You should always ground the Dish system. I bought a galvanized 8ft ground rod and 25ft aluminum bare wiring and a ground clamp all for about $12. Drive rod down about half its length
put wire on grounding located at antenna and connect to ground rod.
Hey guys... I'm just now brand new to this forum and to DISH. You look like you guys have been around this stuff for awhile. Awesome info.
I'm about to dive into a Hopper 3 and a single Joey 2.0 installation from a 1000.2 with WA DPH LNBF via hybrid solo hub. I've got a specialized heavy duty tripod (from TV4RV) and think I've got antenna aiming and anchoring (to the ground) pretty well understood. I'm an amateur radio guy (although not microwave) and understand azimuth, elevation and skew for a particular zip. And I have a peaking meter with a general idea how to use it.
The rub is I'm doing this on my own because I live full time in an RV (currently in Rochester, Minnesota, heading west and south, then northwest for the next couple of years). BUT I wanted the H3 capability. DISH doesn't really want to talk to me about H3 in an RV. I bought the gear outright new from a retailer and I'm sorta confident that I can get through this with some expert input. I posted some pics of my efforts so far on my RV blog (BigRigRoads.wordpress.com) if interested.
I'm somewhat technical but have zero experience in installing and configuring this stuff. I've watched every video I can get hold of and have read everything I can find. Hopefully, you guys don't think I'm crazy. I know I'm only a rank amateur, but one way or another, I'm gonna get this done.
A couple of questions:
1. I think I just make one run of RG6 from the 1000.2 (WA 119) to a solo hybrid node (ODU port) and then one run to the H3 from the host port on the node, and one run to the Joey via the client port, right?
2. The quote above was on grounding. My RV (motorhome) obviously has a 12VDC ground to the chassis, and an AC ground via my 50A (220VAC) shore power cord when plugged in at an RV park. And once I get my ham radio gear set up, I'll also have an RF ground, but that's future (mama gotta have TV first!).
Have any of y'all any idea what kind of ground I should be thinking about with my antenna on a tripod out away from the coach (if any), and physically what might you recommend? I'm in one location for only a few weeks at a time, so I thought if a ground is essential, I'd just drive a ground into the ground and attach it to the solo node just inside the coach. Otherwise, no ground? Don't know.
I'm sure I'll have more questions once I get the hardware and wiring configured and start in on the software install and config. Can't wait!
Thanks much, guys. Hopefully this is not an inappropriate first post.
Cheers.
Gene
BigRigRoads.wordpress.com