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Another new GNSS antenna gadget

JA
John Ackermann N8UR
Fri, Sep 8, 2023 6:06 PM

Sometimes you have too much signal at the input to your GNSS.  There's
a problem using an attenuator to fix that: most receivers put a DC
voltage for antenna power on the cable, and a typical attenuator that
has a DC path to ground gets kind of hot.

To address that, I made some boards that incorporate a bias tee on both
sides of an attenuator to allow DC to flow around and not through the
resistors.  It's cleverly called the IsoTennuator.  There are boards for
nominally 3 dB, 8 dB, and 15 dB attenuation.  While I was at it, I also
made the UnBias-Tee which blocks DC and has LEDs to indicate the
presence of voltage on either side of the blocking capacitor.

TAPR is offering a kit that includes three IsoTennuators (nominal 3 dB,
8 dB, and 15 dB), and an UnBias-Tee.  The boards are fully assembled
except that the provided SMA connectors need to be installed.  It's
available now:

https://tapr.org/product/the-isotennuator-and-unbias-tee-accessories-for-gus/

NOTE -- these are not precision devices!  They're intended for signal
level adjustment and shouldn't be used for calibrated measurements.

John

Sometimes you have *too* much signal at the input to your GNSS. There's a problem using an attenuator to fix that: most receivers put a DC voltage for antenna power on the cable, and a typical attenuator that has a DC path to ground gets kind of hot. To address that, I made some boards that incorporate a bias tee on both sides of an attenuator to allow DC to flow around and not through the resistors. It's cleverly called the IsoTennuator. There are boards for nominally 3 dB, 8 dB, and 15 dB attenuation. While I was at it, I also made the UnBias-Tee which blocks DC and has LEDs to indicate the presence of voltage on either side of the blocking capacitor. TAPR is offering a kit that includes three IsoTennuators (nominal 3 dB, 8 dB, and 15 dB), and an UnBias-Tee. The boards are fully assembled except that the provided SMA connectors need to be installed. It's available now: https://tapr.org/product/the-isotennuator-and-unbias-tee-accessories-for-gus/ NOTE -- these are not precision devices! They're intended for signal level adjustment and shouldn't be used for calibrated measurements. John