accuracy of 0.1 dB.
The section of 10 dB and 20 dB show an accuracy of 0.15 dB at 30 MHz.

I am very content with these values, considered that the resistors are resistors of 5% from
the E12-series. The measured values of all resistors in this attenuator, show that the accuracy of the resistors is about 2 %.

Absolute attenuation
This "extra" attenuation is caused by the fact, that the circuit formed by switches is not 50 ohm.
The value of 0.13 to 0.61 dB is typical for the switches that are used and the distance between the switches.
We measured about the same values in another attenuator with two section of 20 dB and one of 10 dB, that is built in the same way.

Absolute attenuation of the PA1B  20 - 10 - 7 - 3 dB power attenuator     

Inside of the box of the attenuator with simplified schematic

Building a 6 watt power attenuator

I am building an attenuator with metal film resistor of 2 watts, 600 mW and 400 mW.

Sorting out the resistors
Click to enlarge

The store had no resistors of 1 watt, so I bought the power resistors
of 2 W and made a redesign of the attenuator.
All the resistors are metal film resistors.

The attenuator is designed to for a maximum power of  6 watts.

To the right you see the blue  box with the resistors that are needed.
The 3 dB and 7 dB sections both consist of 6 resistors each.
The 10 dB and 20 dB sections dissipate more power.
They consist of 7 resistors each.

     Outside of the box with the 20 dB section to the left.                         Inside of the box. 20 dB section to the right.                     Switches set to 17 dB                                                                             Switched mounted               

Next step soldering the resistors.