[PBC]

Does anyone know where one can pick this up in Toronto, or over the web in Canada?

VSIS-EU Cable TV Ground Loop Isolator

It's available on Big River (guess that site is blocked here?) and ebay, but I can't seem to find it on Google at a CDN website?

Thanks!

 

[57]

I found the same - no Canadian sites, however, I'm a firm believe that one should not put a band-aid on an electrical problem. Proper grounding of the incoming cable/sat or signal, or proper grounding of the equipment is the only safe way to go.

 

[PBC]

Yeah, I want to make sure the outside is grounded properly, but given the weather for the next few months I'm probably not trekking out to my meter (where the cable comes in) any time soon!

Figured in the Spring I'd check if I grounded the incoming signal (I can't recall if I did a few years ago when I had the same issue).

 

[ScaryBob]

Ground loop problems are common with CATV cable, especially in MDUs. It's not as common in houses since everything should be on a common ground. However, it can happen if strong electrical fields or wiring faults are present. The CATV cable should be grounded to a cold water pipe where it enters the house, usually on the inside. Grounding blocks are available for that.

 

[stampeder]

PBC and all, when in doubt about CATV ground loops remember that everything you need to know about grounding is covered in the following thread:

Grounding Info & Standards: OTA/Dish/CATV/Telecom

I'm in absolute agreement with 57 about getting the grounding set up properly in the first place rather than applying fixes like an isolator. As ScaryBob says, the answer is as simple as picking up a cheap grounding block from The Source or at many other stores. Again, read through that thread and you'll get simple solutions.

 

[PBC]

I guess the question is, if I've eliminated the cable from the system altogether and still get a hum, could it still be a CATV ground loop issue?

 

[JamesK]

^^^^
No. It's something else. Audio cables are a good bet. Does it change with source selection? Is everything plugged into one power bar?

 

[ScaryBob]

Ground Loop Elimination

1. Make sure the electrical service and all electrical circuits are up to code and properly grounded.
2. Plug all A/V equipment in each location into the same circuit, preferably a separate circuit that is properly grounded and not shared with general house wiring.
3. Make sure all signal sources, such as CATV, satellite, network and telephone, are properly grounded and/or protected from outside surges where they enter the building.
4. Use good quality cables and connectors. They do not need to be overpriced Mon$ter cables. OTOH, avoid cables that were stored in the basement/garage junk box for the past 5, 10 or 20 years.
5. Eliminate defective equipment as the source of a ground loop.