surge protector for cable lines.

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reno
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surge protector for cable lines.

Post by reno »

:bang in my community we had a lot of tvs taken out lately by lightning.. my thinking it's coming though the spectrum cable line. is there any reasonable price or available surge arrestor anyone aware of. it's odd it's knocking out tvs & cable box but nothing else . you think Spectrum about to omit the surge is coming though there equipment . im talking like wiping out both tvs not just a single set in some homes . like said im in a 55 and over condo community and some are on a fix income without a lot of extra cash flow. we have some on fix income . some who just are tight asses who have a ton. but like you to think there just squeezing by. these are the hardest to deal with.
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FlyingPenguin
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

This is the only one I've ever heard of:

https://www.amazon.com/Siemens-FSCATV-F ... B013WINKTO

Comcast does not recommend any cable surge protector, as it can block digital signals. That said, reviews say people with Spectrum and Comcast are using it without a problem.

There should already be a MOCA filter at the incoming line to the building, which is usually grounded. It's not a surge protector, but it does ground the shield on the incoming line. Looks like this:

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HOWEVER, be aware NOTHING is going to stop a big enough surge, or a direct strike.
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reno
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by reno »

Thanks FP -was hoping you charm in on this post . at $55.00 each if anyone buy it here that be me . this place is snowbird haven and people treat this like there cottage getaway . think that's enough said as to them buy into have me install one of them on there units at $55.00 plus tax each .
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psypher
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by psypher »

Usually they should have one out at their box outside, just make sure the ground wire is actually connect to the house ground and not your water spigot. I have a whole house surge protector as well. Does any of it actually work? No idea, haven't been struck any where close as of now.
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reno
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by reno »

way more thunder storms here in florida then michigan . every afternoon for the pass month plus we are getting storms . todays storms starting up as we type this . !
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FlyingPenguin
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

Bad lightning season here as well this year.

So four weeks ago, I lose cable after a really bad storm, and when the tech finally gets here, he finds it's that grounded MOCA filter in the outside box that's open. He replaced it and all is good.

Me, being paranoid (because I had to wait several days for a tech because so many people in the area took a hit), I covered my ass and ordered several spare MOCA filters, and the same 9 port MOCA amplifier Comcast installed, from Amazon, so I'd have spares.

A week ago I took another hit, and the MOCA filter fried again, so I replaced it and patted myself on the back.

Last night was another really bad storm, and we lost cable again. This took a while to diagnose this morning. I sure wish I could buy one of those fancy signal strength testers the Comcast techs use - it's basically a portable modem that links to their cell phone and gives them signal strength measurements, line condition, etc. (might have to do some inquiries - I'm sure someone sells them, but I bet they're pricey). Without a tester, it was trial and error: Bypass the filter, no joy. Bypass the amp and no joy. Bypass both the amp and the filter and bang, I've got signal. This time it was both the MOCA filter and the amp.

Being that it was a Sunday, and assuming I'd have to wait days for a service call, I just swapped them both out myself, and ordered another amp so I'd have a spare. Well worth the $70 to me to not wait for a service call.

I noticed the amp has a ground lug on it, which Comcast never seems to use, but to add some extra protection I went ahead and grounded the new amp. Can't hurt.

Might have to invest in one of those surge protectors myself. I'm also going to order an RJ45 surge protector to put between my modem and the gateway. I've used those in client's offices that were prone to lightning damage down the cable line. I'd rather not fry my expensive gateway and switch.

If anyone is interested, you can order the filters and the amp from Amazon here:

Amp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TN963JJ
Filter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4SG4GE

FYI: As mentioned, you can bypass the MOCA filter with an F-fitting barrel just to see if that's the problem. Your cable will work fine without the filter, except you might have issues with your DVRs not seeing each other's recordings. MOCA is a local network over your house cable wiring that lets the boxes and other Comcast devices talk to each other, like sharing DVR recordings, and if you use Comcast's security cameras or alarm system, displaying the calling phone number on your screen, etc. The filter prevents those signals from leaving your house, or signals from another house from entering your network, and confusing the boxes. In a pinch you can bypass the filter, and just replace it whenever you can. It's just a filter that blocks signals over a certain frequency that's used by MOCA.

For this reason you also have to make sure your amp is a MOCA amp, that is specifically designed to pass MOCA signals. Regular antenna amps won't. Again, in a pinch you can always bypass the amp with a splitter, but you'll get less signal, so you may only be able to connect the modem and fewer of the boxes, but it'll get you going in a pinch if you don't have a spare amp.

The Comscope MOCA amp I linked to should work with any modern cable company. They all use MOCA now.
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

BTW Reno. Been doing some research on reasonably priced coax cable lightning protectors. These seem to be a good deal:
https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Surge- ... B0772TXBCQ

Now they aren't surge protectors because they don't sink extra voltage, which is what a surge protector does. It's a very fast gas discharge tube fuse, designed to blow during large voltage spike like a lightning strike nearby. I think this is more what we need. honestly, a surge is not the issue. I like that you know it's blown, because it won't work (the line will be open). You can also buy replacement fuses. Amazon has them 2 for $10: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07K6T6P4B

Digikey also has them even cheaper for $2 each:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... 03/3502743
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

SO I installed one of those gas discharge tubes. I was wrong that when it blows it no longer works. It shorts out the center conductor to ground if the voltage exceeds a threshold and ionizes the gas in the tube, but if the tube is not damaged it will stop conducting when the gas stops ionizing. So after a near hit, or any damage to equipment, they recommend replacing the tube to play safe.

For some extra protection I also installed an RJ45 gas tube lightning protector between the modem and the gateway router: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBLFFNK

All grounded together along with the amp to the nearby outlet.

Of course, since I installed it last week, we've had no lightning...

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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by psypher »

If I only use Comcast for internet would I just add the Ground Block with Integrated MoCA PoE Filter before it goes into the modem? And then add the Ethernet surge protector on the line coming out of the cable modem before it goes into my firewall?

I have a whole house surge protector, but want to make sure I cover a hit coming through the comcast line. A few weeks a go our neighborhood had a direct hit and it took out equipment at like 5 houses. 4 had their modems fried, but one had a ton of equipment in their house get fried.

All my exterior equipment (Comcast/DirecTV) come into my server room. For DirecTV I have the multiswitch inside as well and it's grounded directly to the house ground (breaker box is on the other side of the wall) So I can ground the Comcast equipment there as well.
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

You should already have a MOCA filter in the outside Comcast utility box. It's why Comcast always puts that box near the electric meter and then pulls a tap off the house ground. If you don't, then yeah I'd order one and put it out there, for grounding if nothing else.

The big can in the photo above is the gas discharge lightning protector. You could put it in the outside Comcast box as well, before the MOCA filter, and connect it to the very good house ground out there, but there's a chance that a Comcast tech might remove it if he sees something he doesn't recognize.

For that reason I decided to put mine on the input of the cable amplifier on my utility panel inside my pantry. I'm running a ground wire directly inside the outlet visible above the amp, tying it right to the ground wire inside.

If your modem is the only device connected to cable, and you don't have an amplifier, then I'd put the gas tube lighting protector right before the modem in the server room, if you have a good ground there.

Then yes, the RJ45 protector can go between the modem and your firewall/gateway/router.
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by psypher »

FlyingPenguin wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:50 pm You should already have a MOCA filter in the outside Comcast utility box.
Yes, I just opened it today and I do see the MOCA filter, but the ground is attached to the copper water line. I have access to the main ground that goes back to the house ground. I'm going to get that ground connected correctly.
FlyingPenguin wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:50 pm The big can in the photo above is the gas discharge lightning protector. You could put it in the outside Comcast box as well, before the MOCA filter, and connect it to the very good house ground out there, but there's a chance that a Comcast tech might remove it if he sees something he doesn't recognize.

For that reason I decided to put mine on the input of the cable amplifier on my utility panel inside my pantry. I'm running a ground wire directly inside the outlet visible above the amp, tying it right to the ground wire inside.
Ok, I have a similar setup and I have direct access to the house ground (breaker box is on the other side of the wall.
FlyingPenguin wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:50 pm If your modem is the only device connected to cable, and you don't have an amplifier, then I'd put the gas tube lighting protector right before the modem in the server room, if you have a good ground there.

Then yes, the RJ45 protector can go between the modem and your firewall/gateway/router.
ok, thanks, I'll take pics after it's all done!
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by psypher »

I finally got all my parts. Adding the surge protectors gave me an excuse to redo my setup. I mounted the devices on plywood and added a keystone patch panel. I ended up using a grounding bar that's connected to the ground from my main electrical panel.

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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by FlyingPenguin »

Wow. Nice clean setup.
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by Losbot »

Very nicely done
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Re: surge protector for cable lines.

Post by psypher »

Thanks. After some more research, I found that while plywood isn't conductive, it's recommended to use an insulated bus bar so I replaced what I had gotten at Home Depot with this which uses plastic mounts.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B6V ... UTF8&psc=1
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