Coax and surge protectors

[LOUMFSG]

I have a Belkin Home Theater surge protector, which, in addition to protection for the power, also provides coax protection. The unit has one coax-in connection and one coax-out connection, so it does not seem to be splitting the signal. I am currently running the comcast coax straight to the HD set-top-box, and then connecting to my display via component cables. My question is: should I run the coax through the Belkin surge protector? If I do so, will there be any degradation in the signal? Are there surges via the coax which can damage equipment? If I don't run the coax through the surge protector, is just the STB at risk, or is the display (connected via component cables) at risk as well? Any advice to help me understand the trade-off is appreciated.

 

[Mort Corey]

You sould see no difference in the signal....Belkin makes some pretty good stuff. There are a lot of interconnects before the cable gets to your STB from the street so one more should show little or no effect. Like anything...give it a try. The risk is there for cable spikes, but in my experience they're pretty unlikely....unless you live in a place with a lot of lightning. With my HD cable box (Motorola) the signal wouldn't process correctly through my surpressor (can't remember what I found to be the reason) so I went straight from the wall to the box. I guess a spike could pass through the cable and then the box and get to my display but it's one of those risks I just have to accept.

Mort

 

[Methost]

The risk is there for cable spikes, but in my experience they're pretty unlikely....

I've seen it happen. I lost a cable modem, 2 nic cards and a router this summer. No damge to cable box and TV though.

 

[Thunder18]

All I'm really need to say is stated in this post:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12920

This is a true story of what happened to my HT system and some components in my bedroom as a result of not protecting both of the coax cables coming into the house. I've since bought 2 more surge protectors and both units have dual coax i/o to support a and b cable lines. Make sure you read the link above and don't let it happen to you.