Service guy claims this happened to me!
2006-07-10 04:53:58 · 10 answers · asked by shawn w 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
ABSOLUTELY! Unless you use Fiber Optic cables - and virtually NO ONE at home does - they are EXPENSIVE. One company I worked at lost at least $10,000 annually to lightning strikes. Follow the electrical path - at what point does the conductive material stop? Power outlet to router, the router to the computer.
2006-07-10 04:56:27 · answer #1 · answered by lwcomputing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If lightning were to strike near the cable that brings you your internet connection (say a phone or cable company's cables out in the street), yeah, there's a chance that this would "take out" the internet connection. This is because of "electrostatic induction".
Outside lines come into the house, and connect to your DSL router or Cable modem. The router/modem is connected to your computer via ethernet and the power outlet. If you didn't run the phone or cable line through a surge protector, then a whole lot extra power could be running in those lines. This will cause the router/modem to fry, but could also move through the ethernet cable and fry your computer.
That being said...
Some service people make up an explanations instead of admitting to bad wiring in the neighborhood, or when they really don't know the answer.
If your service person claimed that the ethernet cable between your modem/router is the culprit, I'd be a bit skeptical unless you know that lightning struck extremely close by... you should be able to tell from all the charred and burned parts around the strike point.
2006-07-10 05:02:49 · answer #2 · answered by Lucas P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't put it quite that way, but yes. Lightning strikes are capable of inducing a current in electrical wiring, which includes power cables, phone lines, network cables, etc. So what your service guy is probably saying is that a lightning-induced surge came over your network cable and fried your network card. It could also have fried your whole computer.
Try hooking a different computer up to your network to see if it works.
2006-07-10 04:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by Dan C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can, I have seen it many times. I used to work for the phone company in south Florida and this is an almost daily occurence there.
2006-07-10 04:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by EG345 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course! Why not? A lightning should melt something before it reaches your nic if you are lucky, but then we always have the Murphy's law!
2006-07-10 05:00:37 · answer #5 · answered by justforjest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can, your ethernet cable is made of copper cables and it can fry your NIC. I would suggest testing the NIC and replace it if it is bad. Email me with other questions
2006-07-10 04:57:02 · answer #6 · answered by Grant N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, used to happen all the time but then I got wireless and that solved the problem.
2006-07-10 04:57:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Don't ever leave your computer on during a lightening storm.
2006-07-10 04:57:10 · answer #8 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Way to go genius. Why do you think they sell so many surge protectors???
2006-07-10 04:57:11 · answer #9 · answered by snvffy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure it can. It can take out your PC too.
2006-07-10 04:57:46 · answer #10 · answered by The Bat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋