An Automated Lightning Monitor and Antenna Disconnect System for the Amateur Radio Station

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The project described in this article is based on a simple objective: when lightning approaches the station,
disconnect the coaxial feed line completely from the station equipment, and perform that disconnection
outdoors at the station entrance and grounding point. Rather than merely switching the antenna to another
RF termination, the intended mechanism physically separates the station-side coaxial feed line from the
antenna-side connection. The outdoor assembly is associated with the station’s external grounding and
bonding system so that the antenna system remains outside the protected station environment.

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