Shocking Experience

[Floyd Soo, W8RO]

I too have had some shocking experiences.  It does not take an antenna 
high in the air to produce high enough voltages to cause "exciting 
experiences"!  In a past QTH, I ran a 75M dipole that was 25' at the 
feedpoint and 6' at the ends.  On more than one occasion, I heard 
"snap...snap...snap" coming from my ungrounded antenna switch.  As much 
as I don't like to admit it, I've had a couple of good jolts from that 
antenna! I was fooling around with the feedline in the shack and 
accidently touched the PL-259!  This was on a clear, but breezy day!  I 
could draw a 1/2" arc with that plug when I disconnected it with an 
approaching storm front!  Needless to say, I didn't allow the fronts to 
get within 15-20 mi before I disconnected my antennas after that!

Happy New Year!
-- 
73,
Floyd Soo, W8RO
President, HI-RES Communications, Inc.
Net Manager and Board Member, Collins Collectors Association
QRP-L #392
hires@rust.net
http://www.rust.net/~hires

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