[TowerTalk] Re: lightning suppression on cable

[James]

>I get both TV and Internet via TV cable.  It is the last conductor coming
>into my house that is not protected by a lightning or surge suppressor, or
>disconnected when not in use.  Can anyone suggest an appropriate
>suppressor for this purpose that will pass both TV and 2-way Internet
>signals (low HF to high UHF)?

I've used commercial grade coax lightning arrestors for commercial
two-way and cellular antennas. Very expensive, but the work and are
almost invisible when you do a TDR line sweep, even at 1900 MHz.

At home, I tie six knots in my power, control, and antenna lines before
they come into the house. Eveything is inside a metal box WELL grounded
with several eight foot long grounding rods. The high "frequency" of 
a lightning bolt (actually the DV/DT) has trouble even making a right
angle bend, much less an entire knot. For this reason, ground wires 
need to be routed to a ground with no turns; but if neccessary, a gentle
curve..