Product Overview
Amplifier Research DC3001M1 Directional Coupler, 100 kHz to 1000 MHz, 40 dB Coupling at 50 Watts
Condition
Used and in good cosmetic condition. The gold-finish machined aluminum housing shows light scratches and handling marks across the top and side panels. The printed model label is scuffed with flaking at the edges but stays fully readable: Model DC3001M1, 100kHz-1000MHz, 40 dB, 50 Watts. The engraved side panel reads FREQ. RANGE .1-1000MHZ, COUPLING 40DB, POWER 50 WATTS. The bottom carries the orange Amplifier Research label reading SERIAL NO. 304954 alongside a MADE IN USA label, with all four gray plastic corner feet in place. The mainline ports are engraved J1 INPUT and J2 OUTPUT. All four N-type female connectors are present. The two coupled ports and the J2 OUTPUT port show clean threads with center contacts visible; the J1 INPUT connector carries dark crusty deposits on its barrel and flange and its bore is not clearly visible in any photo, so its threads and center contact are unconfirmed. Brown to amber discoloration rings the base of both mainline connector flanges, at J1 INPUT and at J2 OUTPUT, heavier at the J1 end. Functionality is untested. No cables, adapters, terminations, or calibration data are included.
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Product Overview
The DC3001M1 is a broadband RF directional coupler from Amplifier Research, built to tap a small, calibrated sample off a transmission line so you can watch forward and reflected power without interrupting the main path. It covers 100 kHz to 1,000 MHz in one continuous span, handles 50 watts CW through the mainline, and taps at a nominal 40 dB with a stated tolerance of plus or minus 0.8 dB and coupling flatness within plus or minus 0.6 dB. Directivity is 25 dB typical and 20 dB minimum, insertion loss is 0.6 dB maximum, and the system impedance is 50 ohms with a maximum VSWR of 1.3:1. Everything lands on N-type female connectors, with the mainline ports engraved J1 INPUT and J2 OUTPUT on the machined housing and the spec block etched directly into the side panel so the ratings travel with the part. Amplifier Research recommended this model for use with their low-power W Series amplifiers. This is the single unit pictured, serial number 304954, sold as-is and untested.
Key Features
- Frequency range: 100 kHz to 1,000 MHz continuous
- Coupling: 40 dB nominal, plus or minus 0.8 dB
- Coupling flatness: within plus or minus 0.6 dB
- Directivity: 25 dB typical, 20 dB minimum
- Insertion loss: 0.6 dB maximum
- Power handling: 50 watts CW
- Impedance: 50 ohms, VSWR 1.3:1 maximum
- Connectors: N-type female on mainline and coupled ports
- Mainline ports engraved J1 INPUT and J2 OUTPUT
- Machined aluminum housing with corner feet, serial number 304954, Made in USA
Applications
- An EMC lab technician sampling forward and reflected power ahead of a broadband amplifier during a radiated immunity run
- An RF engineer feeding a 40 dB tap into a power meter or spectrum analyzer to keep a 50 watt test setup inside its limits
- A ham operator or bench builder watching reflected power on an antenna or dummy load across HF through UHF
- A repair shop restoring an Amplifier Research W Series amplifier rack that is missing its original coupler
Frequently Asked Questions
Has this coupler been tested or swept?
No. It has been inspected visually only and is sold untested. The specifications listed here come from the manufacturer markings on the unit and the original listing data, not from measurements we made. Sweep it on a network analyzer before you trust the 40 dB number in a calibrated setup.
Which port is which?
The housing is engraved J1 INPUT and J2 OUTPUT on the mainline, and the remaining N-type female ports are the coupled taps. Directional couplers are direction-sensitive, so confirm port assignment against the DC3001M1 datasheet before wiring it into a live path.
Are calibration data or accessories included?
No. You get the coupler shown in the photos and nothing else. No calibration certificate, no cables, no adapters, no 50 ohm terminations. Remember that unused coupled ports normally need to be terminated for the coupler to behave correctly.
Can I run more than 50 watts through it?
Not confirmed by us. The unit is marked 50 WATTS on the engraved panel and the label, and that is the rating we will stand behind. Verify against the datasheet before pushing more power through the mainline.
Why buy a single unit here instead of a lot on eBay or Amazon?
Because you probably need one coupler, not a pallet of surplus RF hardware. PartsMine sells the exact quantity you need, whether that is one instrument or two small parts, instead of forcing a lot of 10 or 50. Shipping is $8 flat rate and free over $28, so buying just what your bench needs usually costs less all-in than a forced-quantity lot. Orders leave our Idaho warehouse same or next business day.
Serial 304954 still wears its orange Made in USA label, and the 40 dB tap behind it was built so an engineer could watch forward and reflected power without ever interrupting the mainline. Wire it back between an amplifier and a load, and it picks up right where it left off.
