Complaint Review: Vizio TV - Internet

I do not expect laypersons to notice these mistakes but I do expect anyone who claims to be a professional installer for Dish Network, Direct TV, or other DBS service providers to know better.  If you have DBS service, I urge you to examine the cables near the entry point of your building and determine if the DBS cables are grounded.  If they are not grounded, you should insist that the DBS provider send a professional installer to properly ground the DBS antenna and cables at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE to you.  Grounding will prevent electrical hazards and premature failure of your antenna, receiver, and interconnected equipment.

1.  Antenna and coaxial cables are NOT GROUNDED.  This is an electrical hazard and a violation of two sections of the NEC.  The antenna and the coaxial cables MUST be grounded to prevent damage to the LNB, receiver, connected TV and other interconnected devices.  Special note:  The DBS industry has a habit of piggy backing the cable and antenna grounds from the grounding block to the grounding electrode via one wire-this is NOT IAW the 2008 NEC although it is better than NO ground at all.  This particular antenna and cable installation IS NOT GROUNDED (except possibly via the receiver-a hazardous arrangement.)

2.   The cable is up against a sharp metallic object on the brick.  This metal object may cut into the cable over time allowing moisture into the cable.  In addition, if this object contacts the cable shielding, this will cause an improper ground path to the cable.

3.   Cable bend radii are LESS THAN 6 TIMES THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER of the cable.  This is a violation of ANSI cable stress relief standards.  This causes a change in cable impedance and may cause signal degradation.

4.  Cables connecting to grounding block are at an angle that will allow water to flow INTO the connector instead of away from the connector.

5.   Open grounding block connector should have a cap to prevent water from entering the connection.  In addition, the threads of the connector are against the white cable, which may cut into the cable and allow moisture to enter the cable.

6.  Cable ties are not cut flush which creates a sharp edge, which may cut folks who brush up against them.

7.  Cable clamps are attached to mortar between bricks, which is causing the cables to be pressed against the sharp edges of the bricks.  This may eventually cut into the cables allowing moisture to enter the cables.  Additionally, the nails used are aluminum wood nails that do not anchor well in mortar and may eventually pull out.  Although not shown in this photo, one of the cable clamps on the VERTICAL run to the roof has already pulled out (due to winds) and the cable flaps around against the bricks on breezy days.

8.  The cables are pressed against the ledge where water collects and people congregate. This may cause the outer insulation to abrade away enough to allow moisture to enter the cables.

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I don't see anything hazardous in the photo.

The connectors should have rubber grommets or other weather protection. The mounting bracket should be higher so the cables won't sit in water after it rains. It's unclear where the other end of the ground wire is attached so that is an open issue.

Pop Quiz for any "professional" Dish Network/Direct TV installers!  What's wrong
with this picture?

There are at least 3 significant problems with the installation shown in this photo.  Any competent antenna installer will immediately recognize what is wrong with this HAZARDOUS installation.

Bonus points:  there are 2 more issues with the installation shown in the photo.  These bonus points separate the truly professional technician from the fly-by-night installer.  Hint:  this installation faces the street and is at the ground level of a busy corner where pedestrians often sit
on the ledge.

This "professional" Dish Network installation was performed a couple weeks ago a few doors down from my home.  It was performed by the same bozos who installed an UNGROUNDED dish network system on the side of my house without our permission in 2009.  I sent numerous emails to Dish
Network and the installer about the hazardous installation on our home and now, almost 2 years later, the SAME installer is still installing UNGROUNDED DBS antenna systems.

What irks me the most is that these bozos do not ground the system, then later when the receiver craps out, they will charge the customer for sending someone out to fix the system (unless of course the customer is paying the $6 per month "insurance" premium.)   THIS IMHO is the ripoff.  If
they install the DBS antenna system properly, there probably wouldn't by any issue to fix later on.

Earlier this year, my brother-in-law's Visio 52 inch TV crapped died.  Fortunately, the TV was under a 3 year extended warranty and the warranty company sent a rep to replace the power supply for the fluorescent backlight.  However, when they turned the system on, the TV functioned but
the Direct TV receiver was crapped out.  Probable cause (IMHO):  high voltage spikes on the DBS antenna cable connected to the DBS receiver and the TV (pass-thru on the receiver) because the antenna system was NOT GROUNDED.  Direct TV sent a rep who replaced the receiver but he was going to charge for the service.  Fortunately, I was present at the time the Direct TV rep was there and when I pointed out the HAZARDOUS UNGROUNDED antenna system to him, he made a cell phone and this service call was changed from a billable call to a "complimentary free service call" by Direct TV.  In addition, he corrected the antenna installation so that NOW the system is grounded (Not IAW the NEC, but at least it is grounded.)  Please note that it was approximately 23 months after the installation of Direct TV and the entertainment system that the DBS receiver and TV died.

Lets see if any dish network "internet damage control representatives" will comment about this.

I invite our favorite "one year warranty" installer from Guthrie to take this Pop Quiz.

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"An ungrounded Dish/direct tv satellite antenna will also reduce the life of your tv-with or without a surge protector. (some protectors will last longer than most but almost all will be damaged by induced spikes from nearby lightning.)

This is why I asked about having dish/direct tv. Around here, they are notorious for NOT grounding the antenna whatsoever-it saves them money in material and installation time to NOT ground the antenna."

Dish was out to our home 3 times over the years and I discovered when checking the roof, MY dish wasn't grounded, even though their work sheet, which the installer signed said it was. I ran the ground myself to a new ground rod. My dish was located at a low point and was unlikely to be hit by lightning, but static electricity can accumulate and create havoc with connected electronics.

Dish stresses the importance of this ground for safety and electronics longevity.

I did advise Dish of this violation of NEC rules(National Electrical Code) and their rules.

Dish used to offer an extended warranty on their receivers (when you bought them) if you used a particular model Panamax surge protector.  This protector provided protection for the signal lead, the phone line and the power connection.   Very capable, complete protection.

There are, of course other brands that do the job too.

Most competent surge protectors will fuse open if the protective circuits fail.  It's a very wise investment.

To the OP, if you want to really gamble with TV quality, the latest reliability reports seem to indicate Toshiba is not too reliable.

My experience has also been that Westinghouse, Sanyo, Sylvania, Polaroid and some other off brands have sup-par reliability and they also have sub-par performance.

".....our three-year old Visio TV went black with no warning"

What kind of warning were you expecting?  :)

Two are two years old and one is 3 years old.  They are all connected to quality surge protectors.

So far, no problems and the 20" receives fairly heavy usage as a surveillance camera monitor...it's also the one that's 3 years old.  The all get very acceptable pictures, but my absolute favorite is my Samsung 46" LCD/LED HD set...it has the BEST picture I've ever seen on a TV and I've been around a long time and seen hundreds of sets in the shop where I worked.

Watching football on it is a treat.

Sorry for you Vizio problem, but NOTHING (manmade) lasts forever.

I've found the Vizios to be good value for the money and have no regrets.

An ungrounded Dish/direct tv satellite antenna will also reduce the life of your tv-with or without a surge protector. (some protectors will last longer than most but almost all will be damaged by induced spikes from nearby lightning.)

This is why I asked about having dish/direct tv.  Around here, they are notorious for NOT grounding the antenna whatsoever-it saves them money in material and installation time to NOT ground the antenna.

"they can't/won't do anything about the problem"

Really? They refused to fix the TV? Or, they refused to fix it for free?

Plug any and ALL brands, into a HIGH QUALITY surge protector.

"Brown outs", and power surges, take years off your TV'S life.

I own 2 Vizio's, they're a great product.

In-Warranty and out-of warranty, are two different responsibilities.

   ****In, they pay.

   ****Out, you pay.

If you have a problem with that ...... then YOU HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. 

  For how long after the 2 year warranty should Vizio cover their TVs?  ( I feel silly just typing that question).  

  BTW, Vizio is not the company that is racking up the overwhelming number of complaints of premature death (after the warranty).   Do your homework before buying your next TV.

My brother-in-law had a similar situation with his TV. Do you by chance have Dish Network or Direct TV?