Quote:
Originally Posted by thom
If this is expected behavior, what's the proper way to get lightning protection and still have power pass to the amp?
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If a protector was on the roof, then it was not doing protection. Any protector that will absorb surge energy is a scam. If that protector would stop or absorb a surge, then tiny RF signals are also blocked or absorbed.
Protection was never about a protector. Energy gets absorbed by earth. An antenna lead must drop down to the building's single point earth ground. Make a low impedance connection (ie 'less than 10 feet') to that ground before rising back up to enter the building. GroundUrMast describes it as a ground block in his point 2).
A wire properly earthed means hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly in earth. In most cases, a wire is the best protector. One from the TV mast as short as possible to an earth ground rod. Another from the coax where it enter the building.
In rarer cases, some will make that same connection to earth via a protector similar to what you have. That protector has a ground lug for the 10 AWG (or thicker) wire. To dissipate hundreds of thousands of joules in earth. Not inside any protector.
All protectors also create dB losses. How much? Less dB (signal) losses typically mean a more expensive unit. How many dBs does your protector claim diminish a signal at 1.5 Ghz? An industry benchmark is Polyphaser. Compare those numbers for their equivalent product. dB loss numbers increase for each higher TV channel (frequency). Better protectors have a lower dB loss for each frequency.
BTW, earth a 'whole house' protector on AC mains. Earthed also low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to the same earth ground rod. Otherwise the TV remains at same risk - remains unprotected.