Patent ID: 7414526

Claim:
A system for coupling communications signals to a medium-voltage power line, the system comprising: a metal oxide varistor electrically coupled to a medium-voltage power line; a disconnect device electrically coupled to the metal oxide varistor, the disconnect device comprising a resistor and an air gap; a conductor comprising a first end and a second end, with the first end electrically coupled between the metal oxide varistor and the disconnect device; a coupler comprising: a first connector adapted to couple to a coaxial cable; a second connector adapted to electrically couple to the disconnect device; a third connector adapted to couple to the second end of the conductor; a capacitor electrically coupled in series between the second connector and the third connector; and a base, wherein the first connector, the second connector, the third connector, and the capacitor are coupled to the base; a communications device comprising at least one modem; and a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable coupling the communications device to the first connector.