Question about network problem

[kabbott]

This may not be the best forum for this but here goes....

I had a bad lightning strike here a few months back that hit my coax that supplies my broadband, tv, and phone. Wiped out a half dozen computers,
2 big screens( networked), high end amateur radio, Wii, audio reciever, the list goes on and on, well into 5 digits of damage. Everything that was
connected to wired network was totally destroyed. My question is this, I have a few wireless routers that i am not using , is there anyway to use them to
bridge from the cable modem to my linux firewall ? I know i can do NAT and use them as a "wireless link" to the modem but i really would like the
public IP at the firewall and don't want double NAT. I have not messed with this yet but thought some of the guru's on the forum may have some advice.

I have heard Bill mention fiber but it seems that equipment would be to exspensive to sacrifice to another strike, maybe not and at least it would protect
the rest of the house. I am open to any suggestions as I cannot allow this to happen again, 4 months later I am still having things repaired.

Funny thing is I have a 120 foot radio tower in the backyard and it misses it and nails the cable tv 15 feet off the ground, just my luck. The tower is protected well and was disconnected from the radio, the radio was connected to the ground bus and power and took it's hit from the computer next to it.
Took the rj-45's right off the cat-5, burned ground prongs off power strips, truly amazing. For anyone with many network devices take my advice and
look into some protection. A hard lesson learned for me..............

Kris

[gregg.irwin]

Ouch! You have my sympathies. I just keep adding to my collection of UPSs as time goes on. I think even the sewing machine will be on one soon.

[wkuhns]

In my experience, 10mb fiber is pretty cheap - about $60 for the fiber <-> cat5 canverter on each end. 3' of fiber should do it.

[kabbott]

Thanks folks, It looks like fiber may be cheaper than i thought. I will need to do a little research on fiber as I have never used it for networking.
Is it as simple as 2 convertors, a fiber patch cable, and it will basically be transparent to the network?

would these convertors be OK?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833156216
I really don't need 100 mbit but they are the cheapist thing I see, and 10 mbit may clip my bandwidth (slightly) at times. I believe we will be getting a
free bandwidth upgrade before long here from comcast.

Should I shy away from very low end devices or give them a try? I can always return to newegg... they usually do not charge restocking if you whine
about the restocking fee.

I like this solution much better than wireless, Much more secure. I did not like the idea of only WPA between the neighborhood teenagers and my
public IP.

[wkuhns]

It's no more complex than that. You'll need TWO patch cables - i guess light can only travel in one direction. I'd talk to them about what you're doing to make sure that the pieces play nice.