Lightning

[henw]

My DTV 5LNB dish sits high due to nearby trees. We live in the lightning capital of the USA, central Florida. Is there a lightning surge protector for the cable lines running from the dish to the receiver?

Tom

[davring]

My DTV 5LNB dish sits high due to nearby trees. We live in the lightning capital of the USA, central Florida. Is there a lightning surge protector for the cable lines running from the dish to the receiver?

Tom

Not that would do any good from a direct hit. The best you can do is ground the dish, use a UPS and keep your home owners insurance up to date:)

[Grentz]

If lightning hits anywhere on your home you are pretty much going to have issues. About the only exception is a professional grounding rod like used on barns, high rises, etc.

I would not worry too much about it, I know plenty with roof mounted dishes in Florida with no issues in many many years.

[henw]

Thanks!!

[Johnnie5000]

My DTV 5LNB dish sits high due to nearby trees. We live in the lightning capital of the USA, central Florida. Is there a lightning surge protector for the cable lines running from the dish to the receiver?

Tom

Lightening rods, like what are used on most golf courses would help out. They would draw the lightening to them, instead of to the dish.

But if you take a direct hit, you're SOL regardless. Like everyone else said, make sure your HO insurance has a lightening clause, and use a UPS. Proper grounding also helps, but it only goes so far.

[brant]

everyone else is correct that you can do nothing in the event of a direct strike, but there are in-line coax surge protectors available. i use this one (http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?sitex=10023:22372:US&item=6697) by leviton.

[henw]

Does the inline surge protector interfere with HD signal at all??

[sonnylax]

Does the inline surge protector interfere with HD signal at all??

Would like to know the answer to this question too.

[David MacLeod]

I'm interested too, and if it doesn't should it go before or after the ground block.

[davring]

Not many inline coax surge protectors will pass the frequencies needed, be sure and check the specs. There is very little chance of a surge coming into the receiver by way of the dish, the phone and power lines pose a MUCH greater risk. Again, none of these "surge" protectors will protect you from a direct lightning hit. If you ever , hopefully not, have your home hit, I have twice, I would be much more concerned for the people and pets, it isn't pretty.

[brant]

i have dish network HD service and it passes that signal just fine.

as for where to put it, there are no requirements. it is recommended to put on at each TV, so past the ground block is fine. i have mine inside because it does not say if it is weather resistant. i would try to put it as near as possible to the point of entry though.

[David MacLeod]

I would be much more concerned for the people and pets, it isn't pretty.
slightly related, I tried to ground the wife to prevent this.
she saw the hole and refused.......

[2dogz]

There are whole house surge protectors (Siemans make one) that are installed at the circuit breaker panel by a professional electrician (about $500). They are designed to protect the major appliances in the house from power surges caused by lightning entering the house through the power grid, which is much more likely than a direct hit. Not having TV will not be as annoying than having to replace a 2000 dollar fridge and the house air conditioning system (in Florida).

You still need to protect sensitive electronics with ups/surge protection units as they are more fragile. But the ups will have a better chance of surviving a really big hit.

[David MacLeod]

whole house protectors won't fully help items with coax/phone lines though, only work on surges sent through powerlines.
cable/dsl modems, sat boxes, tv's hooked to an ota antenna won't get full benefit from just this.
however they are useful and if possible a good thing to have, some insurance companies (at least up here) offer incentives for this type of item.

[Grentz]

whole house protectors won't fully help items with coax/phone lines though, only work on surges sent through powerlines.
cable/dsl modems, sat boxes, tv's hooked to an ota antenna won't get full benefit from just this.
however they are useful and if possible a good thing to have, some insurance companies (at least up here) offer incentives for this type of item.

They are especially good since most of the items you listed are a hassle, but fairly small and inexpensive compared to bigger items like refrigerators, water heaters, HVAC, etc.