You said everything was protected by surge protectors - but you did not
mention the telephone line.  There are some (slightly more expensive)
surge protectors that will reduce the risk of surges coming down the
telephone line and into your modem.  One cord from the wall jack goes
to one socket on the surge protector and another goes from the other
socket to your modem.   Nothing will stop a direct hit from a bolt of
lightning - not even 1/2 a mile of clear sky - but a good surge protector
will limit smaller spikes.

As for heavy loads - especially "sparky" motors like those in electric
drills and vacuum cleaners (cleaning the commutator and new brushes may
help some) - the best cure is to avoid having them on the same circuit.

Surge protectors do not protect against a drop in voltage - and unless you
run on a UPS that is "always on", even they have a momentary "glitch"
as they switch from line to battery backup and back.  A decent power supply
should be able to keep going through a brief drop in voltage.

Boyd Ramsay

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