WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Attenuator Values in Resistor Families

​
loss
3.
R
o
50.
Family
E3 50%
E6 20%
E12 10%
E24 5%
E48 2%
E96 1%
E192 .1%
form
attenuation
|S21| (dB)
return loss
|S11| (dB)
series
(Ω)
shunt
(Ω)
T-pad
-2.85912
-51.343
8.2
150.
π-pad
-2.99404
-38.5256
18.
300.
An attenuator is an electronic device that reduces the amplitude and power (proportional to the square of the amplitude) of a signal without appreciably distorting its waveform. This Demonstration shows an RF resistor attenuator calculation for resistor families E3 to E192.