Return-Path: Received: (qmail 9015 invoked from network); 19 Jun 2001 19:17:08 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO warrior-inbound.servers.plus.net) (212.159.14.227) by excalibur.plus.net with SMTP; 19 Jun 2001 19:17:08 -0000 Received: (qmail 29850 invoked from network); 19 Jun 2001 19:16:11 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO post.thorcom.com) (212.172.148.70) by warrior with SMTP; 19 Jun 2001 19:16:11 -0000 Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 3.16 #2) id 15CQtk-0006U4-00 for rsgb_lf_group-outgoing@blacksheep.org; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 20:10:48 +0100 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Received: from [167.142.226.22] (helo=smtp-out.netins.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 3.16 #2) id 15CQtg-0006Tz-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 20:10:44 +0100 Received: from netins.net (desm-32-118.dsl.netins.net [167.142.32.118]) by smtp-out.netins.net (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA17400; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 14:10:02 -0500 (CDT) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Message-ID: <3B2FA388.E4ADBAB1@netins.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 14:10:00 -0500 From: "Dr. Tom Gruis" Organization: =?iso-8859-1?Q?www.gruis.org_&_K=D8HTF?= X-Sender: "Dr. Tom Gruis" <@smtp.netins.net> (Unverified) X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.76 [en]C-gatewaynet (Win98; U) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Subject: Re: LF: Re: Static effects References: <000201c0f8e3$74c7f520$736401d5@default> <001501c0f8e5$640c49a0$6655872c@david> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group Sender: Hello from Iowa in the US - EN31! As a personal opinion and preference and based on a long period of time of radio experimentation, NEVER have ANY antenna without some type of a DC path to ground at ALL times! Static drain resistors are a must, unless the whole antenna is at earth potential as in the case of a VHF J-pole or such. Spark gaps are good. Neon lamps are good. Grounding switches are good. Etc... Remember, if the lightning bolt can jump a mile or three through the atmosphere, a few inches, or a number of feet, ot even most insulation will be effectively a non impediment to the strike. If there is a direct hit - then that is apt to be that! I have worked at many broadcast stations, AM, FM, and TV and have been near the tower when it/they have been struck. They are "built to take it." Usually I have felt very safe there. But such massive structures and extensive ground arrays are not likely to be found in the amateur/experimenter sector! The incident of old Ben Franklin and his flying a kite in an electrical storm illustrates many scientific principles, to be sure. One other and usually overlooked principle is that of blind luck!!! 73, Doc.