CATV Groundloop, toBeat a Dead Horse and the Shack


Sorry, I know this one has been discussed at great length (over and over) but I went down to pick up one of those Radio Shack ground loop interuptors only to discover that it's RCA only. Personally, having spent too much time and money on the interconnects within the system, I'd hate to now throw in Shack technology between components. Ideally, I'd like to put the interruptor on the coaxial line coming in, before it even hit the first component. Do we have the technology for such a feat? (Ok, I'm sure we do, but what's the best way to go about it)? Many thanks.
mezmo
I think the Mondial "MAGIC" ground isolator has "F" connectors at both ends so it can be inserted into the cable line.
This is pretty simple if you can fabricate connectors (or you know someone who can). Just cut off the type F on your incoming coax & install an RCA there instead. Then make an adapter cable with RCA at the isolator's output & type F (or whatever is required) at the opposite end connecting to your cable box, TV, VCR, whatever component it leads into. Alternatively you can buy some little adapter gizmo's to convert RCA to type F's, but this would cause some loss of signal level (may not be an issue with Cable, usually their levels run quite hot) & possible even some VSWR degradation? It all depends upon how demanding your system is? If it's HDTV quality then by all means don't skimp. It it's just a $399 Toshiba TV, then I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Take a run back to the Shack, dump the interuptor you bought, pick up these: Parts #15-1140 and #15-1253, tie them back to back via 300 ohm leads, insert in your cable before any equipment and voila, loop broken. Not very pretty but effective, (save slight signal loss; cheap enuf to experiment with tho.)

OR......surf on over to here:

http://www.hometech.com/video/atten.html#dc

and scroll down to "63400 Groundbreaker." Neater package.