The first step following a suspected lightning strike is to prioritize safety by unplugging all network equipment from the wall outlet and disconnecting any connected coaxial, phone, or Ethernet cables. A lightning strike, whether direct or nearby, introduces a massive transient overvoltage into your home's electrical and communication lines, often overwhelming the delicate circuitry within networking equipment. This sudden event frequently leaves the router unresponsive, requiring a systematic. Fiber optic cables use glass instead of copper, making them completely immune to lightning-induced surges. To help protect my network, I've set up a fiber isolation barrier using a couple of fiber media converters. This simple trick keeps potential surges from traveling across.
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