This page is used to design different kind of attenuator networks:

Ladder, typical used for volume controls, requires only two resistor values and can be made with any kind and attenuation
Serial input, used to design input networks for meters, the input voltage will vary, but the output voltage will always be in a specific range.
Serial output, used to design output attenuators network, input to network is constant, but output can be selected

Sections	How many different attuentations level is required, with "decade" type circuits keeps this value below 7
Zin	Input impedans of the attenuator network, output impednace is assumed to be very high (i.e. a voltage follower/amplifier)
Step size	What steps to use, dependig on the attenuator type it may be in either dB or times
Vref	Reference level, on input circuits this is the full range level without the attenuator, on output this is the output level without attenuator
Uin	A test value, the right attuentator setting is automatic chosen (for input) and the output level calculate
Show sections	When checkmarked information will be shown for each section

R	The resistors required for the attenuator
Last section Uout	Output level for last section with specified input level (Uin).
S/N at lowest level	Output voltage compared to resistor noise for last output, calculated over audio frequence range (20KHz)

First xxx selector	The first range on the xxx selector
Last xxx selector	The last range on the xxx selector
Zin	Actuel Zin with the selected resistors
Max. error	The highest error, all ranges are checked for error and the worst is shown
Min. Uout	Output level at lowest range
Selector position	Selector range used to calculate the following values
Uout at position	Output voltage at this selector position
Error at position	Actuel error at this selector position
Readout would be	What a meter readout would be (adjustet to selected range), including attenuator errors
Section	Specific value for this position on the selector, only shown if "Show sections" is checked
xxx selector	Setting on selector for this section
Uout	Output voltage with Uin connected
Verror	Error in value for this section
Zout	Actuel output impedance for this section
Vstep	Actuel change from previous section

As long as the same Zin is used, ladder sections with different attenuations can be combined
The Rbt resistor is VERY important for the ladder network, its exact value is (per definition) "Zin-Ra" or "Zin parallel with Rb", this is the same value.
Use the functions "toDb(times_value)" or "fromDb(db_value)" to convert "step size", just write it directly in the input field
The ladder is very easy to use as volume control, just solder the resistors to a rotary switch

MiscEl: Attenuator network