Stubs and joints will cause the signal to be reduced.

• A. They reduce the signal
• B. They have no effect
• C. They reflect energy completely
• D. They increase the signal

Answer: (A)

Stubs and joints disrupt signal flow along buried lines. When a locating signal is sent into a line, the line has a characteristic impedance. A stub or joint introduces a mismatch and another path for energy. Part of the energy goes into the branch, part is reflected back toward the source, and some is lost as heat or radiation. The result is less energy continuing along the main path, so the signal strength reaching your receiver is reduced. This is why stubs and joints cause the signal to be weaker.

They do not have no effect, they do not reflect energy completely, and they do not increase the signal.