Ok, so we were having our satellite dish put up but the installer said he couldn‘t do it because we didn‘t have anything to ground it. So how exactly do I ground it? I‘ve looked at some sites, but it‘s all so confusing. Some say to use a rod, some say to use a grounding block? How do I know which one I need to use? Any feed back would be really appreciated. Thanks!
There are two issues. One, the grounding block refers to a lightning arrester that protect your inside wiring and equipment from a lightning hit on the dish. It's done by connecting the coaxial downlead from the antenna to the grounding block at the point where it enters the building. The block has its own ground point that must be connected through heavy gauge wire to a good metallic ground, which can be a nearby cold water pipe that enters the soil very near the block, or a separate 6 to 8 foot copper-clad grounding rod driven into the soil adjacent to the building. Such rods are sold in the electrical department of large hardware stores or home improvement centers. Cautions about using a new grounding rod: (1) Be sure that the location where you drive it into the soil has nothing underneath that might get punctured, like a water or gas line, electric cable, or phone/TV cable. (2) The wire from the block to the rod must be attached in a manner that ensures direct electrical contact over time, despite wear and tear from weather. My approach has been to use #10 or larger copper wire and solder it to the copper-coated bar with a propane torch. The second issue is a direct ground connection from the dish to your water pipe ground (or grounding rod). Whether this connection is necessary depends on your local building code--it may not be if you have a good ground on the downlead as explained above. If you do install the direct ground, use heavy gauge wire and secure it to your water pipe or rod as explained above. With respect to the other answer from the maintenance mechanic, the method he describes will guarantee a faulty connection due to corrosion within one or two winters.
I would try to mount it out reach, but you can mount it low. When I moved into this house I couldn't get signal due to all the trees. I finally noticed a hole in the line with where the satellite is, so I got a compass and protractor to see if feasible. Turns out that was the only place I could mount it, with a only a small window to the line of sight. It turned out I needed a post about ten feet away from the house at about 8' Any lower or higher, any other spot wouldn't work. Just too many big trees. I would try to go higher than 5-6 feet if possible. But if that's where it needs to be, low to the ground, then yeah, then that is what needs to happen. One thing is it ok with the apartment owner? And the concrete bucket idea would work. It would make moving it latter easy. Of course, it would also make stealing it or just moving it just to screw with you easy, too. Pro's and Con's. BTW, I have switched from Dish to DirecTV also. But to each their own.
This Site Might Help You. RE: How Do I Ground My Satellite Dish? Ok, so we were having our satellite dish put up but the installer said he couldn't do it because we didn't have anything to ground it. So how exactly do I ground it? I've looked at some sites, but it's all so confusing. Some say to use a rod, some say to use a grounding block?.
