Surge Protection on VDSL Line

[ephemeros]

Recently we had a thunderstorm come through and there was a lightning strike close by, although not THAT close. I have good surge protection on my power, but nothing on the VDSL line coming in for Uverse because I was specifically told by the installer not to. As a result of this lightning strike, my RG, my DVR (which had a lot of stuff saved that I hadn't watched yet), and my Sony home theater receiver got fried. AT&T replaced the RG and DVR quickly, which is fine (although the requirement to return the equipment is stupid, considering that it is completely useless). They're obviously not going to replace my receiver and I guess I should just be glad that my game consoles and my HDTV are fine. Googling "uverse surge protector" produces a disturbingly large number of comments from people who had similar things happen to them. AT&T really should be liable since it is their line coming into my home, but I'm well aware that they aren't going to accept that liability, even though the demarc is technically IN MY HOUSE now that I have their equipment which I don't (and can't) own. Amusingly, the rep I talked to on the phone to report this did not seem surprised at all at what had happened and did not even challenge my assertion that a surge/lighting strike caused the problem. Heard that before, maybe?

This approach to surge protection is completely unacceptable, because clearly the VDSL line can carry transients. You would think that they could build something into the RG itself, but apparently they don't care or don't want to spend the money. Is there an RJ-11 protector that will work with Uverse, or do I need to find another internet service provider before more of my property is destroyed by AT&T's negligence?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

No provider is responsible for damage done by an act of nature (i.e. lightening strike).  This is covered by homeowner's insurance.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

For a close or direct lightning strike, surge suppressors actually can't really do much to protect equipment. Lightning has too much voltage and too much induction capability for a surge protector to be able to stop it.

From magnetic induction, lightning can conceivably damage devices that aren't even plugged in. Even if you had a surge suppressor on the VDSL line, this likely wouldn't have changed the outcome of your close lightning strike.

[ephemeros]

Considering that the modem portion of the RG was fried, I think I'm right in blaming the VDSL line. My house was not directly hit, which is obvious considering that nothing else was affected and my neighbors (some of which also have Uverse) were fine. The surge very clearly came directly through the VDSL line. My problem is that AT&T doesn't provide any kind of protection for this. I'd be happy to buy a protector if they would recommend one. There are RJ-11 and RJ-45 surge protectors for DSL, but apparently they cause problems due to the signaling of VDSL. Surely someone has come up with a solution for this.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

There was a similar discussion in a thread last year:

http://forums.att.com/t5/Residential-Gateway/Lightning-Protection/m-p/2812481

[oobleck]

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ephemeros wrote:

 My problem is that AT&T doesn't provide any kind of protection for this.

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There's a lightning protector (not sure what the technical term is) inside the NID on the side of my house, and probably in yours too.  It looks like one of the ones on this page.   As I recall it's in the part of the box that only AT&T is supposed to be able to access.

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oobleck

[ephemeros]

Hmmm...this implies that gas discharge works ok with the line, which is what I've seen on the few aftermarket DSL protectors that I've looked at. Typically they're about $40 each so I suppose it is worth trying out to see if it works.

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

You can't use anything on the VDSL line as it will interrupt the VDSL signal, there should be a ground connection in the Nid as mentioned above.  As SomeJoe mentioned, nothing can protect from a very close strike.

I had one flash/bang at the same instant, being very close a couple summers ago, did not affect power/Uverse.

Chris

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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Help? 1-800-288-2020, After he gets acct info, press # a bunch of times, get a menu from Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

[ScottMac]

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ephemeros wrote:

Hmmm...this implies that gas discharge works ok with the line, which is what I've seen on the few aftermarket DSL protectors that I've looked at. Typically they're about $40 each so I suppose it is worth trying out to see if it works.

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Putting two Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs) together reduces the effectiveness (they don't work as well).In either series or parallel, you kill some portion of the operational characteristics of the GDT.

The same applies to surge protector power strips ... plugging one protected strip into the another protected strip reduces the effectiveness by more than half on both (or all in the chain).  If you need extra outlets, then use a non-protected power strip into a protected power strip.

[ephemeros]

Well, considering what happened I have my doubts about the ground at the NID. Also, what about the other end? I'm in a FTTN neighborhood. Is that box properly grounded?

I think what I've settled on is a CAT5/5e protector between the RG and everything else. It doesn't touch the line, and those protectors are routinely used on gigabit ethernet with no problem (which really makes me wonder why it's "impossible" to put protection on a VDSL line). I could care less if the RG gets fried; that's AT&T's problem. The surge at my house very obviously went like this:

VDSL Line Incoming --> RG --> Ethernet to DVR --> HDMI to Receiver

The RG, DVR, and Receiver are fried. The audio portion o the receiver works fine; the HDMI switching does not. You do the math. So I protect the link coming out of the RG and I'm in good shape.

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

The ONT (your Nid) should be grounded, but in a direct/very very close strike that can not dissapate the high voltage involved.

Only way to keep the receiver/TV from being fried by that very close strike is to unplug everything, but even that is not gonna protect electronic devices in a direct strike due to induced voltage. 

Possibly your only really guarantee is homeowners insurance as TG suggested above.

Chris

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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? 1-800-288-2020, After he gets acct info, press # a bunch of times, get a menu from Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more