trying to record off of Direct tv still

[j_dunavin]

Well sound forge is way cool! The problem is that i ran a rca from my receiver (DTV) to my comp so i can record and i got mad 60hz hum! So i ran a source ground, helped, but not that much. I Don't get it, everything in my HT setup is way clean, and music off my computer to comp. room amp is clean. Bad rca's??

[cjd]

Do other items run to your computer (DVD player, etc.) also have this hum?

It sounds like a classic ground loop introduced by multiple items in the chain connected to your household earth. You can try cheater plugs to change a 3-prong to 2-prong to see if that fixes it (but I would not do that as a permanent solution).

Computers MUST be earthed, so do NOT lift that ground.

C

[j_dunavin]

no, nothing else hums... Only when i run rca from the DTV receiver to the computer amp and only on that source. Oh and it will do it if i run straight to the line in on the comp as well.

They are in seprate rooms though, what if i run an extention so i can plug it in the same outlet?
Plus my rca's are running 25' so i guess that could be a problem.

[norman]

yes plug everything into the same ac outlet
via extention cord, this should make a big difference.

[j_dunavin]

> yes plug everything into the same ac outlet
> via extention cord, this should make a big
> difference.

Yup that did the trick... zero noise! Thanks guys.

[cjd]

The real fix is to add a resistor (~20-200ohm) between earth and the signal ground path in the DirectTV box. Of course, you have to know exactly where to put that given the specific circuitry of that device, so it's probably not a DIY type thing.

C