Robert 11,

For a Long Wire {Random Wire }Antenna that is located OutSide
you should look at those things that can be done OutSide to
improve your Overall Antenna System from the effects of a nearby
Lightning Strike to your Antenna, Radio Equipment and possibly
your House.

1. Reverse the Lay-Out of your OutSide Random Wire Antenna.
[ Feed the Antenna from the Far-End away from the House. ]

2. Make the Antenna an Inverted "L" Antenna Fed at Ground Level
vice higher up-in-the-Air.

3. Use an OutSide Remotely Located Ground Rod far away from
the House at the base of the Vertical-Up-Leg of the Inverted "L".

4. With a Inverted "L" Antenna use a Matching Transformer (UnUn)
mounted on top of the Ground Rod : Between the Wire Antenna
Element and Ground; and the Coax Cable Feed-in-Line.

5. Use a Coax Cable Feed-in-Line and bury it if possible; directly
under the the horizontal-lay of the Wire Antenna Element.

4. Use an Antenna Switch between the Antenna's and the Radios
in the Shack. The type that lets you disconnect the Antenna from
the Radios and Short the Antenna to Ground for Safety.
Note - Many of these Antenna Switches have GDT's built into them.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/switch/2415.html

5. When you are not using your Radio and Antenna disconnect the
Coax Cable from the Matching Transformer outside the House.


hope this helps - iane ~ RHF