Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Are grounded satellite dishes protected against lightening?

I've had several questions about my new DirecTV system posted in this forum and have always gotton prompt, extremely helpful advice, so here's another grounding question:

So far, I've connected the grounding blocks that my installer neglected to install to the ground for my circuit breaker panel with 10AWG stranded copper. I haven't yet grounded the dish itself, just the cables. Once I have everything properly grounded, will this offer protection from lightening strikes? Is that even the point of grounding? My understanding is that 10AWG wire is specified in the NEC, but that wire looks pretty measly to be able to safely conduct a lightening bolt into my house and to my circuit breaker panel, which doesn't really sound like a good idea to me anyway. Am I thinking about this all wrong?

BriCK LL928,

If you've got the cable grounded, you shouldn't have to also ground the dish.
Your method is acceptable, but we use the blocks and a grounding rod driven into the ground. I've never seen a lil dish hit directly.

IMHO, if lightening is gonna hit your house, you'll probably lose most of your electronics anyway. One problem house last spring was hit at the chimney, the bolt jumped 12 feet and came throught the roof and blew a one foot hole in the roof. It proceeded to hit the electric wiring in the attic and passed to alost every appliance in house. Destroyed 3 sat receivers, 3 TV's, micrwave oven, celiling fans, and numerous lighting fixtures. The dish was on the side of the house and also grounded. You can't stop Mother Nature.

fred

You did it correct. Adding a separate ground rod is not correct. ALL grounding in a house is supposed to go the same spot. That includes cable tv, telephone and satellite dishes.

fred and joed-

Thanks for the replies. That's kind of what I was thinking on both counts- the futility of trying to outsmart Mother Nature and the advice that I shouldn't use a separate ground rod. I read on a NEC Q&A website (to which I was directed for another question on this board) that you really are NOT supposed to ground to a ground rod, though I often see it done that way. But that then leaves me with a couple more questions:
1) Why NOT ground to a ground rod? Isn't my house grounded to the same ground? Why not ground to BOTH my electrical panel AND a ground rod?
2) Why do I need to ground my satellite dish at all? It seems quite clear that the method of grounding specified in the NEC doesn't protect squat against lightening (whereas grounding to a ground rod with a BIG cable might), so what am I actually doing? Is it even possible to protect against lightening, or am I overthinking this to the point of paranoia?

Thanks again!

As info:

Our store has installed nearly 400 little dish systems since 1996.
Grounded or not - Not one has ever been struck directly by lightning(to our knowledge).
And since 1983 we don't beleive a big C-band dish has ever been hit directly.
The problem was always a house or elec pole hit and the surge went back to the dish and blew out the LNBs. I once had a surge (from a close lightning strike) knock out C-band receiver and lnb. Home Insurance will usually cover damaged equipment.

fred