How critical is grounding?

[sgt-spam]

My phase III dish was not grounded when installed. Nor were other D* installed dishes in the past... The ground wire from the coax was connected to the foot of my dish, and the other end connected to a bridge (male-male) adapter in my attic, but that's it.

When my AT9 was installed, the installer was way-concerned about grounding but eventually did the install without grounding the dish/cable 'properly'.

I DO have a ground wire run from my WB68 to the house common ground. I guess I figured that the ground from the dish to the bridge and over the coax ground (steel mesh in cable) to the switch was good enough.

I called D* about picture break-up, and the technician said it could be due to mis-alignment or a grounding problem. He indicated that my signal strength going from x to x-1 and back every second or two was indicitave of a grounding issue, too.

So I picked up some copper wire, a grounding clamp, and a 4-foot rod to drive into the ground. Since all my gear is on the other side of the house, I drove the rod beside the foundation at the corner of the house and meticulously ran the ground wire up to the bridges so things are 'properly' grounded, or as close as I can get.

Signal strength has not been noticably different (still bounces between x and x-1), and I still get break-up.

Someone's coming out Saturday to re-align the dish...


Do you think I really have a grounding issue, or is this purely an alignment problem?

[carl6]

I don't know if grounding can cause the symptom you describe.

However, adding a ground rod as you did, and not bonding it back to the house electrical ground, can cause ground loop problems and could possibly even cause more of a problem than it would cure.

Carl

[Hansen]

What is the proper grounding method to avoid "ground loop" problems? I've noticed a break up (pixelation) on certain channels when the microwave is turned on, or a refrig compressor kicks on or vacumm is running. This thread makes me wonder whether my dish is properly grounded.

[AllieVi]

What is the proper grounding method to avoid "ground loop" problems? I've noticed a break up (pixelation) on certain channels when the microwave is turned on, or a refrig compressor kicks on or vacumm is running. This thread makes me wonder whether my dish is properly grounded.I'll leave the answer about grounding to others.

The three appliance situations you describe all involve high current flow. If they are on the same branch circuit as some of your satellite equipment (let's say a switch or receiver) or if your electrical service is sub-par, the drain could reduce the voltage reaching the satellite stuff. Such low voltage might create the pixelation.

I doubt your problem is directly related to poor grounding. Many systems aren't grounded at all and don't have the problem you describe.

[DTC mac]

Grounding is a safety issue. For the straight dope see the National Electicral Code 2005 ed.