Mike:
I received unexpectedly good service from US Robotics on the modem I am now
using - once I got past the long wait on the telephone.

As for the modems "killed" by lightning, do you have a modem surge protector
on the telephone line?

If yes, is it new since the last replacement?  If it is from before the
last strike, does it still protect from overvoltage?  If the spark can leap
half a mile (or more), NOTHING smaller is going to stop it.  The best you
can hope for is to divert it to ground through something like a spark gap,
a BIG Zener diode, or Metal Oxide Varistor(MOV) - that's the red disk
used in most surge protectors that often "dies" when hit by a voltage
spike, frequently (but not always) saving more expensive electronics.

For most purposes, even the cheapest (under $20) surge protectors are a good
idea, but in your case (three hits in 2 years!), I recommend a slightly
more expensive version that has a LED indicating that the MOV is still
working.  A common problem is that the MOV "dies" saving the system, but
gives no indication that it has failed, so the next spike goes right by it
and blows up the modem.  Consider yourself lucky that you just lost the
modems, and not your whole system.

Incidentally, replacement MOVs are available at Radio Shack and many
other electronics stores for only a few dollars -just make sure you
get the right one - both voltage and energy absorption rating (size).

Boyd Ramsay

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