RF attenuation question

Andrew Thall

I have a 6300.  Is there any way to attenuate signals?  I am an ARRL Official Observer.  Occasionally, there is a very strong signal that I'd like to attenuate so that I can examine it.  Thanks for any help/suggestions.
Andy, k2oo

Bill W2PKY

Connect a variable/fixed attenuation to the loop circuit

Tim - W4TME

The 6300 does not have an RX loop

Tim - W4TME

Andy - the 6300 does not have an RF attenuator.  

If you can't visually see the full magnitude of the signal, you can change the vertical scale.

Michael Coslo

I used a decade attenuator between the antenna and radio a few years back when doing vertical vs horizontal antenna work. 

Dewey WØYWW

I thought I remember seeing a SmartSDR antenna preamp gain setting of -10dB.  That might help some.

Tim - W4TME

Only on the 6500 and 6700

Andrew Thall

Thank you for your answer. If, down the road, a software solution is a possible, I would be happy to pay for it.

DH2ID

For attenuation purposes I use a HP 355D switchable attenuator from 0 to -120 dB.
I got it in very good condition from a German ham for 50€. Be careful to take it out
if you're transmitting with more than 1W.

Bill W2PKY

May want to connect this to the Transverter Port

W9OY

I don't understand why you need to attenuate.  You have like 130dB of dynamic range, just look at the screen.   I've never seen a signal that comes within 30dB of overload

73  W9OY 

Andrew Thall

As an ARRL Official Observer, I sometimes need to determine if a signal is out of band.  By attenuating a signal, I can more precisely determine if a signal is too wide and out of band/sub-band.

Bill -VA3WTB

On the Flex, this information is very clear on the panadaptor. with or without attenuating. And you can zoom in on the signal?

Tim - W4TME

Attenuation will not change the width of the signal, just the magnitude.  I would think that if you are looking to see if the signal is out of band, that zooming and changing the vertical scale would provide a more accurate determination of the operators RF emissions.