Top Affordable HAM RADIO Bandpass Filters You Can't Miss!

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  • Опубліковано 11 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 140

  • @WECB640
    @WECB640 Місяць тому +9

    I recommend anyone wishing to understand HOW this type of filter works, to use Simsmith and model it. Very easy to do. Thanks Ape for the discussion of these filters. They sure can help 95% of most receivers as manufacturers seem to be skimping and cutting corners. 73 OM

    • @Charlie-Bee
      @Charlie-Bee Місяць тому +1

      Smithchart?

    • @WECB640
      @WECB640 Місяць тому

      @@Charlie-Bee No. "Simsmith" (Google it)

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому +2

      Hey Hollywood, you are right about SimSmith. I should prolly do move videos using it... thanks for watching.

    • @johnwest7993
      @johnwest7993 25 днів тому +1

      @@Charlie-Bee, that's the way we old-timers do it. We like to do things the hard way. :)

  • @bpsengineer_AC7PB
    @bpsengineer_AC7PB Місяць тому +3

    I am impressed by the data. I test every filter and balun I purchase and recommend everyone do that. I paid twice as much for a different brand, tested them, returned them and was sent WORSE replacements, was ghosted, then bought from yet another brand and received perfect units on the first try (Hamation rocks!).
    After all my drama, I can now do 100w POTA with friends also doing 100w side by side

    • @VE9ASN
      @VE9ASN Місяць тому +1

      What was the good brand? 73

    • @coreymckay4433
      @coreymckay4433 29 днів тому

      I'm also curious what brand he found that worked well.​@@VE9ASN

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      Thanks for watching Brian 👍

    • @johnwest7993
      @johnwest7993 25 днів тому

      Home brew are often better than commercial stuff. They are trying to cut corners. We aren't. But ultimately, when we build our own we KNOW what we have and what it will do.

  • @dan_in_sd
    @dan_in_sd 29 днів тому +4

    Great video. I used band pass filter from Morgan Systems in Salt Lake. There are some filter for AM Rejection too. I had that problem, an AM station too close to me and causing issues on 80m and 40 m. I got one of thier BCB filter and it cleared it up.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      I could have sworn I did a video on AM filters but now I can't find it 😡

    • @richysradioroom
      @richysradioroom 28 днів тому +1

      it was The episode titled RTL-SDR filters. you showed both FM and AM filters.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  28 днів тому

      @ that sounds about right

  • @QSOWithACOPK4SDV-ey3fz
    @QSOWithACOPK4SDV-ey3fz 25 днів тому +2

    I build bandpass filters to include switchable filters I even have a few build videos. Don't use hot glue you will melt it and possibly start a fire. JB weld will change and certain resin epoxies will change your tuned SWR/VSWR. I use GC Electronics 10-3702 Q Dope,Pure Polystyrene Coating,Cement,Bottle with Brush,2 oz when I need to lock in my windings. As usual an enjoyable video.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  23 дні тому

      Thats good info, thank you

    • @QSOWithACOPK4SDV-ey3fz
      @QSOWithACOPK4SDV-ey3fz 23 дні тому +1

      @@TheSmokinApe Your welcome also on a BPF it doesn't matter which end you connect too antenna radio if it works it should be interchangeable but on this particular design do not tune through the filter you will blow the capacitors tune then attach the filter.

  • @ChuckBigbie
    @ChuckBigbie Місяць тому +3

    Thank You I appreciate the education on the filters.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      @@ChuckBigbie glad you liked it Chuck, thanks for watching 👍

  • @ThinGrayLine
    @ThinGrayLine Місяць тому +3

    I just got 2 of them last week. So far so good. Took about 2 weeks to arrive.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      @@ThinGrayLine nice, let us know how they work out for you

    • @JayN4GO
      @JayN4GO Місяць тому

      Your handle reminds me of my state LE. Any correlation?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      If there was, I'd never admit it 😳

    • @JayN4GO
      @JayN4GO 26 днів тому

      @@TheSmokinApewhy

  • @KK6USYHamRadioAdventures
    @KK6USYHamRadioAdventures Місяць тому +4

    Very cool Ape!!!

  • @billpowell5931
    @billpowell5931 27 днів тому

    Nice review! You expressed the information in very clear terms. Great filters for field day like operations. Thank you for sharing.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  27 днів тому

      Hey Bill, thanks for watching 👍

  • @avrumo
    @avrumo Місяць тому

    This was a very good effort to help us for multi- op use & tips to tighten up one inductor , w/ testing most of us cannot or will not do .Thank You for the Discount links , 73

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      You’re welcome, glad you found it helpful! 👍

  • @richysradioroom
    @richysradioroom 28 днів тому

    these are pretty much a must-have for groups operating separate bands in a relatively close together area. it helps with crossband interference.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  28 днів тому

      💯thanks for watching Richy 👍

  • @tomking8597
    @tomking8597 Місяць тому

    Ape, I like your content. Especially your way of making the complicated easy to understand.
    I’ve been in the wireless industry for over 20years. I like the use of filters. We used to use them on spectrum analyzers when near out of band high power transmitters. Really lowers the noise floor.
    You should lone one to K8MRD to see how it affects his signal at his house. Might not help much but it could

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      Hey Tom, glad you liked the video and thank you for watching 👍. These are getting shipped out tomorrow for a buddy of mine who has been wanting to test them

  • @Andy2e0ree
    @Andy2e0ree 29 днів тому

    I have a full set from 160m up to 2m I settled them all are in spec as Bandpass filters 73 brother great show

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      Awesome Andy, thanks for watching 👍

  • @mostlypostie1
    @mostlypostie1 Місяць тому

    I have a few of these ones for various bands, they are fantastic. I also have some low pass versions. They match the advertised specs very well (I have calibrated equipment to test them). Very cool!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      Thanks for the info, I like playing around with filters 👍

  • @Steven_VE9SY
    @Steven_VE9SY Місяць тому

    I've been looking at these, but wasn't to sure. I was actually thinking of getting one or two and sending them to you to test. I have the equipment, but you know the tinySA better than I do. Thanks for the reviews. Makes me a little more confident. Once over postal strike is over I might get a few.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      Hey Steven, thanks for checking out the video 👍

  • @junquecollector
    @junquecollector 21 день тому

    To really characterize real world performance, you need to look at the attenuation the 20 meter signal at the adjacent ham bands. In the case of the 20 meter filter, it is down a little over 30 dB at 18 MHz., a decent reduction, and it should be a lot better at 15 or 40 meters. I have experienced operating a 20 watt 20 meter station using a very similiar designed filter, and my 20 meter signal caused severe interference to a 17 meter station operating 200 feet away. The 17 meter station then moved to15 meters and all was well. In that instance, it may have been that the station on 17 meters could have stayed on 17 if he had been using a bandpass filter as well.

  • @Swamp-Fox
    @Swamp-Fox Місяць тому

    The price had me skeptical, but your test results changed my mind!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      Hey SF, thanks for watching 👍

  • @albrowne1035
    @albrowne1035 Місяць тому

    Also there is a 6m version. Its quite wide 48MHz to 60Mhz-ish at the -3dB points according to my nano VNA. A very useful bit of kit. Have you ever looked at the Rx path back through the filter? It should be reciprocal but sometimes I'm not sure.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      it should be the same both way but some I have seen are not.

  • @Soupie62
    @Soupie62 Місяць тому

    Those filters are a good choice - most common ham bands.
    For listening outside ham bands, you could use a 30m filter - and check the 10MHz time signals from Hawaii / Colorado. These signals should be "close enough" to make it through the filter.
    Could also try a 15m filter, and 20MHz time signals.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      They could come in handy for sure 👍

  • @germanjohn5626
    @germanjohn5626 Місяць тому

    You either had a bad cable or a lose connection when showing the NanoVNA the first time. But overal great and thanks for looking at the filters, I thought bout buying a set but wasn't sure about the true performance

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      Hey John, one of the Sma’s was loose, good eyes 👀

  • @mattstosh6960
    @mattstosh6960 28 днів тому

    Seeing the mildly lose components - my first thought was to forget the hot glue idea and use the Red Permatex. Stuff used to glue engine heating pads on the oil pan when you winterize your truck.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  28 днів тому

      Not a bad idea, someone else mentioned JB Weld

  • @JayN4GO
    @JayN4GO Місяць тому

    Thanks ape. Do they do better than coax stubs? Would like to see a field video of how well they do

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      I haven’t used stubs, sorry man. I’m sending these to a buddy for winter field day. When I get them back I can do more testing 👍

  • @robertmeyer4744
    @robertmeyer4744 Місяць тому

    Great job testing . I was wondering on them . I only have 10 and 20 meter ones now. They let me work FT 8 on 2 bands same time from 2 radios and antennas' Lots of contacts ! I have band pass boards from DX world. Full legal power. multi band with 12V relays. I just need rotary switch,case and SO 239 . I do have one for CB coming but held up in bad weather.NY and many outher places getting winter storm and high winds . With good coax jumpers and good coax feed line you can easy overcome insertion loss . start with good 1/2 wave or 5/8 wave antenna that has great recieve. You won't even notice any loss from filters. That what I did. Them filters help with out of band noise . That can improve signal to noise ratio to help pull out weak station. 73

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      Hey Robert. I agree with you BPFs can make a big difference, thanks for watching!

    • @robertmeyer4744
      @robertmeyer4744 Місяць тому

      @@TheSmokinApe You can test with single port SWR sweep testers like the MFJ or Comet. use dummy load do a SWR sweep. Just gives a general reading of band pass frequency . Does not give attenuation DB data. This is where a VNA 2 port is really needed . I say more tools for the shack

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      @ that’s a handy tip 👍

  • @OFICINATERAPIA
    @OFICINATERAPIA Місяць тому +1

    Hello friend!
    Watching this video, I was reminded of the fact that BAOFENG HTs are "deaf" when connected to an external antenna. Could you explain to me the reason and a possible solution to this problem? Thank you very much! Greetings from Brazil!!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      It’s because they use a direct conversion front end which goes a little haywire when subjected to strong signal. I rarely recommend someone upgrade to a higher gain antenna because of this 👍

    • @OFICINATERAPIA
      @OFICINATERAPIA 26 днів тому

      @TheSmokinApe I got it! You rock man! Thanks!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      @ 👍

  • @Fireman9143
    @Fireman9143 Місяць тому +1

    Can you filter out RFI to drop the noise floor? Obviously not how a bandpass filter works. Think you could design an external filter for 40m that boosts the signal, maybe does some EQ, and filters the RFI?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      Basically an attenuator which most radios have these days. They will also lower the signal you are trying to hear but hopefully improve the overall signal to noise ratio 👍

  • @bruceweight7319
    @bruceweight7319 28 днів тому

    I would definitely glue those. They make a wicked white silicone glue that is used in electronics to glue everything like coils, capacitors, etc.They usually also glue the edges of the board in a few spots so it can't move either.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  28 днів тому

      @@bruceweight7319 that’s probably the right thing to do

  • @technishn
    @technishn Місяць тому +2

    Interesting review. Yes 200W Digital modes would warm them up, as well as the transceiver driving them. 0.75 dB loss is about 32W/ 200W (16% loss) and 0.56 dB is about 24W/200W (12% loss). Never sure of the quality of the ferrites/Iron powder for some of the products.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      Hey technishn, agreed. Thanks for doing the maths!

  • @johnwest7993
    @johnwest7993 Місяць тому +9

    Unboxing reviews, or promo nonsense reviews by people who don't understand anything about what they are reviewing. They are an irritating joke. But I have no problem with honest, thorough product reviews from knowledgeable hams. Especially if the reviews teach something about the product being reviewed, and even how to build your own. Your reviews are all of that. They are everything a good review can be, and are an important service to the community. They are the sort of thing that Elmers do.
    Ham radio is a hobby of learning. Most hams start out knowing very little about the hobby, and so buy stuff off the shelf in order to get started. Some never take it any further. That's OK, but they miss a whole lot. The rest continue on, learning how to set up a station, solve problems, build and tune their own antennas and accessories, repair and embellish their gear, and ultimately even build entire stations from junk-box parts, or do experimentation that can answer questions they have, or even push the hobby into the future. It's all up to the ham what they learn and what they do. You give them the understanding and option to do it all.

    • @jplacido9999
      @jplacido9999 Місяць тому

      Amateur radio is not an hobby (thats golf, gardening, etc.)
      It is a tech and scientific personnal activity for the advancement of knowledge and tech skills.
      If it was an hobby, the governments would not spare hundreds of millions of dollars worth of radio frequency allocations.
      It's not a critic to you, sir.
      Just a simple comment.
      Your text is otherwise perfect. Congrats.

    • @paulsengupta971
      @paulsengupta971 29 днів тому

      @@jplacido9999 It's a hobby. A tech hobby for the advancement of knowledge and tech skills.

    • @jplacido9999
      @jplacido9999 29 днів тому

      @paulsengupta971
      Not really.
      That would be gardening etc.
      Radioamateur is meant as a non profit tech advancement activity.
      Otherwise hams would have to pay millions for the frequencies....
      Don't give them ideas....😊😊

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому +1

      Thanks John. I agree, many HR videos now are someone trying to get you to click an affiliate link vs educate about HR... those are the same people doing videos about why ham radio is dying. I appreciate the kind words.

  • @mikebavoso26
    @mikebavoso26 Місяць тому

    Very well done. Could you please do a video on a broadcast bandpass filter. Possibly a home brew model for 100 watts, plus or minus.
    Thanks

    • @Inkling777
      @Inkling777 Місяць тому

      A bandpass filter for 3-30 MHz would be a bit much. What you may want is a _high pass filter_ that cuts off about 2 MHz or one that blocks the FM spectrum from 88-108 MHz. Stopping is likely to work better than passing.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      I cover them here but will do more filter videos in the future: ua-cam.com/video/zT1_T25rg3g/v-deo.html

  • @edbeckerich3737
    @edbeckerich3737 Місяць тому +1

    Can you show your handmade filter on the Nano VNA for comparison??

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      It’s the first video in the playlist in the description 👍

  • @HamRadioKS-k7j
    @HamRadioKS-k7j Місяць тому

    There is a version of RTV like chemical which works for vibration in high temp environments. That would be my suggestion to support the coil. Thanks for the video Ape! 73

  • @halcollins4293
    @halcollins4293 29 днів тому

    But will it work with an ATAS120?
    Will it help with noise from a portable generator?
    We tried to work mobile from a parade last night 😞

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому +1

      They will work with the ATAS and they MIGHT help with the generator noise 👍

  • @stevemcnaughton-kb3jc96
    @stevemcnaughton-kb3jc96 13 днів тому

    Would the 20m meter version of the band pass filter work to make the MX-P50M meet the FCC requirements? Of course it would require moving the BPF between the MX-P50M and the antenna. Thanks, I'm learning a lot from your videos! 73 KB3JC

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  13 днів тому

      I didn’t test it, but I am sure it would 👍

  • @paulsengupta971
    @paulsengupta971 29 днів тому

    One of my lecturers in university was Professor Butterworth, who I believe was the grandson of Stephen Butterworth who came up with the Butterworth filter.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      @@paulsengupta971 that’s awesome 👍

  • @jameski5oeb668
    @jameski5oeb668 23 дні тому

    Did you saturate them with power to determine if the work under load?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  23 дні тому

      I did not

    • @jameski5oeb668
      @jameski5oeb668 23 дні тому

      @ I was curious only because of my own Bandpass experiences have given me poor results after I super heated the toe-roid.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  23 дні тому

      @ it’s a fair point and question

  • @ChuckBigbie
    @ChuckBigbie Місяць тому

    If you live in a residential area and you get some interfirence that you cannot identify would this help in rejecting out of band signals to immprove your recieve reception?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +2

      @@ChuckBigbie yes

    • @ChuckBigbie
      @ChuckBigbie Місяць тому

      @TheSmokinApe thank you just ordered 4 of them

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      @ let us know how they work for you 👍

  • @TheBrennan90
    @TheBrennan90 Місяць тому

    Ham radio tube did a video last year in april 2023 called "how not to pota in the desert." In that video he was using these band pass filters and was getting a lot of blead through from hes buddy in a different band. Might be interesting to take a look at that.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  26 днів тому

      I'll have to check that out! Thanks for the tip! 👍

  • @subramanianr7206
    @subramanianr7206 Місяць тому

    Thanks for the review of these BPFs for the 40/20 m bands.
    The SWR is always compared to 1.
    At 10.05 and 12.30, by mistake you said like 1 to so and so.
    I am not nit picking but to be more of a pedantic.
    I love your presentation as always.
    De VU2RZA

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      Hey VU2RZA, thanks for catching that! Glad you liked the video!

    • @subramanianr7206
      @subramanianr7206 Місяць тому

      @@TheSmokinApe yes, I liked it very much. Thank you for your prompt response 👍 😀
      De VU2RZA

  • @Chuck1855
    @Chuck1855 Місяць тому

    Thanks for the info was looking at these for the club for extras. Band pass filters are expensive to only use twice a year but we run 7a for fd. So more are needed.
    73
    KA4FLA

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +1

      Hey Chuck, I agree that hey can get pricey for that!

    • @Chuck1855
      @Chuck1855 Місяць тому +1

      @TheSmokinApe tnx for the great video.

  • @Eric10179
    @Eric10179 Місяць тому

    Know where one could get reliable 2m and/or 70cm Band STOP filters? Like so you could have a scanner running and still use your dual band rig and not blow out the front end of the scanner?

    • @johnwest7993
      @johnwest7993 Місяць тому +1

      The filters necessary depend on how much power you run on the ham bands, and how far apart the scanner antenna is from the ham antennas. Sometimes putting the scanner antenna 10 or 15 feet directly below a vertical colinear ham antenna is sufficient isolation to protect the front end of the scanner. It helps to carefully (use about a 30 dB attenuator inline,) monitor the scanner antenna with a spectrum analyzer like the TinySA to see how strong the 2 meter/70 cm signals actually are that would reach the scanner. Then you know how strong of a signal you need to attenuate, and how much the filter needs to attenuate it. In situations like that it helps to get an idea of what the filters actually have to do instead of just guessing and buying. As you pointed out, you want something reliable.

    • @Eric10179
      @Eric10179 Місяць тому

      @ fair enough, that’s a good idea too. I don’t have a tinySA but I could look at getting one, unless my NanoVNA would work instead. Even if I was to do that I don’t know where to go looking for said band stop filters in the first place. Do you know of makes, models, dealers, stores, etc. that would sell them?

  • @Inkling777
    @Inkling777 Місяць тому +1

    Rather than hot glue you might use one of the epoxies made by J-B Weld. They're strong and can handle the heat.

  • @pangalacticgargolblaster9578
    @pangalacticgargolblaster9578 6 днів тому

    I ordered one a month ago for 80m band. I measured with Siglent and it showed -10dB on 3.5MHz and -2dB on 5.13MHz. i don't know if I'm doing something wrong with measurement, as the analyzer is new to me but that seems terrible. It showed the same in SA and VNA S21 mode, was normalized before measurement and was 0dB on straight cable. It's just so awful that I can't be sure I measure correctly.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  6 днів тому

      @@pangalacticgargolblaster9578 have you measured other filters and gotten the expected results?

    • @pangalacticgargolblaster9578
      @pangalacticgargolblaster9578 5 днів тому

      @@TheSmokinApe No, I only had this one. I sent it back today. It was the same housing and internal structure sold as 3.52 MHz BPF.

  • @digitaldreamer5481
    @digitaldreamer5481 Місяць тому

    Luckily for you, Ape, I ❤ my cats videos but I came back to watch the rest of your video. 😂🤣

  • @khimroy3958
    @khimroy3958 15 днів тому

    Yes, the bandwidth is 2.4 Mhz, the SWR is

  • @vytenissciucka
    @vytenissciucka Місяць тому

    I can't see what kind of capacitors are used. There has to be quality capacitors temperature stable and with good ESR value. And those are pricey... de LY5T

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  29 днів тому

      I’m right here and I can barely see them 👀

  • @JT-py9lv
    @JT-py9lv Місяць тому

    Sweet

  • @jakebrodskype
    @jakebrodskype Місяць тому

    For those operating multi-band simultaneous operations during field day, these things are essential, especially for lower frequency stuff that may generate very small but very detectable harmonics on upper bands. An additional 20 or 30 dB of attenuation may make a very noticeable difference to the operator on the table next to you. As for securing the coils, may I suggest Q-Dope? If you don't know what that stuff is, here's a recipe: ua-cam.com/video/-_yJUdSBTHg/v-deo.html

  • @jamescady723
    @jamescady723 Місяць тому

    Thanks Ape!! After watching your videos, then I go watch cat videos...hi hi. 🤣

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому

      I get it, sometimes you just need a break from ham radio lol

  • @markharrison1160
    @markharrison1160 Місяць тому

    How dare you assume my critter watching habits sir 🤣

  • @chrisreich40
    @chrisreich40 Місяць тому

    The word 'either' is not a synonym for 'each'.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Місяць тому +2

      Thank you so much, I will sleep better tonight knowing that…

  • @philipbloomfield
    @philipbloomfield Місяць тому

    Why Am I hearing this in a foreign language I do not speak? There is no way to change it to English!!

  • @Tokyo1991.JL1AJE
    @Tokyo1991.JL1AJE 28 днів тому

    I literally can’t watch half the content of the world woke web due to a cat allergy.
    What next… sponsored fur balls from AliExpress?
    Mein Furballs.
    In all seriousness though did those filters come in packages with the letters GmbH stamped on them?
    Recently anything ‘RF’ from them comes with the German abbreviation for ‘LLC’ hinting they’re made in Germany, when they’re not. An odd trend.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  27 днів тому

      No packages, just wrapped in bubble wrap and no lettering