[R-390] Tube receivers and long wire antennas

[Brad Huff]

I recently put up a long wire antenna approx 125' long and was amazed at the static buildup and arcover as I started to put a coax connector on the end of the feedline during a storm. I am told that the static during a snowstorm is amazing as well. Now to my question for the group-The arc between the center conductor and the ragged end of the just cut braid was probably a kilovolt or so during that storm, a storm that was a couple of miles away. Now I don't intend to leave the antenna hooked up to the radio when it is not in use but I'm still concerned about front end damage while I'm using it. What does one do about this? I don't know if an in line lightning arrester would do the trick or possibly a neon bulb from the center conductor to ground or both. The schematic shows a neon bulb across the unbalanced input but nothing across the balanced one. I don't think that a solid state rig would survive. I've asked a few vendors of antenna supplies about this and they don't have an answer, since I didn't invent the long wire antenna I'm sure someone has dealt with this before. Any help would be appreciated.-Brad