[Elecraft] !Lightning Strikes!

[k4wtf@enterzone.net]

I swear to [insert your favorite deity]...  This evening, I had just
finished making a payment on my homeowners insurance over the phone and
the young man on the other end of the phone was saying, "Thank you Mr.
Fraizer, is there anything..." when <!FLASH!> <!CRASH!> <!BOOM!>... a
direct strike about 50yds from my house.  When the young man completed the
sentence, "...else I can do for you today?" I said, "Um, did you hear
that?"  He said, "Ya.  That was LOUD!"  I said, "Well then, I'm sure it
won't seem strange for me to ask you to connect me to the claims
department now, will it?  That was a direct lightning strike."  He laughed
and connected me.

Thus far, a router (a REAL router IE; Cisco 7206), an ethernet switch (not
a cheap one, a Fore Systems ES-3810 Ethernet ATM Switch), a laptop, a
desktop PC and the kitchen oven/stove are known to be toasted.  It is
still storming (with hail to boot) so, I haven't tried any of the amateur
equipment.  The antennas were disconnected/grounded, the power supply was
unplugged etc. but, considering the fact that the PC, ethernet switch and
router were only a couple of feet from the amateur radio equipment, I'm
going to have to go over them with a fine toothed comb to be sure.

Just in time for Dayton, huh?  I guess I have a larger shopping list.

73 de John - K4WTF