What is the attenuation loss through the hot-leg of an unbalanced three-way splitter at sub-split frequencies?

In unbalanced three-way splitters, attenuation loss typically accounts for the energy loss encountered when signals are divided among multiple paths. The correct value for attenuation loss through the hot-leg of an unbalanced three-way splitter at sub-split frequencies is 3.5 dB.

This value arises from the inherent operational characteristics of the splitter. In practice, a three-way splitter divides the input signal into three output signals. For ideal conditions without considering additional losses like connector or cable quality, the theoretical loss would suggest that each port would experience a -3 dB loss simply from power division. However, since we are focusing on the hot leg, which conveys the main portion of the signal rather than sharing it evenly, there is an additional loss added due to factors such as internal resistance and signal reflections, resulting in a total of 3.5 dB.

The other choices represent common misconceptions about losses in such devices or might fit different configurations or operational conditions that do not apply here. Each of those values reflects potential other scenarios or considerations but does not accurately describe the loss in the described context of a standard unbalanced three-way splitter at sub-split frequencies.