On my AOR8000 handheld I purchased about 9 years ago I had not choice but to purchase a notch filter as I had a powerful outdoor, high mounted discone antenna attached to it with high quality 1.5cm thick coax.
I did the trick perfectly and I had no breakthrough and was able to hear Manchester ground quite easiily from my bradford base even though the big pennines were between.
No probs using a notch filter with a handheld at home.