[TowerTalk] lightning protection at towers and bunkers on former AT&T microwave relay sites

[Jim Brown]

On Wed,5/17/2017 6:52 AM, David J "Dave" Windisch wrote:
> Anybody out there really know in detail the measures AT&T typically took to
> protect those towers and bunkers on their former microwave relay sites from
> lightning strikes?

I know a bit having poked around one of them on a 3,000 ft peak in 
NorCal that my friend owns. The tower is about 150 ft tall, 32 ft square 
at the base, 24 ft square at the top. There were lots of big dishes and 
hard line on it, much of it now gone and replaced by cell and 2-way 
antennas. The tower is adjacent to a 2-story building that is 120 ft x 
60 ft. The facility was built in the mid-'50s.

It's pretty classic grounding and bonding. Earth electrodes by each of 
the tower feet, with access provided for maintenance from above. There's 
a perimeter ground inside the building, bonded to power entry and the 
tower grounds. There's probably more that what I've outlined. I've seen 
drawings, but don't recall more details 15 years later.

73, Jim K9YC