[TowerTalk] static drainage

[Chuck Counselman]

At 7:59 AM -0500 1/27/03, Pete N4ZR wrote:
>...is it worthwhile to install 1.5 megohm resistors inside the relay 
>boxes across each antenna jack, as is done in the Heathkit switch, 
>presumably to drain static electricity?

Yes, very much so!  An antenna (or part of an antenna, such as 
one-half of a dipole connected to the center-conductor of a coaxial 
feedline) left floating very easily acquires a (literally) staggering 
electric charge, more than enough to blow a receiver front-end.

Probably you should also have a lightning protector in the feedline 
from each antenna.

-Chuck, W1HIS