Remote Controlled Stepped Attenuator

[Miniwatt]

What are your opinions on this thing:

http://www.welbornelabs.com/remote.htm

It seems very tempting to me, but I'll better ask the experts here first

Thanks!

 

[jackinnj]

note one thing -- it isn't surface mount -- so one wonders how close to "state of the art" it really is -- if you look at the schematic most of the functions could be done with one PIC RF microcontroller and 8 relays with "through hole" resistors for 8 bits of attenuation. the device pictured only uses 6 bits (2^6=64).

The LED's really provide little information for the user, but have the advantage that they are cheap.

but if you aren't into programming MCU's it is a nice drop in replacement.

 

[Miniwatt]

note one thing -- it isn't surface mount -- so one wonders how close to "state of the art" it really is

I'm sorry, I don't understand that. What difference would surface mount make -what is surface mount here, the resistors?

but if you aren't into programming MCU's it is a nice drop in replacement.

Ancient tube technology is what I'm trying to master so far, anything beyond that

Anyone out there who has actually used this piece?

 

[Miniwatt]

And then I stumbled across this one: http://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?products_id=532

A bit more expensive though....

 

[Peter Daniel]

Buy a used Placette on Audiogon, it's better than any of the ones you listed here.