Schedule

Next Zoom : Tuesday, Oct. 13 2026  7:00 pm MT

Program:  Don, VE6HQ, will give a short presentation on his automated lightning monitor and antenna disconnect system.  

 

Summary:  

Lightning presents a significant hazard to amateur radio equipment, particularly when a station is unattended and its antennas remain connected. While we cannot prevent lightning, we can design our stations to reduce their exposure when lightning approaches.This presentation describes the development of an automated lightning monitor and antenna disconnect system.

The system uses public lightning-density data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi controller, and an outdoor physical coaxial disconnect to automatically isolate station equipment when nearby lightning is detected.I will discuss how the lightning data is obtained and interpreted, how the controller determines the level of threat, and how the antenna disconnect is operated and independently verified

             

Your Questions and Suggestions

As usual, we encourage you (especially newbies) to ask your ham radio related questions to the group and also to suggest topics you’d like to see addressed over the coming months.  If we can’t answer them, we’ll make stuff up – just like some of the AI chat bots I know!  

 

 

Thank you!

 

Jerry VE6TL

 

 

Meeting Place:  ZOOM (see credentials below)

Meeting Date:  Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Meeting Time: 7 PM MT

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To join Zoom Meeting, click on link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88938170374
Meeting ID: 889 3817 0374
Pass code: Sastar2024

 

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