Programmable Attenuator Assemblies Section - JFW Industries

Programmable Attenuator 

Assemblies 

Section 1

Programmable Attenuator Assemblies 

Model Number Index 

Please add connector type to the end of part number to complete model number (Example: 50PA-179 SMA). 

Single Programmable Attenuator Systems 

Model Number Impedance Attenuation Frequency Range Control Page 

50PA-179 50 Ohm 0-85 x 1 DC-3000 MHz GPIB 1-8 


50PA-270 50 Ohm 0-127 x 1 800-2400 MHz GPIB 1-8 


50PA-297 50 Ohm 0-63 x 1 200-6000 MHz Ethernet/RS-232 1-4 


75PA-024 75 Ohm 0-95.5 x 0.5 50-860 MHz GPIB 1-8 


Multiple Programmable Attenuator Systems 

Model Number Impedance Quantity / Attenuation Frequency Range Control Page 

50PA-300 50 Ohm Eight of 0-127 x 1 500-2500 MHz Ethernet/RS-232 1-5 

50PA-330 50 Ohm Four of 0-63 x 1 200-6000 MHz Ethernet/RS-232 1-6 



Custom Capabilities with no NREs 

This section of the catalog showcases some standard attenuator assemblies. However, most of JFW’s test system 

business involves custom designed models. JFW does not charge NRE’s for custom models. We encourage you to 

email us your requirement (sales@jfwindustries.com). We will respond with a ROM (rough order of magnitude) quote 

in 1-2 days. Please include a block diagram with your request if the test system involves multiple RF components. 

Available Options 

- GPIB, RS-232, TTL, or Ethernet control - Electro-mechanical programmable attenuators 

- Frequency ranges from DC-18 GHz - Solid-state programmable attenuators 

- Keypad for manual control - Attenuation resolution from 0.1dB to 10dB 

- 19”, 23”, 24” rack enclosures - Various RF connector options (BNC, TNC, SMA, N, etc.) 

- Benchtop enclosures - 50 Ohm and 75 Ohm impedance 

- Dual redundant power supplies - GUI Test Software Provided 

1-2

Benchtop Programmable Attenuator Assemblies 

Model Configuration Frequency Range Attenuation Range/ 

Steps 

50PA-350 Four solid-state programmable attenuators 800-2400 MHz 

50PA-409 Four solid-state programmable attenuators 200-6000 MHz 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 

0-63 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 dB 

Attenuation Accuracy 

+/- 0.4 or 2% 

+/- 1.0 dB or 4% 

Model 

Insertion Loss 

(maximum) 

50PA-350 5.0 dB +20 dBm 50 Ohms 

50PA-409 7.0 dB +20 dBm 50 Ohms 

RF Input Power Impedance Switching Speed 

(typical) 

5 microseconds (after command is processed) 

(3 milliseconds typical processing time) 

1 microsecond (after command is processed) 


Operating 

Temperature 

0ºC to +50ºC 1.5:1 

0ºC to +50ºC 2.3:1 

VSWR 

(maximum) 

Model AC Supply Control RF Connector 

50PA-350 100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz Ethernet(10/100)/RS-232/Manual BNC, TNC, N or SMA female 

50PA-409 100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz Ethernet(10/100)/RS-232/Manual SMA or N female 

Remote Commands 

Set Attenuator, Read Attenuator, Fade Attenuator, Variable Handover, Change Baud Rate, Identification 

1-3

Single Programmable Attenuator Assemblies 

Model Frequency Range Attenuation Range/ 

Steps 

50PA-297 

200-6000 MHz 

0-63 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 dB 

Attenuation Accuracy Insertion Loss RF Input Power 

(average) 

+/- 1.0 dB or 4% 7.0 dB nominal +20 dBm 

50PA-308 

500-2500 MHz 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 

+/- 0.5 dB or 2% 

5.5 dB maximum 

2.0 dB typical @ 500 MHz 


+20 dBm 

75PA-031 

5-1000 MHz 

0-63 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 dB 

+/- 0.5 dB or 2% 



+13 dBm 

Model 

Impedance 

(nominal) 

Switching Speed 

(typical) 

VSWR 

(maximum) 

RF Connectors 

50PA-297 

50 Ohms 



2.3:1 SMA female 

50PA-308 

50 Ohms 



1.6:1 SMA, BNC, TNC or N female 

75PA-031 

75 Ohms 



1.6:1 F, BNC or N Female 

Common Specifications 

Configuration Control AC Supply Operating Temperature 

Single Solid-state programmable attenuator Ethernet(10/100)/RS-232/Manual 100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 0ºC to +50ºC 


Set Attenuator, Read Attenuator, Fade Attenuator, Change Baud Rate, Identification 

1-4

Programmable Attenuator Assembly 

Model Configuration Frequency Range VSWR 

(maximum) 


50PA-300 Eight solid-state programmable attenuators 500-2500 MHz 1.6:1 ± 0.5 dB or 2% 

Insertion Loss Attenuation Range/Steps Switching Speed 

(typical) 

6 dB maximum 

2 dB typical @ 500 MHz 

5 dB typical @ 2500 MHz 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 



AC Supply 

Input Power 

(average) 

Impedance 

Operating 

Temperature 

Control 

RF Connectors 

100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz +20 dBm 50 Ohms 0ºC to +50ºC Ethernet(10/100)/RS-232/Manual SMA female 



1-5

Programmable Attenuator Assembly 

Model Configuration Frequency Range VSWR 

(maximum) 


50PA-330 Four Solid-state programmable attenuators 200-6000 MHz 2.3:1 +/- 1.0 dB or 4% 

Insertion Loss Attenuation Range/Steps Switching Speed 

(typical) 

AC Supply 

7.0 dB typical 

0-63 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 dB 



100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 

Input Power 

(average) 

Impedance 

Operating 

Temperature 

Control 

RF Connectors 

+20 dBm 50 Ohms 0ºC to +50ºC Ethernet(10/100)/RS-232/Manual SMA female 



1-6

Benchtop Programmable Attenuator Assembly 


Steps 

50PA-285 

DC-1000 MHz 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 


Individual Attenuation Pads 

1, 2, 4, 8 dB +/- 0.2 dB 

16, 32, 64 dB +/- 0.4 dB 

Combination Values 

0-31 dB +/- 0.5 dB 

32-127 dB +/- 1.0 dB 


(nominal) 

RF Input Power 

(average) 

Control 

3.5 dB 1 Watt GPIB/Manual 

Impedance Switching Speed Operating 

Temperature 

50 Ohms 

6 milliseconds (after command is processed) 


VSWR 

(maximum) 

AC Supply 

0ºC to +50ºC 1.5:1 100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 

RF Connectors 

BNC, TNC, N or 

SMA female 


Set Attenuator, Read Attenuator, Identification, Event Status Register, Reset 

1-7

Single Programmable Attenuator Assemblies 


Steps 

50PA-179 

50PA-263 

DC-3000 MHz 

DC-1000 MHz 

0-85 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 20 and 40 dB 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 


+/- 0.3 dB or 0.5% DC-500 MHz 

+/- 0.4 dB or 1.0% 500-1000 MHz 

+/- 0.5 dB or 1.0% 1000-2000 MHz 

+/- 0.6 dB or 1.5% 2000-3000 MHz 

Individual Attenuation Values 

1, 2, 4, 8 dB +/- 0.2 dB 

16, 32, 64 dB +/- 0.4 dB 

Combination Values 

0-31 dB +/- 0.5 dB 

32-127 dB +/- 1 dB 

VSWR 

(maximum) 

1.6:1 

1.5:1 3.5 dB 


(nominal) 

2.75 dB DC-1000 MHz 

3.75 dB 1000-2000 MHz 

4.75 dB 2000-3000 MHz 

50PA-270 

800-2400 MHz 

0-127 dB x 1 dB 

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 dB 

+/- 0.3 dB or 2% 

1.5:1 

2.3 dB @ 800 MHz 

4.5 dB @ 2400 MHz 

75PA-024 

50-860 MHz 

0-95.5 dB x 0.5 dB 

0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 32 dB 

0.5, 1 and 2 dB +/- 0.2 dB 

4 and 8 dB +/- 0.3 dB 

16, 32 and 32 dB +/- 0.4 dB 

Accumulated Error +/- 0.5 dB or 1% 

1.5:1 

4 dB 

Model Impedance RF Input Power 

(average) 

50PA-179 50 Ohms 1 Watt 

50PA-263 50 Ohms 1 Watt 

50PA-270 50 Ohms +20 dBm 

75PA-024 75 Ohms +15 dBm 

Switching Speed 

(typical) 









AC Supply 

100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 

100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 

100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 

RF Connectors 


SMA female 


SMA female 


SMA female 

100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz F, BNC or N female 

Common Specifications 

Configuration Control AC Supply Operating Temperature 

Single Programmable Attenuator GPIB/Manual 100-240 VAC @ 47-63 Hz 0°C to +50°C 


Set Attenuator, Read Attenuator, Identification, Event Status Register, Reset 

See next page for outline drawing. 

1-8

Programmable Attenuator Assemblies 

Outline Drawing of model 50PA-179, 50PA-263, 50PA-270, 75PA-024 

1-9

Programmable Attenuator Assemblies Section - JFW Industries

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