Abstract: A floating ground isolator for shunting only selected damaging and/or annoying induced energy from a communications cable sheath to ground, thereby facilitating long range cable location using conventional signal radiation techniques. The floating ground isolator provides a surge suppression circuit to effectively suppress dangerous transient surges present on the cable sheath and a filtering circuit to pass annoying periodic signals within a preselected frequency range from the cable sheath to ground. A selectively connected terminating resistance is also provided between the cable sheath and ground to form a side leg termination useful in facilitating long range cable location on spurs emanating from a main cable line. Furthermore, a relay controlled floating ground circuit is disclosed having a normal position shunting the cable sheath to ground and an actuated position lifting the ground connection.

Abstract: A surge suppressor for a radio frequency (RF) transmission line includes an a printed circuit board having a conductor for connection in series with a RF transmission line. The conductor has a capacitance for passing RF signals and blocking transients. To the printed circuit board are mounted a choke and a resistor, each of which is connected in series with the transmission line and in parallel to each other and to the capacitance of the conductor. The choke passes steady, direct current signals for powering equipment located on an antenna. The surge suppressor further includes first and second discharge stages connected to the conductor on opposite sides of the impedance. Each stage includes a discharge device connected to the conductor through a radio frequency choke or resonant circuit. The choke or resonant circuit blocks leakage of radio frequencies into the discharge devices. A gas discharge tube is used for the first stage, which is for connection to an antenna side of the surge suppressor.

Abstract: A floating ground isolator for shunting only selected damaging and/or annoying induced energy from a communications cable sheath to ground, thereby facilitating long range cable location using conventional signal radiation techniques. The floating ground isolator provides a surge suppression circuit to effectively suppress dangerous transient surges present on the cable sheath and a filtering circuit to pass annoying periodic signals within a preselected frequency range from the cable sheath to ground. A selectively connected terminating resistance is also provided between the cable sheath and ground to form a side leg termination useful in facilitating long range cable location on spurs emanating from a main cable line. Furthermore, a relay controlled floating ground circuit is disclosed having a normal position shunting the cable sheath to ground and an actuated position lifting the ground connection.

Abstract: A protector block assembly for coupling a plurality of surge protectors to multi-line telecommunications cables includes a multi-layer printed circuit, to which has been mounted at least two cable connectors, and a protector block having a plurality of sockets for receiving standard surge protectors. A plurality of pins electrically and physically connects the multi-layer printed circuit board to the sockets on the protector block in a manner that a unique signal path exists between each lead in each connector and one of the sockets on the printed circuit board. The multi-layer printed circuit board includes traces on multiple layers that have a width and a copper content sufficient to carry current surges without breaking down.