[sdiy] Question for the sages...

[KA4HJH]

><< I'm with Jim Patchell and the precision diode method.  Hey... you don't
> suppose that Doepfer will come out with this as a module soon ??? >>
>
>I'm not familiar with that one, though I'm guessing it's something along the
>lines of a diode starting to conduct at a very specific breakdown voltage,
>creating a path of lower resistance for the signal.. Is that what it is?

You add some DC to the signal to bias the diode on. Kill the DC and it
switches off.

We used to have to replace the (expensive) diodes in the 500MHz sweep
generators at work periodically as they would burn out. Our boss was always
telling everyone to turn down the signal another 10dB to save the diodes.


I assume this is what Jim was talking about, BTW. Seems to me that with
synth signals the voltage is a little too high. On the other hand you don't
need diodes that are quite so fast as 500MHZ...


-- 
Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"