[Antennas] Dipole "Multi-band" pairs?

[Jack Painter]

>My question has to do with lightning, etc. protection.  What do you
>use for ladder line and where have you installed the device?  (I note
>the Wireman has a nice protector).  It seems there are more devices
>available for coax.

http://www.iceradioproducts.com/  main page

http://www.iceradioproducts.com/impulse1.html#2 open-wire arrestor

Models 309 and 309H are configured for open wire balanced feed systems

>Also---just to put all the questions for now in
>one package: should I continue from the protector to the house with
>ladderline (to a balun and then the tuner) or put a balun after the
>protector and then run coax through the wall of the house to the
>tuner.  I realize some of this has to do with personal preferences---
>but there are probably good reasons for one or the other as a basic
>choice.

It has very little to do with 'preference' if you are designing a system to
be protected from lightning energy. The feedlines are only 1/3 of the
problem (AC surge protection and proper common bonding are the other 2/3),
but you only asked about twin-line feeder, so....

The protector should be right at the feedline entrance to your house
(preferably at the main AC service entrance), attached to a large conductive
plate at ground level, which is right on top of a deep grounding rod (8-10')
and then as many other bonded ground rods across the property as you can
manage. Equipment case bonding in the radio room all make as short and
straight a line as possible out to the same single-point ground where the
arrestors are mounted.

Placing a protector far from the house only allows a near-strike's energy to
get right back in the line (even shallow buried coax) on its way to your
home. Of course if you properly shield ground coax along the way, the
arrestor(s) and single point ground can even be inside your radio room as
mine are. But for balanced (twin) feeders, there is no 'earth' side, only a
differential voltage (+/-) and neither may be connected to earth anywhere
(until they connect to your tuner or receiver/transceiver). That's where the
special balanced-line arrestors come in. But they should be right at the
entrance, the same place as any coaxial arrestors, if used.

If your feedlines (balanced or coaxial) enter your home apart from the main
AC service entrance, there must be a bond (connection by very heavy copper
cable) from the feedline entry-point back to the service entrance ground
rod. To ignore that is a direct violation of NEC (electrical code) in all 50
U.S. States, and in my opinion invites a loss of insurance if you try to
make a claim against such improper installation.  Many Hams make these
claims for damaged equipment every year, in spite of electrical code
violations. Nonetheless, it could cause your home to burn down, and that is
rarely anyone's goal in the hobby.

Jack
Virginia Beach