If there is a multi radio setup on the same site. The receiving station can be damaged by the strong electromagnetic fields of the transmitting antenna nearby. Therefore has the receiver to be protected against these string signals by filtering it. A stub filter can be the solution.
A stub filter is the most simple filter you can imagine. It consists of, at least one, piece of coax cable of certain length. The length of the cable is related to the resonance frequency ant thereby also the frequency of the notch. The best way to explain the working is by an example;
The speed of light/electrons is 300.000.000 meter per second. The desired resonance frequency is 3,5MHz. According to the calculation results that in approximately 85,71 meters wavelength. The notch is at a quarter of the full wave, therefore the wavelength should be divided by four. That results in 21,43 meters. In theory, this should be the length of the stub. But since electrons travel slower trough coax than through free space, the speed (and length) has to be corrected. The "velocity factor" is normally known for each type of coax. In this example is RG-58 used with PE dielectric and has a velocity factor of 66% compared to free space. Therefore has the length of the stub (of 21,43 meters) to be reduced by 66% which results in a real length of 14,14 meters. This piece of coax of 14,14 meters acts as a short circuit at 3,5MHz. If this frequency is multiplied by a odd number (3, 5, 7, and so on) the short circuit repeats at that frequency. Although each repeating notch is a little bit less "deep" due to losses in the cable. If this frequency is multiplied by an even number (2, 4, 6, and so on) the signal is damped for the minimum amount as possible.
A graphical view of this example is shown below.
The results can be also inverted. If the end of the stub is short circuited (the core connected to the shielding), the results are inverted.
As you can see in the example above, the ham bands are recognizable. 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter bands are visible. When two filters are made as described, one with an open end and one with a closed end, those can be very helpful. If two radio setups are very close, the receiving radio can be damaged by the large incoming signals of the nearby station. Even if the receiving station is at another frequency than the transmitting station. If station A is using the 3,5MHz open stub, it can be used on 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz since the signal is let trough. Spurious radiation on the 3,5, 10,5, 17,5 and 24,5MHz are suppressed in the stub filter. If station B is using the 3,5MHz closed stub, it can be used on 3,5, 10,5, 17,5 and 24,5MHz since the signal is let trough. Spurious radiation on the 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz are suppressed in the stub filter. The result is that both stations can operate simultaniously without interference of each other.
It is possible to use more stubs (of different lengths) in one filter. Keep in mind that the unwanted losses can be much more.
The adjustment is quite simple. Using a spectrum analyser with tracking generator shows the notches. By cutting the (too long) coax will shift the notches to a higher frequency. Keep cutting the coax untill the notches are at the desired frequency of frequencies. After cutting the coax to the desired length, the open end can be "closed" by connecting the core to the shielding.
The initial plan was to make filters for using 10, 20 and the 40 meter bands with two radio's. I started to make three filters with two stubs to suppress the other two unused bands. Since two stubs are used in one filter, the losses for the usable band were quite large. Therefore a design change is made
Instead of two stubs, one stub for 3,5MHz is used. One closed stub and one open stub. The losses were less than two stub design. If there are more than two radio's on the same site, multiple stubs are necessary for the right combination. Since I planned to used "only" two radio's the 3,5MHz stub will do the job. 50% of the bands are for radio A and the other ham bands are for radio B. The 30 meter band is not optimally suppressed since the notch is slightly next to the band. Since we do not use telegraphy, this is accepted.
It is possible to use a piece of coax and a coax tee, but I chose to use new paint cans as a housing. Two connectors are mounted at the lid of the can and a wire bridge is created between the connectors. The piece of coax is connected to the wire bride and the wire is cut to length using a spectrum analyser with tracking generator. The wire end is isolated and the wire is put into the can. The final measurement is made with the lid onto the can. The result of can one is shown below.