How Do You Think Safely About Lightning Protection, RF, And Balanced Transmission Line Amateur Radio Ham Radio Antennas?
Balanced Antenna Transmission Line Safety: Manipulate The Danger-Versus-Safety Odds and WIN ! By Steve Wamback, KK2W In considering any antenna system, Safety must be among the Amateur Radio or Ham Radio Operator’s primary concerns as he or she proceeds with the antenna project. Of particular concern to Ham Radio Operators are any possibilities of stray RF escaping indoors and the need for lightning protection. The odds really are against us ! I always believed that “lightning never strikes twice”… but after spending Summer 2009 working near Cape Canaveral, Florida, I learned that this old adage is not true. Space Shuttle launches were cancelled half a dozen times and Orlando had ten thousand strikes one night! Good Grounding and Shielding can manipulate the Danger Versus Safety Odds in our favor. We must learn and employ ways to cheat the odds that are against us and win. Our main goals should be: First, to keep lightning out of our homes and radios as much as possible by disconnect
