[TowerTalk] Porqupines

[J. Keller]

"and [spline balls] work".... "work" being a relative term, I'd think. Can't
be absolute (as in... there's never been a strike with a spline ball
installed) or there would be no issue to discuss.  Can't be absolute the
other way (as in... spline balls always get struck by any lighning in a ten
mile radius) or... again... there would be no discussion needed. Sometimes
spline balls appear to work, and sometimes they don't... might be a more
reasonable statement.

But people sure do insist on absolutes, don't they? If it exists, it's just
got to be measureable, definable, predictable.  To admit that in many
instances it can't be... well, that's just non-scientific thinking. To say
that spline balls (or other pointy things) LESSEN (but do not eliminate) the
chances of a strike.. well, that's just too indefinite. And before we could
consider that possibility, we would absolutely have to completely understand
all the forces involved, such that we could explain exactly how it works and
when it will work and when it won't work.  If we can't do all that, we just
can't accept it at all... and it gets relegated to the trash heap.

Sorry... I don't buy it. Man still has limits to his ability to measure,
analyze, and/or understand certain natural phenomena. There are still some
things... like lightning.... that remain in substantial part within the
realm of the unknown, the unpredictable, the anecdotal.  Science can be
applied, but only to an extent.  Try and apply a "rule" to lightning, and
someone will point out an exception. Try and explain the exception with
another "rule" and there will be another exception. Lokk at the long,
drawn-out discussion here and nothing is resolved.  It will come up again in
another 6 months, too, wait and see. There's always a great supply of guys
who have doctorates in lightning behavior, but none of them know whether
lightning will or won't strike YOUR tower next time a T-storm rolls through.
Haven't we figured out by now that all anyone knows is ways to LESSEN the
chances of a strike, and to attempt to render strike energy LESS harmful or
damaging when one occurs. It's part science, but it's also part guesswork
and anecdote.

If some people find spline balls... or live porcupines...or fake golfers...
mounted on their towers makes 'em feel safer, where's the harm? Where's the
proof they WON'T work? Probably on the shelf right next to the proof they
WILL work.  Enough already.

Although.... that golfer thing does have its appeal... and chance we could
use a live one?     73,  Jerry K3BZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Norman Hockler" <norsan at bright.net>
To: <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Porqupines


> Because the needles are not really grounded.
>
> The original name of these static charge dissipators is spline balls.
>
> and they work.
>
> Norm N8NH
>
>
>
>
> At 07:07 PM 3/18/05 +0000, you wrote:
>>They are supposed to prevent lightning hits.  Just think about this 
>>though,
>>if porcupines dissipated enough charge to prevent lightning why would
>>lightning EVER hit a pine tree that has many more sharp points on it, let
>>alone anywhere near a huge pine forest!
>>
>>
>>David Robbins K1TTT
>>e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
>>web: http://www.k1ttt.net
>>AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
>> > bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8fu at aol.com
>> > Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 19:01
>> > To: towertalk at contesting.com
>> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Porqupines
>> >
>> > Whiles we're on the subject of lightning......................I notice
>> > when
>> > I'm in Fl all of the ag and weigh stations have what I believe are 
>> > called
>> > proqupines affixed to all of their radio twrs. Some as many as 6 or 8,
>> > What's up
>> > with that ??
>> >
>> > Froggy...........................K8FU
>> > If CW is Outlawed....................Only Outlaws Will Have  Keyers....
>> > _______________________________________________
>> >
>> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>> > Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>> > any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>TowerTalk mailing list
>>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>