[touchton]

I had a Dish Network system installed last Thursday. I've been looking through the manuals, and they talk of a 'ground block'. I don't believe one was installed on my system.

The dish is mounted to the eve of the roof. There are three coax cables coming from the dish that enter the house. These cables go to each of the three receivers in the house.

Is that a problem?

There have been a couple of rain storms since the installation. Each time I totally lost signal. The dish has a clear, unimpeded view of the sky. On a clear day I get a real strong signal. It runs about 120-123 on 119 and 98-100 on 110.

What should I be seeing as far a rain fade?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

Thad

 

[Doug E]

As you describe your installation, I am led to believe that you do not have the ground blocks installed. These blocks are small but still visible since the line from the switch (or LNBF) enters one side and another cable then continues on to your receiver. The thing to look for is a small wire running from the ground block that runs into the ground and attaches to a rod that is embedded into the ground.

Hope this helps.

 

[touchton]

Not sure if I have the terminology correct, but it appears the dish has a quad LNB. Three cables leave the LNB, travel under the house, then are connected to coaxes that go to the receivers via barrel connectors.

I would have thought all three cables would have connected into a 'block' that has a separate ground wire. But it doesn't.

Where it's located, I could easily install a ground block and ground it to a cold water pipe.........

Thad

 

[Guest]

Not surprised, Thad. Did a contractor do this job? The dish and the wires are supposed to be individually grounded. Either call whoever did the install and get them back there to install a ground block or go to Home Depot and buy one and ground to cold water or the electrical mast if you have one.
Good Luck!

 

[Bill Mullin]

Originally posted by Joel B
The dish and the wires are supposed to be individually grounded.

As far as I know, the only effect of not being grounded is an increased (but still remote) possibility of taking a lightning strike . . . right?

- Bill

 

[Steve Mehs]

AFAIK, thats correct, I have not seen one single dish around here grounded.

 

[Tony S]

Originally posted by Bill Mullin
As far as I know, the only effect of not being grounded is an increased (but still remote) possibility of taking a lightning strike . . . right?

- Bill

Not exactly. Using the ground block is a good idea for other reasons. Grounding allows any static charges that may build up on the dish to be bled off. It also insures that the "ground" potential of the satellite system is the same as the rest of your electrical equipment (which not only is a good idea for safety, but can actually help to reduce some types of interference).

 

[Ric]

As a followup to this question for me. I have D* with two lines cascading to an Aspen multiswitch from satellite (no grounding yet). Two of those lines then branch off and each goes to two separate UTV receivers directly (Tuner 2 on each). The other two lines then branch to the original cable input to the house and each goes to tuner 1 on each receiver.

The lines for tuner 1 are attached to a grounding block before entering house. Is this sufficient for grounding or should I do something with the other two lines as well(ones going to Tuner 2)?

I ask this because each set of lines enter on opposite sides of the house. Hope my descriptions make sense.

 

[Guest]

I always ground every feed off the dish before it goes into any switch. SW 64s are expensive and I've never had to replace one yet.

If you ground the switch you're going to have problems down the road.

 

[Guest]

We could talk for hours on grounding theory - everyone has their own ideas of what constitutes an acceptable ground. Some people don't even think it's necessary. The dish should be grounded. Ground it from the bug nut screw hole on the side or from the screw used to tighten the arm to the foot to a power mast, power conduit, or cold water. Then ground the cables with a ground block.

Ric, ground the wires coming off the dish with a ground block. Only having 1 of the lines grounded isn't sufficient.

Touchton, get that installer back out to your house and have them put in an acceptable ground. The install is typically warrantied for 90 days.

 

[Tony S]

Many people (including Dan Collins, and myself) advise NOT to ground the dish (as Joel B has described) unless the dish is part of an overall whole-house lightning protection system. (Grounding the dish may actually increase your chances of a lightning strike).

Each cable should be grounded at the point that it enters the house (using an appropriate ground block). As I stated in my previous post, this allows any static charges that may build up on the dish to be bled off and also also insures that the "ground" potential of the satellite system is the same as the rest of your electrical equipment.

 

[Guest]

Never, I repeat never, ground the dish. Only ground the RG-6 before it goes to a switch or into the house.