Replace Carbon Layer with Passive Resistors Components in Attenuator

[Mechatrommer]

i bought 3dB attenuator as in the attached picture. the problem is, i should get 6dB instead of 3dB i only realized it when getting and measuring the item, its 150ohm to ground i expected to be 50ohm my head still not work too well with dB. now maybe the sloppiness was due to disrespect from previous experience that the internal of my 50ohm terminators are using passive 50ohm TH resistors, so i guess this is the same and i can easily mod this attenuator to suit my need. but i was wrong. upon dismantling it, there is a special carbon layer poured on it, not something i can desolder, take out and keep, removing it means sctratching it to ashes. by looking at the geometry (bottom section of the attached file) and measuring end to end center connector (~17ohm), its probably a T attenuator (3 resistors simplified) and the value as in 3dB table of...


or

from http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_1/7.html

so my question is regarding the carbon layer...
1) the device is speced to 3GHz BW. is the carbon layer has something to do with this? can i still get the BW by replacing with smd or TH components?
2) whats so special about it compared to passive (lumped) components?
3) the device is speced as 2W device. but no question here not sure what to ask. i think i can calculate to meet the 2W by using passive components or just by try and error.

thank you.

[PA0PBZ]

so my question is regarding the carbon layer...
1) the device is speced to 3GHz BW. is the carbon layer has something to do with this? can i still get the BW by replacing with smd or TH components?
2) whats so special about it compared to passive (lumped) components?
3) the device is speced as 2W device. but no question here not sure what to ask. i think i can calculate to meet the 2W by using passive components or just by try and error.

High BW means short leads, low L and low C. The carbon layer takes care of that and also takes care of power dissipation. Of course you can replace it with smd or th components, but the result will probably be lower BW and lower power handling. How much lower is hard to say.
Your best bet would be to get another one, either 3dB or 6dB.

[Mechatrommer]

right. i should know it all along. nvm i'll exchange higher BW with modificability. i wont be able to design anything near 500MHz, let alone 3GHz. thank you for your thought PA0PBZ. O0