[TowerTalk] Re: Coax Disconnection AND A BIGGER ISSUE

[Jim White, K4OJ]

The University of Florida does studies on lightning...  I saw a great 
program on this on Discovery channel (I think)

They send up small model rockets with "hair-sized" wires trailing behind 
them....this thinnest of conductors produces an attractive discharge 
path to the lightning. It does not take much to convince the lightning 
to follow that route... if it is time for a cloud to discharge and it is 
in your general area...think what an attractive sight a big "fat" tower 
section is... and some nice fat coaxial cable... comparing this to that 
fine threadlike wire this is like comparing a 1/4" water line to your 
ice maker to a concrete storm drainage conduit!

Its coming, trust me... and its big... keep it away from your gear any 
way you can... offering it a path that does not go near your gear as 
things head towards ground is a much MUCH better option!

HAVE ALL OF YOU FILED YOU COMMENTS WITH THE FCC ABOUT THE BPL ISSUE?

If you are unsure about this topic and want some more background go the 
ARRL site at:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1

then:

Let the FCC know by flooding their electronic in-box on this matter just 
how bad an idea this is.  It is easy to do - here is how to you can 
stand up and be counted:

We are in the 21st century - use your computer browser to surf on into 
the FCC site where you will find an opportunity to participate by making 
an entry on the EFCS - Electronic Filing Comment System - in moments you 
can be composing a note to the FCC that tells them what a bad idea BPL 
is!  Click on:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/

Your on the FCC page, now - in the Upper RH portion of the page you will 
see a button labeled

Submit A Filing  (click on it)

This will take you to:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

Where you submit your comment on the matter...

The first box is the only difficult one to fill in - the number you need 
for this is:

03-104

The balance of the form is easy to fill out, you will be asked easy 
stuff like your name, etc... and then, most important type in your

COMMENT

PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING THIS WEEKEND, take a few minutes to go to the 
FCC site, lets act as a group on this and show the FCC that we care and 
will not be QRMed out of existence.

Do this or you will not have to worry about needing a grounded station, 
the point will be moot!

PLEASE REPOST THIS MESSAGE FOR YOUR LOCAL HAM CLUBS MEMBERSHIP!

73, thanks...

Jim White, K4OJ