What is the loss on each leg for a 3-way splitter?

A 3-way splitter divides a signal into three output legs. In an ideal scenario, the total input power is evenly distributed among the output paths, which theoretically results in a loss of 3 dB per leg since 10 log10(1/3) is approximately -4.77 dB. However, real-world components like splitters do have additional loss due to inefficiencies.

In practice, a typical 3-way splitter exhibits a loss on each leg of around 4.5 dB to 7 dB, accounting for both the attenuation and splitting losses. The correct scenario states one leg has a loss of 3.5 dB and the other two legs experience a higher loss of 7 dB each. This variation occurs because the signal is not perfectly split and can be influenced by the design of the splitter and internal resistance.

Understanding this helps illustrate that while the ideal distribution would lead to uniform loss, practical splitters introduce different levels of loss on each output due to various factors including the splitter's design and input/output imbalance effects. Thus, identifying one leg with 3.5 dB loss and two legs with 7 dB loss matches the expected characteristics of a 3-way splitter in real-world applications