A microwave filter has a plurality of resonant cavities with each cavity containing a dielectric resonator. There are self-equalizing probes or self-equalizing apertures located between some of the cavities. A circulator is connected to an output of the filter. The circulator has an input/output which is connected to an equalizer. The equalizer contains a dielectric resonator that is slightly different from the dielectric resonators of the filter to permit the equalizer to be tuned at a slightly different frequency from the filter. The equalizer and self-equalizing probes or apertures are capable of being operated to reduce a dispersive slope of the filter. The filter can operate in a single mode or a dual mode. The electrical performance of the filter is superior to prior art filters, particularly in the wideband versions because the dispersive slope is reduced.