Michael A. Terrell wrote (in part)

Really? A friend of mine makes over half his income from repairing
lightning damaged radio stations here in Florida. While I was the
engineer at WACX TV lightning hit their studio building in Leesburg
Florida. It took ot the entire telephone system, the main computer,
all
the terminals, all the LNAs on the C-band dish, most of the receivers
.....
--------------------------
I have done lots of contract work in area TV and radio (AM and FM)
stations. I have been inside working during seeral T-storms. Other
then the joy of having florescent lamps that are not turned on act like

strobes, and having the power dip for a moment, MOST of the time
there was no damge, to anything other then my nerves.

I know that commercial broadcaster can and do experience damage,
but most ot the time strikes don't damage anything. One local station
gets struck "every" time it clouds up and they go years without damage.

Of course the ham repeater there doesn't fair as well.
Funny the commercial 2 way radio repeaters have about as few
problems as the broadcaster. Of course the commercial boys
use Polyphaser protectors and the,the last time I checked,
had another make of "lightning/EMP" protection.

Same make antennas, hardline and grounding system, just different
protection.

That was proof enough for me.

If I gave the impression that I thought that Polyphaser clamps and a
good ground system will prevent damage, sorry, but it will certainly
reduce
the damage and increase the years of trouble free operation.


Terry