[TowerTalk] "Wire"less antenna connection

[Pete Smith]

I confess that, not being technically trained, I try to compensate for my 
engineering deficiencies by keeping things simple.  Rather than bet on my 
ability to achieve good lightning grounding in my second-floor shack, I 
disconnect all conductors coming from my tower.  I'd just as soon have as 
little expensive stuff on the tower side of the disconnect as possible.

Regarding insurance, in my case, a direct hit on the tower took out two 
rotators, a stackmatch and a remote antenna switch.  The insurance company 
did not distinguish between those items and the couple of things in the 
house that were damaged, all attached to a wired Ethernet network.  YMMV...

73, Pete N4ZR

At 08:27 AM 1/22/2005, Jim Lux wrote:

> >From a technical standpoint, it actually might be easier to lightning
>protect than the usual ham installation.  The electronics is fairly dense,
>can be placed in a shielding metal box/shelter that is compact, and has
>appropriate transient suppression, etc.  At least you don't have to worry
>about induced voltage carried on transmission lines, etc.
>
>As for whether fried equipment in a box at the tower is different than fried
>equipment in your house making a difference for insurance... I have no idea.
>
>Interesting aspect to the problem...
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Pete Smith" <n4zr at contesting.com>
>To: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>; "Jim Miller"
><JimMiller at STL-Online.Net>; "TOWERTALK" <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
>Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 4:33 PM
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] "Wire"less antenna connection
>
>
> > Yeah, and imagine how much fun it'll be to file the insurance claim when
> > all that expensive stuff gets fried by a lightning hit.
> >
> > 73, Pete N4ZR
> >
> > > >> >
> > >>Eliminate all wires to the tower.  Use wi-fi to send digitized audio to
>the
> > >>tower base for input to the auto-tuning amplifier.  Rotor control also.
> > >>Supply AC power only and eliminate coax loss, lightning threat.
> > >
> > >I am working on this approach right now, but it will hardly be ready for
> > >field day this year.
> > >
> > >
> > >'rmk