Just wondered whether any of you connect your TV etc to a surge protector?
I do have one but not sure if they are necessary?
Don't have the aerial connected to it but, as I have a transformer in the field next to my house, an engineer said it would be best to connect this.

I wondered whether it would affect the signal to my PVR?ie reduce the signal?

It won't make any difference to your signal, and probably won't have any effect on reliability either?. But if it makes you happier, it won't do any harm.

I certainly wouldn't pay extra for a surge protector, the ones you buy generally aren't very effective anyway.

Don't think having one will make me happier!

I thought Belkin was a good make? I just saw a clip of a Belkin Home Cinema System surge protector on QVC last night .
Do we have power surges in Britain?

Yes, we do have power surges in Britain!
A couple of months ago I had one that took out two pcs. Fortunately my tv, sky+ box, dvd recorder etc. were plugged into an 8 way extension socket that had a surge protector on it, and all these devices were OK. Whether it was the surge protector in the extension lead or in the equipment themselves that did the protection is unknown. But they don't do any harm and Belkin do offer a guarantee with theirs.

It's FAR less common than most other countries, but it does occur very occasionally - often because of people in diggers hitting the cables!.

Better get my TV plugged back into it then! I do have my PC plugged in.
Do you have your aerial connected to it as well?

I forgot about the Belkin guarantee. Thanks!

My aerial does go through the extension lead (and the phone), but I'm not sure if it would cope with a lightning strike. I hope I never find out!

Thanks Webbie!

I will get the Belkin surge protector back in action then and connect the aerial as well.

Let's hope neither of us experience a lightning strike though to test it out!!!!!

I've seen a LOT of lightning strike damage over the years, if it's a reasonable distance away the surge protectors might save some (or all) of your equipment. But with a direct or close strike it doesn't have a prayer!.

My younger brothers house was struck the other year, I don't know if he any surge protectors or not? (he lives too far away), but it blew a big hole in his roof, vapourised a number of rafters - and (understandably) destroyed every electrical item in the house - and he had a LOT of electrical items. One example, he had either three or four surround sound systems - living room (BIG one), kitchen (Sony one), master bedroom (Sony one), and I think dining room (Sony one).

Oh no your poor brother!!!
I think with a direct lightning strike I will be more worried about other things than my TV etc!!! They will be covered on insurance anyway.

By some amazing coincidence, both he and his wife were actually in at the time, this is quite a rare occurance - apparently it was a rather frightening event! (as you would expect).

We did an insurance estimate a few years ago for a vicar at a nearby village, his TV was blown up when the cricket pitch close by to the vicarage was struck, killing a couple of the cricketers!

I would think it would be frightening!!!

I have to say I am absolutely terrified of lightning and now even more so!!!!!

You need to keep it in proportion - the chances of being struck are EXTREMELY low. I only know of so many cases because I'm involved in the repair and insurance estimates on damaged electrical goods. I probably do between three and four different lightning strikes a years?, with perhaps up to half a dozen homes at each one - obviously it depends if they come to us, or go elsewhere.

We had the same section of the same street struck twice, almost exactly 12 months apart - now that's bad luck!.

Probably about the same chances of winning the lottery and I know which I would prefer!!!!

It's not just surge protection most of them offer though they usually have built in RFI suppression, this can make a big difference to some people. Several times I've recommended them to people who are getting random interference and it's always worked (I realise they won't help with airborne RF interference).

I always fit them as a matter of course, they don't cost much and can't do any harm but may do some good.

I am not sure whether the Belkin Surge Protector I have has built in RFI suppression? How does RFI affect (if indeed it does) Freeview transmissions?

Which Surge Protector would you recommend?

I believe all Belkins range of surgemaster's feature EMI/RFI filters, the only difference is the db efficiency.

Just click on which series you have/are interested in, click "more info", then click features.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSecti...tion_Id=200907

As Tommy suggested I think all Belkin ones have built in RFI suppression but with differing levels, I have Belkins. The higher the EMI/RFI suppression the more effective it is.

RFI suppression doesn't affect Freeview transmissions directly. What can happen though is if you have say a "noisy" boiler or other device that can put noise onto the mains (when switching on and off) which then passes through the Freeview box's PSU and causes the Freeview picture to either show interference or in some cases disappear completely for a couple of seconds.

Thanks both!

Me again! I was having a look on Ebay for Belkin Surge Protectors (reputable dealers!) and there is a Home Cinema System one which filters EMI/RFI up to 58 db and there is another which says it offers maximum protection and this filters up to 65db.

Which, if any, would you recommend? I do get quite a bit of noise interference on Freeview and this often due to heating coming off and on.

Thanks!

If you're getting problems then the higher rating (65db) is like to be better, the lower one may do the trick but you won't know unless you try it.

If you know what is causing the problem an even better solution is to fit a suppressor across the problem switch (boiler thermostat?), this will also stop RFI that isn't mains borne. Personally I prefer a belt and braces approach.

Thanks Bobcar!

I had this problem too so I got a Monster Power HTS 1000 from Comet. Its a bit pricey, but its helped my problems when the heating/hot water comes on.
You can see what it does here and here.
I got it as its better to be safe than sorry and all my TV/Freeview/consoles/DVD player/Surround Sound Amp/Aerial are all plugged into it and if it doesn't stop them from being damaged Monster Power offer £250,000 warranty for any connected equipment that gets damaged.

Well that will have made the Comet manager a happy man! anything with 'Monster' in the name means Monster profits for the retailer.

Has anyone ever managed to claim on these supposed warranties? - I'm rather dubious about them paying out, with probably loads of small print setting all sorts of silly conditions.

Some have probably tried and failed just to get the money.
All this large sum of money is for is to basically say"Our product does what it says". And if you can prove it hasn't then we will pay you £££'s.
So in reality, if it works as they say it does then they will not of paid out anything.