Topband: Grounding protection-Beverage?

[Jon Zaimes AA1K]

Hi Mike,

I once used preamps at all my feedpoints (20 years and two QTHs ago). Then, after having to replace the FETs many times after storms and from TX overload, having the boxes stolen or shot, and after some discussions with others on the band I removed them and just feed all my Bevs now through some W8JI style binocular transformers.

There's plenty of gain -- I rarely use a preamp or two I have in the shack. This includes some feedlines (hardline) up to 800 feet long. I even went without preamps at a previous QTH where I had a half-mile of feedline with 3 switched Beverages at the end of it.

I've been at this QTH for 7 years and have never had to replace a Beverage termination here. Some are just two watt carbon reistors, others are a combination of two or more two-watters adding up to higher power. They are just soldered to the wires and left hanging in the open for easy inspection and measurements. My Beverages are through the woods, so maybe the trees help dissipate nearby lightning energy. But even the Beverages that come within 15 feet or so of a tower have not popped the terminations.

I do ground the feedline shield about 15 feet from the feedpoint, and any place along the way there's a splice. 

I don't use any special lightning protection.

73/Jon AA1K



At 06:30 AM 12/10/04, you wrote:
>What are some options for lightning protection of a Beverage...and...a remote preamp at the Beverage feedpoint? 
>How about an electric fence grounding apparatus? I have seen them in the ranch stores.
>
>Mike Bragassa, K5UO
>_______________________________________________
>Topband mailing list
>Topband at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband