... I could always just bypass the faulty attenuator internally, replace the top and bottom cases and just use any high-quality adjustable RF attenuator in series with a 10dB fixed attenuator permanently attached to the RF input at the front panel. So it wouldn't be the end of the world I guess. <shrug>
Jinxie, that is not a good idea. The input attenuator setting is coordinated with various gain stages in the IF to give an accurate amplitude reading regardless of attenuator setting. This is the reason you were so easily able to test the hypothesis that the attenuator may be bad. If you use an external attenuator, it will have no way of communicating with the processor. Each time you change the reference level, you will have to manually enter the expected attenuation.
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On very rare occasions, the attenuator may limber up with repeated exercise if there isn't a problem with either the o-rings or the "Y-contacts". Depending on the age of the attenuator, it either has these mechanical Y-contacts, or a circuit board with solid state logic inside. You will have to open the attenuator to see which it is. Replacing o-rings requires some manual dexterity, but it's not like watch repair. Somebody just posted a link to a pdf file with instructions on this forum.
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If a section is burned out, you can possibly make one good attenuator out of two bad ones. What do you know about the history of this 8566?
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Vladan
