What is an attenuator used for?

Bird's RF Attenuators are components that reduce the amplitude level for an incoming signal and are used to protect systems from receiving a signal with a power level that is too high to process. Convection RF Attenuators feature a self-cooling design, frequencies up to 18 GHz, and are fully shielded. Attenuators are a valuable accessory for reducing power levels, isolating components under test, analyzing harmonic signals, and serving as comparison standards.

Use the following criteria when selecting an attenuator:

• Attenuation value - how much power is removed from the signal
• Power rating - we recommend picking one with a higher power handling capability than needed
• Convection product type - connectors in-line or on the same side of the heat sink
• Connector gender and type - male or female, SMA, BNC, N, TNC, IEC 7/16