A protective device for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a desired
frequency band from a source to a load comprises an outer conductor, an
inner conductor extending coaxially within the outer conductor and a
quarter wavelength shunt conductor. A radio frequency impedance control
(RFIC) tube is used to maintain the proper transmission line impedance
for the device. The shunt conductor is connected, at one end, to the
inner conductor and extends along a multi-curved path through an opening
in the RFIC tube and wraps around the RFIC tube in at least one plane.
The other end of the stub is connected to the outer conductor either
directly or indirectly by means of distributed capacitance through a
dielectric insulator. A plurality of gas discharge tubes may be coupled
to the shunt conductor to shunt undesired voltages. In use, the inner
conductor serves as the transmission line, the outer conductor serves as
the return path and the quarter wavelength shunt conductor serves as an
inductor for filtering out electromagnetic energy which falls outside the
desired frequency band.