Frequency, match, loss, power, PIM and DC behavior must be checked alongside impulse waveform, current, sparkover, residual voltage and follow-current limits. Gas-discharge-tube protectors are broadband and may pass DC, but their static and impulse sparkover, follow-current behavior, cartridge life and residual energy require coordination with the equipment port. Quarter-wave or shorting-stub designs can offer low residual voltage in a defined RF band, but bandwidth and DC behavior depend on the mechanical filter. Hybrid stages add finer clamping at the cost of more topology-specific limits. Compare nominal discharge current only when the waveform is identical: an 8/20 microsecond induced-surge rating is not interchangeable with a 10/350 microsecond partial-lightning-current rating. Also compare impulse sparkover, residual voltage, RF power, VSWR, insertion loss, PIM, environmental seal and replaceability.
Compare impulse current only when the waveform, polarity, number of shots and test class are the same. An 8/20 microsecond induced-surge value and a 10/350 microsecond partial-lightning-current value describe different energy boundaries; neither alone states the voltage that reaches the protected port.
The RFQ should pair operating and guard bands, return and insertion loss, transmit peak and average power, PIM, maximum line voltage and DC or control current with impulse sparkover, residual voltage, follow-current behavior, cartridge life, sealing and maker-defined acceptance tests.