In the shack

This is a photo of me in the shack just before lunch today. Since lunch, I have had to disconnect everything because of an approaching lightning storm. At the last count (flashes to thunder) it was about 2km away but I think the storm is now moving away.

G3XBM in the shack today

For storm maps see http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en . The storm seems to have moved off: I can still hear thunder (to the east) but no nearby lightning. We have heavy rain, which will do the garden good.

Just a moment ago there was a flash and thunder almost overhead.  This showed up on the lightning map. Storms still rolling around. I shall not reconnect the antennas and radio gear for a while yet.

Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cambridge, England.

3 Responses to “In the shack”

  • Richard KWøU:

    Nice shack, Roger. I live on a hill, which somewhat compensates for the indoor antenna. After a nearby strike fried my phone I had an electrician put a commercial grade surge protector on the line coming into the house. Not a perfect solution, but it might help the electronics when we have another one. Tried to get my neighbors to do that too, but nobody understood why it was cheap insurance.

  • Jeff - KE7ACY:

    Keep in mind that if you can see the flash or hear the thunder – you are in range! Lightning can hit 10 miles away or further.

  • KC2WEX:

    MFJ, alpha delta or whomever have three posistion switches for two radios to connect to one antenna, that can be a good way of switching your rig from workable to a dead line, the purpose is the lightning will, when switched to a dead line(where another radio should have been connected to)the lightning strike when connected to ground will follow that path. the grounded line from a seperate coax to ground. even though the surface of the conductor is all that really will be affected. don`t forget to switch it over to the good line when the lightning threat is over.

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