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  • Should I be concerned about lightning?

    From Nigel Reed@1:124/5016 to All on Thu Jan 22 15:18:41 2026
    Within the next month or so I hope to get a J-pole antenna for my HT and a small 1090mhz antenna for my SDR that I use for ADB-S. This needs to be line of light for best range so really needs to be above my roofline.

    I'm probably going to stick them on a pole but do I need to be worried about lightning stikes hitting the antenna or, more importantly, the house?

    Do I need an extra bit of wire going to ground and if so, what's recommended? We get some pretty bad storms in Texas and we've had one or two close lightning stikes but, that said, I have some taller houses and quite a few trees that are much taller in the area. Should I be worried or should I take precautions anyway, better to be safe than sorry?
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  • From Alexander Grotewohl@1:120/616 to Nigel Reed on Thu Jan 22 16:54:40 2026
    On 22 Jan 2026, Nigel Reed said the following...

    I'm probably going to stick them on a pole but do I need to be worried about lightning stikes hitting the antenna or, more importantly, the house?

    lightning arrestors can be had for like $35 .. not so bad

    maybe a little more expensive for one that you'll be sure is good up in the ghz range

    it really is one of those things that may never happen, or it may happen the first storm after you put your antenna up..

    electrical code in your area might require it? don't bother looking it up and just assume it does? ;)

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  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to Nigel Reed1:124/5016.0 on Thu Jan 22 20:21:46 2026
    ADB-S?

    I have heard of ADS-B, but never ADB-S. Was this a typeo or something else I should get interested in?

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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  • From Mortar M.@1:124/5016 to Nigel Reed on Sat Jan 24 19:28:23 2026
    Re: Should I be concerned about lightning?
    By: Nigel Reed to All on Thu Jan 22 2026 15:18:41

    This needs to be line of light for best range...

    Would that be Sunlight? Moonlight? flashlight? :)
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  • From Nigel Reed@1:124/5016 to Rug Rat on Sat Jan 24 20:01:15 2026
    Re: Re: Should I be concerned about lightning?
    By: Rug Rat to Nigel Reed1:124/5016.0 on Thu Jan 22 2026 20:21:46

    I have heard of ADS-B, but never ADB-S. Was this a typeo or something else I should get interested in?

    No, I just switched the letter around. It was probably late when I wrote the post.
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  • From Nigel Reed@1:124/5016 to Mortar M. on Sat Jan 24 20:02:04 2026
    Re: Should I be concerned about lightning?
    By: Mortar M. to Nigel Reed on Sat Jan 24 2026 19:28:23

    This needs to be line of light for best range...

    line of sight.
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