Absolute calibration of microwave attenuation measurement systems

The application of the Laverick 2:1 voltage step to the absolute calibration of microwave attenuation measurement systems is described. A practical example of a 10-GHz 6.0206-dB switched attenuator illustrates the contention that a very good attenuation measurement system can be checked within its own laboratory to an accuracy one or two orders of magnitude better than is usually possible in an intercomparison between laboratories.