Cable TV causing system ground problems!


After responding to another thread about powerline products. ..I wanted to post what you might call a warning...or at least a "heads-up". Cable feeds...be they for TV or cable internet..or FM, can cause real problems for your stereo. The ground on cable can have DC and other problems..that if connected to your system through interconnects from unit to unit, or to the AC can cause you to go searching for a cure. The real cure is to keep cable feeds out of your system and your systems AC.
whatjd
I think some of the suggestions above are worth the try.. It seems that the ground form the Cable TV feed is usually the concern...usually DC voltage on the Cable ground. If you look at the info that comes with the Monster power strip series...like the model HTS-2000., they give some excellent information on the subject... It appears that Mr. Marsh and Monster are very aware that Cable TV presents real problems for audio systems...
Sometimes you get a ground loop when you have a dedicated ground for your system and your 75 ohm antenna or cable is attached to another ground. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to get two 75 ohm to 300 ohm comverters and attach them back to back, use a voltmeter to test the continuity of the threaded shield, if it breaks the continuity you will eliminate the ground difference, which can be either a big or a small improvement depending on your particular ground problem.
I recently solved the problem with a $12 Holland Electronic ground loop isolator from a local A/V shop. Solved the problem. A friend of mine suggested a homemade 75-300-75ohm resister series to do the same thing (see post above). I still kick myself for not visiting Radio Shack and saving $4 bucks. I could almost by a used CD. Have fun! Kurt