Reg Edwards wrote:
Could you briefly describe what happens to the S-meter on the 160, 80
and 40 meter bands when severe static occurs in Texas, or any other
States, and how frequently static weather conditions occur strong
enough to temporally put one off the air?

On my IC-745 in AZ, the coax connector would arc many
times at the transceiver about once a month during late
summer. It pinned the S-meter but didn't seem to
damage the IC-745. It arced whether the IC-745 was
on or off. A 4:1 voltage balun cured that particular
arcing problem although it generated other problems.
The PL-239 coax connectors must arc around 300 volts
or so.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp