A surge protector is adapted for a broadband coaxialsystem in which electrical signals having a frequency rangefrom DC to one gigahertz are transmitted. The surge protectorhas a pair of coaxial cable connectors, a surge protectiondevice, and a fail-short mechanism. The fail-short mechanismhas a first operating condition in which the center and outerconductors of the coaxial cable connectors are isolated fromeach other and a second operating condition in which the centerand outer conductors of the coaxial cable connectors areconductively coupled to each other. The impedance of the fail-short mechanism allows the surge protector to have an insertionloss with a magnitude not greater than about -0.2 decibels anda return loss having a magnitude of at least about -20decibels, and the fail-short mechanism is adapted to conducta fail-short current having a magnitude of at least about 30amperes for at least about 15 minutes when the fail-shortmechanism is in its second operating condition.
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