Gounding block for 508, fixes Caller ID problems?

[DVDDAD]

I got my 508 a few weeks ago and it has only displayed the Caller ID info on two occasions.  My 6000 and other Caller ID boxes all display the info fine, so it's not the jack, phone line, phone co., etc.  Dish tech support first said that they were aware of the problem and the infamous p68 software would fix the problem.  But today I called again, because Christmas came and went without the update.  Today I was told they were sending out a grounding block for me to hook up to the back of the receiver and that  it should fix the problem.  Does anyone know anything about or have any experience with this grounding block?  What problems has the grounding block been successful in fixing?

BTW, the tech said that she had no info on the p168 update, but she guesses that it should come out in early January, as the last update was 11/7/02 and the one before that was 9/10/02.  "So one is due out any day now". 

Any insight would be appreciated.  Thank you.

 

[Jacob S]

Grounding it will solve the problem. It may have been done to make sure the units were grounded if the phone line is plugged in to prevent phone line surge in which the phone line is the most likely way of getting a surge to the receiver due to storms (lightening damage).

[DVDDAD]

Jacob,

You sound so confident that this will fix the problem. I hope you're right. Is this the same grounding block that goes in between the coax satellite input of the receiver with a separate ground wire going to plumbing? Something that I can get at Radio Shack? Or is it something that grounds the phone line itself? Thank you.

[bearklaw]

According to Dish, your system must be grounded for Caller ID to work. I imagine that they are using the ground from the RG-6 feed, so if you don't have a grounding block your receiver isn't grounded.

Seems to me that a three-prong plug would add the ground without requiring a grounding block; don't know why Dish doesn't use one on the receiver.

For what its worth, I have a 508 with a grounding block, and Caller ID works perfectly for me.

-BearKlaw

[snagel]

The item they will send you will be a three prong adapter. Your polarized two prong plug will plug into the three prong adapter and that will plug into the wall outlet receptacle.
The third prong will have a wire going from it to the antenna in connection on your receiver. The wire will be attached via a small nut that attaches it to your antenna in connection.

I have this same item placed on both my 301 and my 508 receivers. It works alot better.

[J.W.]

Does anyone know if grounding the coax will cause other problems? I am having a wierd problem with my switches. I have a Twin LNB and when I do a check switch sometimes it says All for both and sometimes it says just Odd for on sat. The other coax won't even pick up the 119 sat. The dish was installed in Nov so it's not that old and I don't think it is a aiming issue. Any help? BTW, I haven't yet grounded my coaxs since moving them to another place. Thanks.

J.W.

[Allamand]

Why would this work? Is the 508 poorly built? The caller ID worked fine for methe first 2 days I had it, then nothing ever since. Never changed a thing. I have it plugged into a UPS and that is grounded and so is the Coax cable.

What then is left to ground?

Is the case on the 508 what isn't grounded then?

[DVDDAD]

Originally posted by snagel
The item they will send you will be a three prong adapter. Your polarized two prong plug will plug into the three prong adapter and that will plug into the wall outlet receptacle.
The third prong will have a wire going from it to the antenna in connection on your receiver. The wire will be attached via a small nut that attaches it to your antenna in connection.

I have this same item placed on both my 301 and my 508 receivers. It works alot better.

Well I finally received the "Grounding Adapter", installed it and although it didn't work the first time out, Caller ID now works fine. I needed to disable and re-enable Caller ID and then it started working fine. Thanks for all of your help on this. I hope others who have Caller ID problems on the 508 will find this information handy as it took several calls to Dish tech support before a rep suggested it.

[timr21]

This is very stange. I do not have a "caller ID" grounding block for my 508. and it works just fine...has for months. Strange.

TimR><>