Beware the EMP

[Caribbeachbum]

A very close-by lightening bolt toasted my ethernet router upstairs, a 5-port ethernet switch downstairs, and apparently -- sadly -- the ethernet chip in my PS3.

I have to reboot the thing three or four times to get a controller to sync; and there is no network connectivity at all. Sigh ... "A connection error has occurred."

I can play offline, but until I repair or replace the PS3, no online golfing.

Unless anyone has heard of this, and knows the chip is not fried but just needs to be reset somehow; and how to do it ... unlikely, but hey, hope is better than despair.

[Boosnickerty]

Sorry to hear buddy. I highly recommend to anyone out there that you invest in one of those power strips with a trip switch. I'm not talking about those cheap 10 pieces of junk either, you need to spend a little more money to get the good ones. Mine cost 80 bucks and I have my computer, ps3 and tv all connected to it. Its guarenteed to get fried and not my toys if there is a lightning strike. If something does happen to one of my appliances, it gets replaced for free. Sweet.

[Caribbeachbum]

Yah those are highly recommended. But they don't protect against everything. My damage is not from a lightening strike, but a nearby lighting bolt and the associated electromagnetic pulse (I'm pretty sure, anyway). No voltage surge on the power line.

You'll laugh - not only was I plugged into a surge suppressor, but in fact into a uninterruptible power supply. The TIVO, the PS3, the TV -- all keep working when when the power goes out ...

[Boosnickerty]

That bolt had to be dang close for your stuff to get fried by emp. If everything else works except for the ethernet, maybe the problem isn't with your stuff, maybe your internet service provider took the hit. Have you checked with them?

[Caribbeachbum]

LOL -- I am posting here ... internet is working. You couldn't know, though, that I'd already replaced the router, so I'm chuckling unfairly.

it was very very close. took out several things. Lucky to still have the TV, probably.

[Boosnickerty]

Yeah, I thought of that as I hit the reply button, but was to lazy to edit it. LOL, besides, you could have been like RD and started posting on your phone. ;D