www.SolidSignal.com

To SWiM or not to SWiM... that is the question!

2012-01-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

If you've had DIRECTV service for a while, chances are you are using what's called a "legacy" system. There are probably four wires coming from your dish, and if you have more than two DVRs (or one DVR and two regular receivers) you have a multiswitch that allows you to split those four lines to go where they are needed. How can you tell for sure?

If you have two lines running into your DVR, that's a legacy system.
If you press the {DASH} button on your remote and it doesn't say "SWiM Connected," that's a legacy system.

If you are completely happy with your DIRECTV system and have no plans to change it, your legacy system will still work fine for the short term. But, if you're interested in a solution that will take you into the future, now is the time to talk about SWiM.

What is SWiM?

SWiM stands for Single Wire Multiswitch, and it's a proven technology from DIRECTV that was first rolled out to customers in 2007. The idea is to make installing and managing a DIRECTV system simpler and more like a cable television system. A single wire can be split in order to put service wherever it was needed, unlike the earlier system that required a separate line from the dish (or multiswitch) to each room.

The good news is that replacing a legacy system with a SWiM system can be easy. If you have an existing multiswitch, the four lines in from the dish can go into a new SWM-8 module that can take the place of an older switch like a Zinwell WB68. If you just have a dish with no multiswitch, there are SWM-equipped dishes that run one wire out instead of four. The addition of a splitter can give you as many lines as you need. Finally, add the appropriate power inserter to power the SWiM system and you're almost done. Each receiver will need to have the "Satellite Setup" routine run and the B-Band converters taken off (if they are there.)

Why go SWiMming?

The biggest question is of course, if you have a perfectly good system, why make a change? Future-proofing is one answer. If you think you're going to want to upgrade to DIRECTV's latest HR34 super-DVR Home Media Center, you'll need a SWiM. If you want to get DIRECTV's H25 HD receiver, the smallest HD receiver yet, you'll need a SWiM. And, if you're interested at all in the RVU technology that will allow some TVs to act as if they had a built-in DIRECTV receiver, you'll need a SWiM. The writing is on the wall... DIRECTV is full-steam ahead with SWiM technology and all their future receivers are expected to be SWiM-only.

There is also another excellent reason. DIRECTV has built a large on-demand library and is moving toward offering new internet services like YouTube Videos and Pandora. In order to use these services, or to share programs from one DVR to other receivers, you'll need to make sure all your receivers are networked. The easiest way to do this is with another beneficial SWiM improvement: the Cinema Connection Kit. This little device, also called a "Broadband DECA," plugs into your home router and also into your coaxial cable, and provides internet connectivity to all your receivers, instead of having to run Cat5 cable to each receiver. This is a huge timesaver and also makes the installation much cleaner.

What else do I need?

If you're doing your own SWiM conversion, you'll need a few more parts. If you have an older HR20, HR21, or HR23 DVR, you'll need a DECA. The DECA is a converter that splits out the Ethernet cable for use by older receivers. You'll also need a DECA for your H21 or H23 receivers. Other receivers will need band stop filters to help them "ignore" the ethernet information.

What should I look out for?

The first and most important concern is how to handle the power inserter. If you're using a splitter, only one line is set up to pass power from the dish to the power inserter. That line should be run to the inserter itself. Be careful! Putting the power inserter in the wrong place, or having cables backwards, can fry your receivers. If you're using an external SWiM module, the line called "SWM1/PWR" goes to the splitter, then to the power inserter.

Make sure that you're not "oversplitting." Solid Signal carries a range of 1x2, 1x4, and 1x8 splitters. Over-splitting can lead to line loss and poor signal quality. Using DIRECTV-branded splitters with a green label guarantees that the splitters are designed to handle the bandwidth of a DIRECTV signal. Other splitters from home improvement stores are not.

A 8-channel SWiM can send the signal to 8 tuners, not 8 receivers. A regular DVR counts as two tuners, and the HR34 counts as five. So add carefully. Over-subscribing the SWiM is the term used for trying to use too many tuners and it can lead to real problems. If you need more than 8 tuners, check out the SWiM-16. It's enough for most homes. Still not enough? A SWiM-16 can "cascade" to a SWiM-8 by connecting its four legacy ports to the four inputs of the SWiM-8, and it can go on from there.

A SWiM upgrade can be a fun and worthwhile upgrade and is an excellent way to add both new function and future-proofing to your setup.

What is the best HDTV antenna?

2012-01-27T08:07:00.001-08:00

The answer would seem to be simple... the one that works. But how do you know?

There's a funny thing going on in the world right now. Even though home budgets are strained to the limit, spending on home entertainment hasn't slowed. Many top economists predicted that spending on home entertainment would slow, especially after the huge surge in HDTV purchases in 2009 but it's a funny thing... that hasn't happened. Instead, consumers have focused on making smart decisions and getting more for the money that they have.

Many people have made a perfectly sensible choice to "cut the cord..." eliminating a $1200/year expense from a cable or satellite company and combining over-the-air TV watching with an IPTV box like AppleTV or Roku. The cost savings is impressive and when all is said and done, you don't lose that much.

If you're lucky enough to live in a home built in the mid-20th century you may have an old antenna on the roof, and with a couple of dollars in parts and a willingness to crawl around in the attic, you may have everything you need. Unfortunately, many antennas were taken off roofs in the last 20 years as cable and satellite became the norm. Still more lean excessively, are out of alignment, or have broken or corroded tines.

Don't be discouraged. Buying an antenna is easier than ever and it doesn't mean a trip to the dusty part of the hardware store. Before you buy, though, make sure you're getting the right antenna for your needs.

What do I need to know?

There are a lot of variables involved in choosing the best HDTV antenna for your needs. There is also a lot of misinformation. When the HDTV transition started several years ago, the rumor started that all you needed was a cheap UHF antenna. UHF uses higher frequencies than VHF and it's true, many HDTV channels do use UHF. However, the odds are overwhelming that if you're in a market with 6 or more channels one of them is VHF. Many stores sell "HDTV Antennas" that are nothing more than UHF antennas. Buy one of these and you're giving up on channels you should be able to get.

The most predictable measure of the antenna you need is your distance from the broadcast tower. Many people who live in major cities can see the broadcast towers sitting on top of one of the tallest buildings in the city. If this is you, you may be able to get away with a very inexpensive antenna.

Most of us live in the suburbs of course, and can't see the skyline from our bedroom windows. For those people, the question is a little more complex. Where are the towers? How far away are you? Are their obstructions like mountains in the way? For this reason some people choose to spend too much money and put a giant antenna on the roof. This is not your only choice.

If you are one of those city dwellers you may be just fine with a general purpose antenna like the one pictured here. These antennas are very small and can be used inside or outside. They even have a funky, arty look that might actually pass for decoration in your hipster pad.

The majority of people actually live within 40 miles of a television tower. This is no happy accident; it's the way that the television markets are built. If you're a happy suburbanite you may be fine with an amplified indoor antenna like the one pictured here. These are relatively small and are designed to give the best result for much of suburbia without requiring you to get up on the roof. They work equally well in apartments.

If you live a further away, you're not out of luck. Unfortunately though, you're probably going to need a roof-mounted antenna. These are not very hard to install if you're fairly handy with tools and are comfortable being up on the roof. There are a lot of variables in play though... proper aiming is essential and if you're trying to get TV from more than one city a rotator may be necessary. The cost of all the parts you need is still probably less than one month's cable bill.

Roof mounted antennas all look a lot like the one pictured at left, but there are subtle differences. The number of tines varies depending on how much signal you need to pull in, and that depends on your distance and the obstructions in your way. The best roof antenna for your needs is going to be the one that catches just enough signal and not too much. If you choose the most massive amplified antenna around, you risk picking up signals that may actually interfere with your viewing. A quick look at the older homes in your area will give you some idea of the antennas that were used in the 1950s and 1960s; this will start you on the right track but it's not the final answer.

Before you set out, it's a good idea to have some professional help on your side. SolidSignal offers a free service to help you find the right antenna for your needs and there's still plenty of time to get it done before the big game. We've made it easy for you to get the best advice. Our techs are available to answer your questions... just fill out a simple form. Click the link above to be taken to our TV Antenna help page. Fill out all the important information and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with a customized solution for you. It's that easy!

The best HDTV antenna is the one that costs you the least but delivers the best performance. Don't make it a guessing game, though. Take some professional FREE advice and by gametime, you'll be ready to impress!

Are you ready for a Smart TV?

2012-01-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

"Computers are coming to the living room."

It seems to me that I've been hearing people talk about that for about fifteen years. I remember in the summer of 1998, visiting a Gateway retail store (remember those?) and there was a PC with a composite video out, ready to be connected to your living room PC.

This was before most people had real internet service in their homes, mind you. This was way too early. Gateway's concept flopped, and so have many other concepts in the past. Let's take a look at some of the milestones (some may call them speed bumps) on the long and varied road to getting a true PC experience in the living room.

Home broadband: If you've been around a while, you remember the sound of a modem dialing. Living room computing is about having something to do with the computer, and until there was something resembling high-speed access to the home, the internet was as much a source of frustration as it was a source of joy.

Before home broadband, devices like WebTV were inexpensive ways to get connected, but they were frustratingly limited.

Wi-Fi: The early 2000s brought reasonable speed to the home, but it wasn't until wireless networking became common that it really made sense to use more than one computing device. Wiring your house for ethernet was expensive at best and impossible at worst. The Wi-Fi standards ratified around the end of the 20th century brought cheap, reliable wireless communication to homes. Suddenly, no one was stuck in the back bedroom anymore.

DVRs: The first computing device designed for the living room was the DVR. Really a computer in disguise, as DVRs began to gain favor in the 2000s the idea of getting information from the TV came with it. TiVo and ReplayTV were early leaders in the charge to bring interactive content, and both DVRs allowed for wireless networking for a low price.

HDTV: Let's face it, an old-school television makes a pretty poor monitor. By 2004, flat-panel monitors with resolutions of 1280x1024 were becoming commonplace, and the living-room TV with a true resolution of about 640x480 wasn't going to cut it. Today's smartphones look better than that. Starting in 2006, the HDTV revolution moved into high gear, and it brought with it high resolution flat-panel technology that was designed for the living room. Living room computing became a possibility, and that led to...

Home Theatre PCs: If you were an adventurous soul, you could build yourself a home theatre PC by the late 2000s. Open platforms like Linux allowed for customization, while Windows sported a Media Center edition that made things a little easier. It wasn't for the faint of heart, though, and better things were to come.

Standalone IPTV boxes: Roku and Apple stepped in by 2010, and delivered an internet-connected device smaller than a CD player (come on, you remember those!) that delivered content from the internet to the TV. Services like Netflix brought television content on demand, and DLNA, the standard for interactive content delivery within the home, allowed for sharing of content from home TVs.

Truly "smart" devices: Finally... the stage was set for the first wave of truly "smart" devices like the GoogleTV. GoogleTV stumbled a bit out of the gate with an overly complex structure paired with high price, but the point was made. TV manufacturers put smart content right into televisions, eliminating the need for a standalone box.

Now that you've had the history lesson, let's look to the future. Smart TV technology is cheap, adding less than $100 at retail to the cost of a television. More and more, media is consumed on multiple devices and let's face it, a smartphone makes for a pretty poor consumption device compared to a big-screen TV. In the next year, Smart TV, meaning the ability to connect the TV to the internet, will become standard, not optional, in all but the least expensive TVs. The result will be an almost transparent transition from smartphone and tablet viewing to true, on-demand content on TV.

It's hard to know for sure what impact this will have on major television networks and multichannel providers (like cable and satellite companies) but there's no question things are going to change, in a big way! It's very possible that within the next few years it will be possible to "cut the cord" completely, just using apps and an antenna to get every single bit of content that once required a cable or satellite bill. All this is possible because the computer has finally come to the living room... except it fooled us all. The computer looks like a TV now.

Do a public service to a friend or neighbor... look at his TV.

2012-01-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl is coming in about a week and a half, and as usual it is expected to be the biggest event on television this year. It could be the biggest event on television ever... it has been in the past. Super Bowl parties will be focused on the Patriots and the Giants, with fans on both sides. Inevitably, circles of friends will descend on whomever has the biggest TV.

As an enthusiast, your friends look up to you, even if you're not the one with the biggest TV. So, do a public service: take a look at that big TV beforehand while there's plenty of time -- especially if it isn't yours.

It's been three years since the digital TV transition took place, even more since HDTVs hit the market. Yet, with all those new big TVs out there, some of them look pretty bad.

A few questions to ask:

Are you even watching HD? It's a silly question for the readers of this blog but for your friends, it may not be. Many cable and satellite systems put HD channels on a different number than their SD counterparts.
Is it better to go antenna-in as opposed to using cable or satellite at all? There can be a big difference between the quality of antenna in vs. cable or satellite, and satellite systems let you have all the DVR functions on antenna-in, with an extra module.
Is the TV set to "blazing-store-demo" mode? A few tweaks using a calibration disc or even just some common sense can make any HDTV look better.
Is the TV hooked up to a surround system? If so, a little time calibrating the sound will make a real difference too. Make sure the connection is the best possible: HDMI if the system allows it, optical or coaxial digital as a second choice. Avoid those red and white RCA plugs unless there's no other choice.

This is the time that everyone is going to paying a lot of attention to TV, and it's your duty as the lead geek in your circle of friends to step up and make sure everyone is watching the best picture that they can.

We're back from a long hiatus!!

2012-01-24T10:57:00.001-08:00

If you've been wondering about this blog, and when it will be updated, there's good news!

The Solid Signal Blog is coming back strong, starting today!

SolidSignal.com is about to get a lot more social, and you're going to have an opportunity to read more about it, and be part of the community as it happens. For now, start following this blog... there will be content on a daily basis.

You can also find us at other social media sites:

On Facebook, search for Solid Signal or go to www.facebook.com/solidsignalcom

On Twitter, you'll find us @SolidSignalCom

On Google+, search for Solid Signal.

This is a very exciting time and we're looking forward to sharing with our online friends!

That's all for now...

SS@SolidSignal

Choosing the right amplifier for your TV Antenna

2011-06-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Before you pick out the proper amplifier, it should be known that the job of the amplifier is to make up for signal loss from cable runs and splitters.

The idea here is to choose an amplifier that has enough gain to make up for the signal loss. Here are some rough estimates of loss:

Cable Loss -
RG6 Coax - 6dB @ 100 ft.
RG59 Coax - 10dB @100 ft.

Splitter Loss
2-Way Splitter 4dB
3-Way splitter 8dB
4-Way Splitter 8dB
8-Way - 12dB

Even if ports are left unused on a splitter, there is still the same amount of signal loss.

In the diagram the RG6 cable length totals 100ft on the longest run for -6dB. The signal also passes through a 4-way splitter where it gets reduced by 8dB, totaling 14dB at the TV. Any pre-amp 14dB or stronger would make up for the signal loss in this home.

The best things to keep in mind when picking out a pre-amp is

If you are within 20 miles, there is a possibility of over-driving your tuner if the amp is too strong
Calculate the loss of your current system, and pick an amp that makes up for your loss
If an amplifier only mentions a single band (UHF or VHF) then it will most likely block the other band
The closer to the antenna, an amp is installed, the more loss it will make up for

Below are some terms used to describe certain qualities of a Pre-amplifier

Gain: This is the most important factor in picking out a pre-amp because you want to make sure your gain is equal to or greater than your signal loss. For instance. If you have 100ft of RG6 cable , which has 8dB of loss, you want to make sure you amp is at least 8dB or stronger. Amps range from about 12-30dB.

A warning about high-gain amps. The higher gain amps are not necessarily better. If you only have 15dB of loss on your longest cable run, and you use a 30dB amp, you can overdrive your tuner with too much signal.

Noise figure: This is almost as important as the gain. When an amp is added to a system, a small amount of signal noise is generated. The higher the noise figure, the lower the sensitivity of the tuners being used to pick up the signal. Channel Master’s CM7777 is sought after for it’s low noise figure. (Around 2dB on UHF) This is a good noise figure. A high noise figure would be 4-6dB.

Frequency VHF UHF FM: This one is pretty simple. If your TV Antenna is VHF/UHF get a pre-amp that passes VHF/UHF. Using a VHF/UHF Antenna on a VHF only or UHF only amp will result in one of those frequencies being blocked

High input: This feature is important for those under twenty miles, who want to make up for cable, but don’t want to overdrive their tuner. The best example of this feature is the HDP-269

FM Trap: FM Traps will strongly reduce FM Signal. This is used to knock down the signal level of strong local FM stations that may be causing interference to your TV station. FM Traps are either fixed, or switchable.

Connection Type: All modern pre-amps have a 75 OHM F-connector, the alternative was a 300 OHM Twin lead cable, but most of those models have since been continued.

Dual Input: These amps have two inputs, one for VHF and one for UHF. This allows you to join a VHF and UHF signal with almost no loss.

How to properly install a pre-amplifier

2011-05-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of the most commonly asked question we get about off-air TV Antennas. When the slightest drop in signal level can cause a digital signal to drop out, a pre-amp is a worth investment to make sure your holding on to every decibel you have.

Recommended tools:

Cable - We recommend using RG6 Coax Cable that has a solid copper conductor. Cables that have a copper coated steel conductor will work too, but cannot support long runs.

Installation

The amplifier should be installed as close to the antenna as possible. It´s most commonly attached to the antenna mast using the included U-bolt clamp.

Next connect a short coax cable to the antenna, and connect the other end to the input on the pre-amp labeled "ANT. Input" or "VHF/UHF"

Next run a cable from output of the pre-amp, usually labeled “TV OUT” or something similar. This should be the cable run that goes outside from the building.

The power supply or power injector, should be installed in-line once the cable is inside the building. Connect your coax cable to the port labeled “From ANT.”

Once you have the cable connected to the input on the power injector, there should be one open port, labeled “To TV”. This is where you will connect your coax cable that leads out to the TV or splitters.

Make sure there isn’t any devices installed in-line between the pre-amp and the power supply. These can block the voltage that is being sent up the cable to power the amp, which results in a 80% reduced signal.

DISH Network's 1000 Series Satellite Dish Gets New Look

2011-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

DISH Network is showing their colors with a new design change on the 1000.4 Eastern Arc and Western Arch satellite dishes. It may seem subtle, but considering almost every incarnation of satellite dish has been gloomy grey for the last twenty years, this is a pretty bold move.

The new reflector has a gunmetal black finish, but the other components remain grey. The most recent update in satellite hardware has most DISH Network customers split into two groups, Western Arc and Eastern Arc.

It seems they are slowly moving over the HD locals to the Eastern Arc for some demographics. But even if your locals are now provided on the new satellites, it doesn't mean this is right dish for you.

The 1000.4 Eastern Arc dish requires you to have receivers with the new G3 Smart Card encryption. So this dish only works with the following receivers:

If you do qualify for the Eastern Arc but still have legacy receivers, don't sweat it, the Western Arc models shares all the same hardware. So when its time to make the switch, you can just purchase the LNB and swap them out.

HD-DVR for Antenna TV with No Monthly Fees

2011-05-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Channel Master's CM7000Pal has been getting quite a lot of attention lately. As more and more cable and satellite customers are cutting the cord with their providers, the CM7000PAL is filling a nitch.

Making the switch from a premium service provider to Antenna TV isn't easy, especially when you are stuck using your TV's tuner. Most HDTVs that have built-in support for ATSC broadcasts are pretty bare bones, and can have little to no guide system. That is where the Channel Master excels.

The guide system is comparable to DIRECTV or DISH Network's HD-DVRS, and while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, it has all the necessary features:

Ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV
HDMI Video and Optical Audio output
Record up to 130 hours of SD content or up to 30 hours of HD content
Ability to record two shows at once, even while watching a recorded show.
Parental Controls
BEST OF ALL - No Monthly Fees!

CNET's David Katzmaier recently wrote an article called "Diary of Cable TV Cord Cutter where he had this say

"For someone who wants to DVR-ify an HD antenna setup without paying monthly fees, the Channel Master CM-7000PAL is the easiest solution available."

Many of our customers are finding out the same thing. Check out the CM7000PAL on Solid Signal.com

How Video Security will save Your Business Thousands

2009-10-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what your employees are doing when you’re not around?
Has your cash register ever been short or has inventory ever seemingly disappeared?

Owning your own business can be a wonderful experience and is the dream of many people. Before you hire anyone to work for you, consider these facts:

Facts about Employee Theft...
· Businesses lose 20% of every dollar to employee theft!- American Society of Employers
· In 2007, one in every 28.2 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer- Jack Hayes International, Inc. survey
· 75% of employees steal from work and most do so repeatedly- US Chamber of Commerce
· In 2007, 82,648 employees were apprehended from 24 large retail companies, up 17.57% from 2006- Jack Hayes International, Inc. survey
· 30% of corporate bankruptcies result from employee theft- US Chamber of Commerce
· The FBI calls employee theft the fastest growing crime in America
· 55% of perpetrators of employee theft are managers- American Society of Employers
The Boston Globe and Denver Post report that “time theft” and loafing cost U.S. companies over $400 Billion a year in lost productivity

If these facts are scary, it’s because they should be. There are a lot of dishonest people out there who feel like they are entitled to take money out of your pocket. For many it’s because they have an idea in their head that because you own a business you must be rich so you won’t notice a few dollars missing here and there. For others it’s sadly out of necessity because they simply can’t afford to feed their families.

The good news is there is something you can do to drastically reduce the odds of employee theft occurring in your business. The even better news is that it will not cost you much when compared to the benefits.

A DIY Video Security System is a proven way to reduce the chances of employee theft, increase productivity, and reduce shoplifting. A web-ready system with 4 cameras which can be seen anywhere in the world can be purchased for as little as $599.99. For more information contact your friendly sales representatives at Solid Signal to help you choose the system which is right for you!

DIY Video Security Products Now Available at SolidSignal.com

2009-10-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

When you are considering buying a Video Security Product, do you need something designed for use in a bank or a government office? Probably not, unless you are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars, for something which has a ton of features which you will likely never use.

DIY Video Security Products are what most folks need for their homes and small businesses. For a low price you will get a great package with hi-resolution, weatherproof, and night vision capable cameras. These products are called DIY because they are designed to be easy to install and use.

Whether you own a bar/restaurant and want to monitor your staff or want something to protect your family at home, a DIY Camera Kit will fit the bill and won’t set you back $10,000. Depending on the number of cameras you need, you can purchase a complete package with DVR (Digital Video Recorder), cameras, and all the necessary wiring and connections to install the system yourself. You will also find comprehensive manuals which include images and step by step instructions.

If that’s not enough, purchase a DIY Video Security product from SVAT Electronics. Each SVAT product includes 24/7 Lifetime Live Customer Support from knowledgeable support agents who can be reached anytime by phone, email, and live chat.

Solid Signal continues to bring you the very best and our reputation for customer service is legendary. Please call us for more information and to help you choose the right product to protect your family and your hard earned investments.

SolidSignal.com Relaunch

2009-09-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

NOVI, MI, September 10, 2009 —SolidSignal.com, a leading online electronics retailer, announced today that it has launched an upgraded version of its website featuring many new, user-friendly, characteristics.

Specific site improvements and revamped attributes include the following:

Better navigation using the “Search” function
Easy retrieval of recently viewed items
Easier navigation through product categories "Bread crumbs” show which upper level product categories the user came from (i.e. Solid Signal > Satellite Equipment > Amplifiers)
Identification of top selling items in each product category
Dynamic charts to compare products with similar items, including merchandise not sold by Solid Signal
A “Customer Feedback” function
Faster loading time
Enhanced graphics and other aesthetics
Full compatibility across all browser platforms

“The website enhancements were implemented because of our genuine commitment to providing stellar customer service,” said Jerry Chapman, CEO of Solid Signal. “We have a very open dialogue with our customers; we actively listen and we value their feedback about their shopping experience on SolidSignal.com. In fact, many of our website’s new features and upgrades were based on customer comments, and we’re hopeful they’ll be pleased.”

About SolidSignal.com
SolidSignal.com specializes in distributing the latest high-tech equipment and product research to professional media installers and the tech-savvy consumer. Items sold by the e-retailer include over 25 different models of digital TV converter boxes, gaming accessories, HDTV antennas, satellite equipment, cellular gear and accessories, video security, Sirius satellite radios, LCD televisions, GPS navigation systems, cable and wire supplies, installation tools and professional supplies.

Based in Novi, Michigan, Solid Signal has nearly 50 employees and had revenues of $14.6 million in 2008, a 104% increase from 2007 total sales of $7.15 million. Founded in 2002, Solid Signal has made Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 list three years in a row (2007 – 2009) as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., and has been named one of Internet Retailers’ Top 500 internet retailers in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
In addition to selling name-brand products, SolidSignal.com provides exceptional customer service with friendly and tech-savvy employees manning the call center. Support staff offers installation guidance and troubleshooting assistance, in addition to detailed product information.

For more information about Solid Signal, please visit www.solidsignal.com.

SolidSignal.com Now Offering Xbox 360, Wii And PS3 Accessories

2009-08-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Online retailer SolidSignal.com (sharing no relation to Solid Snake) has announced that they will be offering up gaming accessories to their line-up, including new peripherals for gaming consoles and hard-to-find, discontinued peripherals for gamers who can’t give up the nostalgia.

According to Jerry Chapman, CEO of SolidSignal.com…

“We see tremendous potential for growth in gaming accessories,” … “We’ve made a name for ourselves as being the go-to-place to buy hard-to-find or specialty electronics, as well as for our customer tech support. Our goal is to leverage this reputation among gamers and provide them with the products they want when other retailers run low or have no inventory.”

Just so you all know SolidSignal.com is no slouch. These guys offer up tons of nifty gadgets and gizmos for all your technological needs. Adding gaming accessories to the line-up just makes them a goto retailer for everything from XM satellite radios to Wii-motes.

You can check out a list of the top 10 hottest gaming accessories on SolidSignal.com below. For more information…well, just click on any of the hyperlinks for SolidSignal.com. For more gaming news, updates, media and insight, be sure to stay tuned in with Blend Games.

Top 10 Hottest Gaming Accessories At SolidSignal.com

- Hori UHX3-10 Arcade Pro Fighting Stick for Xbox 360 ($122.99)
- Datel EF000188 Transfer Kit for Xbox 360 ($17.99)
- DreamGear DGDSI-1993 18-in-1 Starter Kit for Nintendo DSi - Blue ($27.99)
- Datel X360 Back Up EF000191 Xport for Xbox 360 ($45.99)
- DreamGear DGDSI-1901 Nintendo DSi AC Adapter ($9.99)
- DreamGear DGDSI-1933 Media Kit for Nintendo DSi-SD Card and Reader ($17.99)
- Hori UHP3-26 PS# Wireless Turbo Controller – Red ($36.99)
- DreamGear DGDSI-1943 Nintendo DSi 18-in-1 Starter Kit – Pink ($22.99)
- Datel EF000192 XSATA Drive for Xbox 360 ($45.99)
- DreamGear DGDSL-907 17-in-1 Bundle Pak for Nintendo DS Lite ($17.99)

Source: CinemaBlend.com

SolidSignal.com Ranked One of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America

2009-08-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

NOVI, MI, August 18, 2009 —SolidSignal.com, an online electronics retailer based in Novi, Michigan, has earned a spot on the 2009 Inc. 5000, Inc. magazine’s annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in America for the third straight year.

The Inc. 500 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. Companies must have; been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005, U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent. Revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million. The full list can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000 .

Solid Signal’s Rankings
Solid Signal’s fiscal sales in 2008 rose to $14.6 million, a 285.2% increase from 2005 total sales of $3.8 million and a 104% increase from 2007 total sales of $7.15 million. The dramatic increase in business this year spurred the company’s overall ranking to #1,092 on the Inc 5000 list, up from #1,589 in 2008. In the Retail Industry, SolidSignal.com now ranks #40, up from #61 in 2008. Additionally, SolidSignal.com is the eighth fastest growing privately-held company in the Detroit-Livonia-Warren area on the Inc. 5000 list, up from #22 in 2008.

“We’re very proud to again be recognized as one of America’s fastest growing companies, and are extremely grateful to our customers and vendors who helped us accomplish this tremendous goal,” said Jerry Chapman, CEO of Solid Signal. “Competition in the online marketplace increases daily, therefore customer service becomes a big differentiator. We work very hard to maintain a superior level of customer satisfaction, in fact, we’ve recently launched a new initiative to take Solid Signal customer service to an even greater level of excellence.”

In addition to their prestigious ranking on the Inc. 5000 list for the third consecutive year, SolidSignal.com has been named one of Internet Retailers’ Top 500 internet retailers in both 2008 and 2009.

Ranked No. 8 in Growth Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI
Ranked No. 40 in Nationwide Growth Retail
Ranked 1,092 in Inc 5000 – 3rd consecutive year - up from 1,589 in 2008

About Solid.Signal.com
With 50 employees, SolidSignal.com specializes in distributing the latest in high-tech equipment and product research to professional media installers and the tech-savvy consumer. Items sold by the e-retailer include over 25 different models of digital TV converter boxes, gaming accessories, HDTV antennas, satellite equipment, cellular gear and accessories, video security, Sirius satellite radios, LCD televisions, GPS navigation systems, cable and wire supplies, installation tools and professional supplies.

SolidSignal.com offers thousands of products from some of the most trusted and recognized brands in the world, including DIRECTV, Eagle Aspen, Terk, Wireless Extenders, Winegard and Channel Master. Solid Signal is the largest online retailer of over-the-air antennas.

In addition to selling name-brand products, SolidSignal.com provides stellar customer service with friendly and tech-savvy employees manning the call center. Support staff offers installation guidance and troubleshooting assistance, in addition to detailed product information.

For more information about Solid Signal, please visit www.solidsignal.com.

About Inc. magazine
Published by New York-based Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. is the only major business magazine edited exclusively for CEOs of fast-growing private companies. The magazine provides hands-on resources and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing and technology.

Inc. magazine reaches over 1.2 million readers and along with Inc.com is ranked #1 for top management and business purchase decision-makers.

In addition to the magazine and website, the Inc. brand also includes Inc. Events and Business Resources group, Inc. Executive Education, Inc. Technology Leadership Essentials 12-module course, Inc. Growth Solutions and Inc. 5005000. The Inc. 5005000 list debuted in 1991 with 100 of the fastest growing private companies in America and then expanded to Inc. 500 the following year and again in 2007 to the Inc. 5000.

Overheating Xbox 360: The Solution

2009-08-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Xbox 360 is one of the hottest selling
video gaming consoles today.
Besides, this console offers a huge library of games and more. However, it has been found that overheating is one of the problems plaguing the Xbox 360 today. If you experience freezing or crashing while you are playing with your favorite Xbox 360 games, then there is a great chance that it was caused by overheating.

Basically, you need to understand that the hardware inside the Xbox 360, such as the GPU, CPU and hard drive can produce heat after long periods of hours of operation. However, in theory, overheating shouldn’t happen as these components have their own cooling system that will be able to prevent overheating.

If you experience crashing or freezing while playing with your favorite Xbox 360 games, try feeling the Xbox 360 for any hot areas. If the Xbox itself is way hotter than normal, then the problem may lie with an overheated hard drive. The power unit can also overheat and you might want to try feeling it too.

Theoretically, Microsoft claims that the Xbox 360 shouldn’t overheat because of the built-in cooling systems. The cooling systems are basically fans that can take cool air inside the unit and hot air out. However, the fans are not really that sufficient in order to keep the Xbox 360 cool enough and prevent it from overheating. It’s not really about an issue of substandard fans, but the owners of the Xbox 360 are also to blame for it.

Most people today like keeping their Xbox 360 in a display cabinet below or above their television. This is a big no-no as keeping the Xbox 360 in confined spaces will prevent it from getting cool air. In fact, it will trap in the hot air which will cause the Xbox 360 components to overheat.

So, try playing with your Xbox 360 games with the Xbox 360 console placed on a well-ventilated area, such as on your coffee table. Also, if it is possible, try playing with your Xbox 360 in an air conditioned room. This will help in maintaining the temperature of your Xbox 360 and prevent it from overheating.

Dust is another cause of overheating. In time, dust can accumulate inside the Xbox 360 and can eventually accumulate on the fans that keep the hardware cool. When the fans clog up with dust, it will become inefficient in doing its job. It may also stop working altogether which can eventually result in hardware failure.

So, from time to time, try to clean the insides of your Xbox 360 including the fans. For this, you can use a non-static brush or you can also try spraying a contact cleaner which is very efficient in getting rid of dust on electronic equipments.

If you really want to prevent overheating, try limiting the amount of time you use your Xbox 360. As a hardcore gamer, you may want to play with your Xbox 360 for a lot of hours. However, you have to consider that the system has its limitations and you may want to give the Xbox 360 a rest after a few hours of playing with your favorite games.

Remember these tips and you can be sure that you will be able to prevent your Xbox 360 to overheat and enjoy playing with it for a long time.

Source: MarketingPixels

Wi-Ex Wins Inaugural Gwinnett Innovation Challenge

2009-08-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

Wi-Ex formerly Wireless Extenders, won first place in the Growth Stage category of the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge. The announcement of winners was made at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce meeting. Gwinnett Innovation Challenge is an annual competition designed to recognize and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship with ties to Gwinnett County. In February, Wi-Ex was also named one of the Top Innovative companies in GA by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Wi-Ex provides the first and only consumer-priced suite of products that address the problems caused by cell phone signal loss in homes, offices and cars. The easy to install units Extend Cell Zones TM for users by improving signal strength for better voice and data transmission while maintaining the integrity of the carriers’ networks.

Cell phone signal loss or reduced signals are due to trees and building materials that block or absorb the signal. According to research, over 35% of cellular phone users nationwide experience poor quality or loss of signal strength when using a cell phone in their office or home. In addition, many users find “dead zones” or reduced signals while driving. Increasing the signal coverage can translate into increased productivity and savings.

“We were honored to be a finalist and winner in the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge and are grateful for the cash and many other prizes that were awarded to us. When you are as passionate about your products as we are, it is truly confirming and rewarding to receive the recognition given to Wi-Ex as an innovative and viable business by an impressive group of judges. I have no doubt that this competition will continue to grow in stature and attract even more innovative and aggressive companies as participants in future years,” commented Lloyd R. Meese, CEO and president of Wi-Ex.

The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge is championed by a number of local leaders with a long history of support for innovation, entrepreneurship and civic service in Gwinnett County. In a ceremony at the Gwinnett Technology Forum on April 18th attended by over 150 people, Pet Wellness Plans, Inc., the Seed Stage winner, was awarded $15,000 cash and $20,000 in professional services, launch pad office space and software products and Wireless Extenders, Inc., the Growth Stage winner, was awarded $20,000 cash and up to $25,000 in professional services, launch pad office space and software products. Presenting the awards were Doug Meyer, President of Sage Software, Bill McCargo, Vice President of Scientific Atlanta, and Leland Strange, CEO of Intelligent Systems, all Trailblazer sponsors of the contest.

According to Leland Strange, CEO of Intelligent Systems and one of the organizers of the contest, “Judging by the number and quality of this year’s participants, I am certain that many of the entrants in the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge - and not just our two winners - will become very successful companies that contribute to a vibrant local economy for many years. I think I can speak for all of the sponsors and judges in extending congratulations to Pet Wellness Plans and Wireless Extenders on their accomplishments and vision and we all anticipate an even bigger and better Challenge next year.”

About the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge

The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge, initiated and organized by Intelligent Systems Corporation, is an annual competition designed to recognize and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge is championed by a number of local leaders with a long history of support for innovation, entrepreneurship and civic service in Gwinnett County. Trailblazer sponsors are Scientific Atlanta, Sage Software and Intelligent Systems; Catalyst sponsors include the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Gwinnett Innovation Park and Gwinnett Business Journal; and the Innovation Network sponsors include Andersen, Tate, Mahaffey & McGarity; Carabiner Communications; Moore Stephens Tiller; Morris, Manning & Martin; and TechCFO.

About Wi-Ex

Wi-Ex (formerly Wireless Extenders), developed the first consumer-priced signal booster for the small office/home office (SOHO) cell phone market. They manufacture and distribute the YX series of cell phone signal extenders for the home, office or car. The units Extend Cell Zones TM for users by improving signal strength for better voice and data transmission while maintaining the integrity of the carriers’ networks. They are easy to install, affordable and available at many retail outlets. These signal extenders work with most carriers including Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile. Wi-Ex continues to develop innovative products to meet the demands of an increasingly wireless society by enhancing wireless signals. To learn more, visit (www.SolidSignal.com).

Source: X-Man

How do I rescan for new digital channels?

2009-07-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Many stations have changed their frequency or broadcast channel on February 12th. This will cause a lot of converter boxes to say no signal, a quick channel scan will clue your converter box in on which channels made the switch.

1. Hit MENU or SETUP on your converter box remote, and look for an option called AUTOSCAN or CHANNEL SCAN.
2. Wait as your converter box searches every channel for digital channels.

3. After the Autoscan is complete, use your Converter Box remote to flip through the channels to see if you have picked up your missing channels.

4. If you are still missing the channels, you may need to adjust your antenna and do another Autoscan.

• If you are using rabbit ears, or indoor antennas, this is especially true, one corner of the house could have great reception, while the other has no signal. Also be patient, in following week stations may raise their broadcast power to compensate for areas experience lower than average signal.

Screen Shot of what rescanning your converter box for channels looks like:

Television Antenna FAQs

Will adding an amplifier improve the range of my antenna?
Amplifiers can only amplify the signal they receive, so they will not enhance your antenna's reception, amplifiers only make up for signal loss from long cable lengths or splitters. If you have cable lengths over 70 ft or if you are splitting to multiple TV's an amplifier would improve your signal strength to overcome any signal loss.

I thought they were getting rid of VHF all together?
Most areas of the country will still have at least one VHF station after the digital transition, at least for now. In most areas of the country, all broadcasts will use channels 7-51.

VHF broadcasting will be substantially reduced with the digital transition. Low band VHF, channels 2-6, will be completely eliminated in most areas of the country. Most areas of the country will still have some stations that will broadcast in high band VHF, channels 7-13. The UHF range will be reduced to channels 14-51.

The zBoost YX510: The Perfect Solution to your Cell phone Reception Problem!

2009-07-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Are you frustrated with poor cellular reception in your office? Who wouldn't be when the most important call that you need to make to close a 'winning' deal gets dropped all of a sudden? The most annoying thing about having to use your cell phone in your home office is a weak signal.

What is the zBoost YX510?
Manufactured by Wi-Ex which is short for Wireless Extender, it is a revolutionary product that improves cell phone reception through wireless connection. Whether in your office or at your basement, the zBoost yx510 will solve the cellular reception problems that you are having. Thus, you don't need to worry about static or distortion when you call your clients.

How does it work?
The Wi Ex zboost yx510 improves indoor coverage by repeating and amplifying the signal to cover up to 2,500 sq ft. and even up to 5,000 sq ft. (if an upgraded antenna is used). This is why is called "Cell Phone Repeater". Also built to support multiple users; it can be used simultaneously by up to 20 people.

Is it compatible with my phone?
The zBoost YX510 works on all phone models so anyone in your house will benefit from the high cellular reception. What's even better is that it is 'Dual Band' which makes it compatible with all Networks (except for Nextel) and enhances the 3G signal on all 3G data cards and 3G phones.

Is it easy to use?
A straightforward and easy to install gadget that can be used simultaneously - once you have it set up, you don't have to go through the hassle of connecting to it every time you want to call someone. It also uses a wireless connection so there won't be any annoying wires connected to your
phone.

What are the other benefits of using zBoost YX510?
When you work in an area which has poor signal strength you'll never be able to get a job done without getting frustrated or having to go outside just to be able to hear the person on the other line.

• It also extends your phone's battery life as it uses less power when signal is stronger.
• With zBoost yx510, you'll never need to stick your cell phone or your head out of the window.
• You can replace your landline with your cell phone.

With these features, you can stay in the comfort of your desk and increase your day's productivity.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/wi-ex-zboost-yx510

2009-07-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hori Xbox 360 Arcade Pro Fighting Stick UHX3-10 & UHX3-07 BACK IN STOCK NOW!

Now you have a fighting chance on your Xbox 360. The Hori Arcade Fighting Stick is the premier fighting game fans stick of choice. Stick features authentic Japanese style convex button layout & solid state mechanics. The Hori stick also features several different turbo button press modes.

• Hi-end next generation arcade style controller
• The 8 main buttons are designed and placed on same layout as the arcades
• Expansion port allows you to attach your headset so that you can chat while playing online
• Recommended for fighting, action, shooting, FPS, and classic games that are available through xbox live

Digital TV Transition FAQ

2009-06-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

1. I understand that the DTV transition is government mandated, but what is the reason that the transition is necessary? Aside from giving your TV a better picture and a program guide; the government will use the old analog signals to communication with police, fire, and ambulance services.

2. What do people need to do to prepare themselves for the transition if they have:

a. cable with an analog TV? Nothing!

b. cable with a digital TV? Nothing!

c. no cable with an analog TV? Call 1-866-374-4625 ask for a Converter Box and for an antenna, please have your zip code ready.

d. no cable with a digital TV? Your current antenna should work after June 12th, if it does not, simply call 1-866-374-4625.

3. What if someone has one analog TV and one digital TV? What do they need to do to prepare? Each TV would need to receive a signal from an antenna; in addition to an antenna, the analog TV would need a converter box. You can have 1 antenna split off to 2 different TVs, or simply 2 antennas.

4. In what case is a converter box necessary? Is a converter box necessary for both analog and digital TV? A converter box is only necessary with older analog TVs. If your TV is Digital, you are ready for the transition.

5. When you purchase a converter box, does the package contain clear instructions on how to hook it up? Yes; each converter box has detailed instructions that will help you set it up, we also offer free support by calling 1-866-374-4625 and press 7.

6. Is a converter box the same thing as the cable box that sits on top of your TV, or is it different? Different, a converter box will not allow you to receive cable channels. It will give you the same local channels you traditionally would get using a simple antenna.

7. How do you go about hooking up your DVD player or VCR to the converter box? Will old DVDs and videotapes still play correctly after the transition? A converter box will not affect how DVDs or video tapes play. Instructions for connecting a DVD player or VCR to a converter box are included with the converter boxes. However if you should need additional support please call 1-866-374-4625.

8. I’ve heard that people will receive additional channels as a result of the transition. Is this the case only on digital TVs? Is it the case only on TVs that have cable? Are these additional channels merely digital versions of network stations, or do they truly represent “additional” programming? If you have Cable, you don’t need a converter box. New programming does come with the digital transition. Stations like PBS now offer secondary stations like the Creative Channel. These stations are not cable stations.

9. Some people have complained about problems with their digital TVs, such as tiling, or video that doesn’t sync with a program’s audio. Will the transition correct these problems or do you foresee an increase in these problems that will need to be addressed after the transition? If you truly have a Digital TV (with a built in tuner), your picture and audio shouldn’t have any problems. However these issues that are described are usually corrected by using the appropriate antenna. If you have an analog TV set, a converter box with the correct antenna should fix your issues.

10. If people turn on their TVs on June 12th and there are problems, who can they call for help? (I presume they can call their cable company if they have cable, but who can they call if they do not have cable)? If they have Cable, there should call their cable company. For any other questions they can call Solid Signal at 1-866-374-4625 for any issues.

2009-05-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

SolidSignal.com Named One of the Top 500 Internet Retailers in America

SolidSignal.com, an online electronics retailer based in Novi, Michigan, has been named one of the Top 500 internet retailers in America by Internet Retailer magazine for the second consecutive year.

Internet Retailer's definitive ranking and analysis of America's 500 largest e-retailers is based on annual 2008 Internet sales, researched by Internet Retailer and confirmed by retailers. This report includes company financial, operational and performance data, as well as vendors in key categories. This year’s results can be found online at www.top500guide.com.

Solid Signal’s Rankings
Solid Signal’s fiscal sales in 2008 rose to $14.6 million, a 104% increase from 2007 total sales of $7.15 million. The dramatic increase in business this year spurred the company’s overall ranking to #412 on Internet Retailers’ Top 500 list, up from #493 in 2008. In the Computers/Electronics category, SolidSignal.com now ranks #46, up from #56 in 2008.

Additionally, SolidSignal.com is the eighth fastest growing e-tailer on Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide. Compared to other online retailers headquartered in Michigan that made the Guide, Solid Signal is the second fastest growing company in the state; it was also the only Michigan company in the Computer/Electronics category.

“Not many online retailers can say they grew by 104% in 2008, but SolidSignal.com can,” says Internet Retailer editor-in-chief Kurt Peters. “They serve their niche market particularly well and that’s helped them achieve a ranking as one of America’s 500 largest web merchants.”

“We’re very proud to again be recognized as one of America’s Top 500 internet retailers, and are extremely grateful to our customers and vendors who helped us accomplish this tremendous goal,” said Jerry Chapman, CEO of Solid Signal. “Competition in the online marketplace increases daily, so we work very hard to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction as well as our valued business relationships.”

In addition to its prestigious ranking in Internet Retailers’ Top 500 Guide, SolidSignal.com made the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States in both 2007 and 2008.

About Solid.Signal.com
With 50 employees, SolidSignal.com specializes in distributing the latest in high-tech equipment and product research to professional media installers and the tech-savvy consumer. Items sold by the e-retailer include over 25 different models of digital TV converter boxes, HDTV antennas, satellite equipment, cellular gear and accessories, video security, Sirius satellite radios, LCD televisions, GPS navigation systems, cable and wire supplies, installation tools and professional supplies.
SolidSignal.com offers thousands of products from some of the most trusted and recognized brands in the world, including DIRECTV, Eagle Aspen, Terk, Wireless Extenders, Winegard and Channel Master. Solid Signal is the largest online retailer of over-the-air antennas.

In addition to selling name-brand products, SolidSignal.com provides stellar customer service with friendly and tech-savvy employees manning the call center. Support staff offers installation guidance and troubleshooting assistance, in addition to detailed product information.

For more information about Solid Signal, please visit www.solidsignal.com.

About Internet Retailer
Published by Chicago-based Vertical Web Media LLC, Internet Retailer is a monthly national business magazine that is at the core of an e-commerce conference and four directories that serve the retailing community.
The Internet Retailer family of products focuses on the Internet's vital role in a wide array of retailing activities, including web merchandising, supply chain management and multichannel integration. Its 42,500 subscribers are senior executives primarily from retail chains, independent stores, catalogs, virtual merchants and brand name manufacturers. Internet Retailer's circulation represents the largest multichannel readership base of any retailing magazine.
The magazine also publishes the most widely read e-mail newsletter in retailing, IRNewsLink, which is distributed four times a week to 30,000+ opt-in subscribers, operates the largest retailing information web site, InternetRetailer.com, sponsors the largest conference in the e-retailing industry and publishes an annual ranking of the 500 largest web sites.

Solid Signal now offers The Ultimate DirecTV Plus HD DVR Program Storage Solution

2009-05-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

TenBox is a high quality High Definition and Multimedia eSATA storage box created with DirecTV Plus HD DVR in mind.

DirecTV subscribers love the versatility and ease of operation of the HR20/21 DVR, but most agree that with so many programs to record, its 300 GB capacity is not enough. Too often it is necessary to delete programs that have not been watched yet in order to make room for newer recordings.

Using TenBox as a companion to the HR20 increases its recording capability to up to 2 Terabytes (2000 GB) that is 660% more than the original capacity! This means up to 1300 hours of regular programming, or up to 330 hours of Hi Def (Mpeg 4) programming!

What is special about TenBox?

TenBox was designed to be used with DirecTV Plus HD DVR, and has overcome the 3 most common problems of data storage boxes in the market: excessive heating with continuous use that may result in failure and loss of programming;excessive noise coming from the unit;computer-like “looks”.

TenBox solves the heating problem with the use of 3 extra silent fans (magnetic levitation technology) and especially designed heat dissipating hardware that creates an air flow keeping the system within operating temperature range at all times. A “cooling mode” switch allows for selection of “quiet” or “maximum” depending on working environment.

While noises such as clicks and hums may be acceptable for an office or studio, they are annoying in a living room or bedroom, especially during the quiet night hours. TenBox has minimized noise using the best and most silent Hard Disk drives. HDDs and fans are mounted on custom made hardware with special anti vibration materials, reducing noise and hum to almost zero.

TenBox exterior is a stylish box that will enhance any room. The graphite color metallic chassis with blue accented LEDs and blue ring power switch will blend in with furnishings and high end TV, video and audio equipment.

TenBox connects with the HR20/21 via the eSATA port, making communication and programming transfers fast and accurate.

TenBox is easy to operate, just plug the eSATA cable to the HR20/21, restart the receiver and you are done!

TenBox is made by TenLab, a US company with nearly 20 years of experience in the design of video products that has earned a reputation for good quality and best customer support.

Solid Signal Charity Involvement

2009-05-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

The LUNGevity Foundation has acknowledged SolidSignal.com as a Silver Sponsor for its charitable contribution.

LUNGevity Foundation was founded by seven Chicago-area lung cancer survivors in November 2000 to increase funding for lung cancer research.

Upon being diagnosed with lung cancer, these individuals learned that while tremendous progress had been made in detecting and treating many of the deadliest cancers over the last two decades, little progress had been made to save the lives of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer. This slow progress was due, in great part, to a lack of funding for lung cancer research. While funding for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer research had grown exponentially over the years, there had been no corresponding growth for lung cancer research.

Since its inception the Foundation has committed to co-funding more than $5 million in innovative lung cancer research projects at the foremost cancer programs in America. LUNGevity Foundation partners with the American Cancer Society Illinois Chapter, American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships, and The CHEST Foundation (the philanthropic arm of the American College of Chest Physicians) to make its research awards.

Named one of Charity Navigator's top-ten fastest growing charities in 2007 and 2008, and awarded its coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management in 2008, LUNGevity is the premier grant-making nonprofit organization funding lung cancer research and providing support to people affected by lung cancer.

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to save lives and to ease the burden of lung cancer on patients and their loved ones.

In order to fulfill its mission, the Foundation:

Funds the most promising, innovative, and impactful medical research into diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer.
Provides emotional support for lung cancer survivors and their loved ones by
creating community.

High Speed Satellite Internet Now Available at Solid Signal

2009-04-30T17:09:00.001-07:00

Tired of your slow, obsolete dialup connection? Do you live outside the coverage area for Cable/DSL? Try HughesNet – high speed satellite internet available anywhere, and in several different speeds. HughesNet has packages for everyone, home use or even small businesses, ranging in speed from 1 to 5 mbps.

HughesNet is very popular for people who are forced to use dialup because they live in a rural area, or for those who live outside the coverage zones of traditional broadband - Cable or DSL. Switching to HughesNet allows you to surf the web while talking on the phone; since your connection will no longer tie up your phone line. You may even end up saving money by eliminating the need to pay for a second line.

HughesNet provides several other benefits such as email accounts, 24/7 live technical support, spam and virus filtering. HughesNet is compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

For more information contact one of our techs at 1-866-374-4625 ext. 2208 and they will answer any question you may have about HughesNet satellite broadband.

Digital Transition a Headache for Many

2009-04-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

This column was going to be called, "Why I hate the Federal Communications Commission," but after talking with people familiar with the conversion of our over-the-air television signals from analog to digital, I'm now ready to say that I hate the FCC, Congress and all those wireless telephone companies greedy for more transmission capacity.

All are to blame for the poorly executed conversion now expected June 12. That's when anyone with an analog television will see their screen go blank unless they:

Buy a new digital TV.
Sign up for cable or satellite TV, which in some cases will need a converter box.
Buy a digital converter box and hook it to their TV.

Experts try to make it seem simple but the conversion still faces challenges.

People receiving over-the-air signals on the periphery of broadcast areas may find that the converter boxes don't work well and instead deliver a garbled digital signal that looks like so much modern art — interesting but not useful.

The conversion program requires you to contact the FCC to request up to two $40 coupons to purchase converter boxes. Coupons ran out earlier this year, so the program was delayed while the supply was replenished. And those with coupons in hand who go on a search for the boxes may or may not find them in the right price range. Mine cost $60 each, which meant a total of $40 out of pocket. Depending on the store, the selection may be limited. Those on fixed incomes might not appreciate spending a single dime on a new box.

Inconvenience, confusion, technical difficulties and what some might view as an unvoted tax are on the list of why consumers are unhappy.

In theory the conversion is a good idea because digital delivers more channels and a sharper picture. The change also will provide more broadcast capacity for cell phone companies.

I got the coupons almost a year ago, bought two converter boxes for $60 each, hooked them up myself and voila … they didn't work. The digital signal is garbled and crunched. Buying a new TV may not make any difference since I live on the edge of the signal area. I've been told to wait until June 12. Some Portland stations will then move to better locations on the airwaves. If I rescan the signals after June 12 I should get a clear picture on some channels, I've been advised.

All I want is that my TV works like my toaster. Just give me 15 minutes of morning news and weather while I eat my Corn Flakes … no extra boxes, no hookups and no hassle.

Where to find help? SolidSignal.com provides free technical support, just call 1-866-374-4625 extension 2208.

Source: http://columbian.com/article/20090419/BIZ01/704199994

SolidSignal.com Launches Community Relations Program Help Seniors Stay Tuned to TV

2009-04-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2009 – Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar institutions can obtain free digital TV converter boxes for residents by obtaining a government discount coupon and ordering through SolidSignal.com. The company will also provide free shipping and free support by telephone as part of their community relations program.

“The looming national transition from analog to digital television has caused a great deal of confusion and stress for many people, especially those in residential care facilities who are unclear, or still unaware, about how to acquire a converter box so they can continue to watch free local broadcasts,” said Jerry Chapman, CEO of SolidSignal.com.

An additional issue for consumers with regard to the digital transition is the expense. While the U.S. government is offering two $40 coupons per household to subsidize the purchase of the devices, the average retail price of a digital converter box is over $50 and the least expensive new model sells for about $46 so the consumer still has some cost to bear, the company says.
“During these challenging economic times, unplanned expenses can be a real setback, especially for seniors who live on fixed incomes,” said Chapman.

“It is because of this expense -- plus all the confusion about the transition -- that SolidSignal.com has decided to offer digital converter boxes and technical support to local nursing facility residents at no cost to them or the facility.”

To obtain the free converter boxes from Solid Signal.com, each facility must apply for the government coupons made specifically available to the general category of nursing homes.
The online application for the government coupon can be filled out at http://www.dtv2009.gov/.

Once the coupons are received, the facility director can call Solid Signal.com toll free at 1-866-374-4625 to place the order to receive the converter boxes that will receive digital TV signals after the transition.

The facility will receive one government coupon-eligible converter box for each coupon it redeems on behalf of a resident.

SolidSignal.com will ship all boxes free-of-charge to the facility for distribution to residents, and provide free technical assistance and installation support by phone.

SolidSignal.com is offering this program to residential care facilities nationwide through June 12, 2009, the digital broadcast transition date, while inventory is available.

To date SolidSignal.com has sold nearly 150,000 digital converter boxes.

More information about the government mandated transition to digital television broadcasting is available from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/.

SolidSignal.com says it “specializes in distributing the latest in high-tech equipment and product research to professional media installers and the tech-savvy consumer.” The online retailer says it offers thousands of products from some of the “most trusted and recognized brands” in the world. SolidSignal.com is an Internet Retailer 500 Company with revenues of $14.6 million in 2008. In 2007 and 2008 SolidSignal.com made the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States.

For more information about SolidSignal.com, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.solidsignal.com.

Article From ltlmagazine.com

Solid Signal is Now Offering Free Converter Boxes to Assisted Living Facilities

2009-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

The digital transition has proven difficult for many large organizations to acquire the necessary equipment to upgrade from analog to digital. SolidSignal.com is now offering a special promotion available to residential assisted living facilities, and other similar institutions, to help make the transition to digital.

SolidSignal will provide a coupon eligible converter box with free shipping in exchange for each government coupon provided by the institution. This promotion is designed to help seniors living on fixed incomes, and other such residents requiring an inexpensive solution, to keep their TV working after all broadcasts turn Digital on June 12th.

One other extremely convenient aspect of this promotion is the fact that SolidSignal will provide free technical support to go along with the free converter boxes. This promotion is designed to assist those who are unclear or unaware about what is now required to receive the digital broadcasts. SolidSignal’s technical support will be standing by to answer any questions, or to assist with any troubleshooting that may be required.

The first assisted living facility to take advantage of this offer is Golden Cross Health Care, a nursing home located in Pasadena California. Golden Cross Health Care was started in 1978 and continues to grow to this day. Now housing 96 beds, golden cross recieved 34 free digital converter boxes for their residents.

As one of the largest converter box retailers anywhere, SolidSignal hopes to help many more people in the future make the transition to the digital age.

How to Hook up a Digital Converter Box to an Old TV

2009-04-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Step 1: First you need to connect the TV antenna into the antenna in port on the digital converter box using the coax cable (screw on type with a single prong in the middle).

Step 2: Next, you will need to plug the cable from the TV output on the converter box into the back of your TV. You may use either the RCA cables (red white and yellow) or the coax cable (screw on type).

Step 3: If you used the 3-color RCA cable, you will need to set the TV to AV (also might be called input, TV/Video or device) channel. If you used the coax type cable, you will need to have the TV set to channel 3 or 4 depending on what the converter box is set to.

Step 4: Keep in mind; you will now be changing the channels and volume with the converter box remote and not the TV's remote. You will still have to use the TV remote for power.

Article from eHow.com

Now Available at SolidSignal.com - Ooma

2009-04-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Tired of paying phone bills? Do you have internet access? Would like to blacklist those pesky telemarketers so they’ll never be able to call you back? Do you want to be able to add extra phone numbers for your home office or family for free? How about the ability to add a second line whenver the need arises? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you need Ooma.

Ooma is a device that replaces your existing land line and uses your internet connection for telephone service. Ooma provides many features that allow consumers to personalize their home phone system to meet their specific needs . There are beenfits for everyone, wether you work from home and need to add extra phone lines for your home business, manage a conference call with your clients, or for large families that need extra lines so their daughters can get all the latest gossip. Ooma allows you complete control over your phone system.

One of the most popular features for large families is the ability to set custom ring tones. Ooma can have different ringers set for different phone numbers, so you’ll know who the call is for before you answer. You can even transfer your old phone number for use with Ooma, once you disable your current land line.

Fed up with telemarketers relentlessly calling to bother you? With Ooma, you have the option of blocking anonymous calls completely, or sending them straight to voicemail. You can also take advantage of the Ooma community blacklist, allowing you to pre-empt those pesky telemarketers using the list of blocked numbers acquired by other Ooma users.

Save yourself money, and aggravation, by getting an Ooma – make your old land line obsolete.

Available at SolidSignal.com

Wi-Ex Announces Antenna-less zBoost-ONE Signal Booster

2009-04-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

April 1st 2009 Wi-Ex Announced an addition to their award-winning line of cell phone boosters: the zBoost-ONE. This new cell phone booster is designed to allow consumers to easily receive an upgrade to their cell phone reception, without the hassle of installing an antenna and running cable.

Wi-Ex’s zBoost-ONE is similar to the consumer favorite YX500 and YX510, but features a base unit with both antennas enclosed, for easier use.

Just set it on your windowsill, plug it in, and the zBoost-ONE promises to enhance your signal within 1,200 feet. Here’s the catch: it has to be a PCS phone. That is to say, it needs to operate on the 1900-MHz spectrum.

The zBoost-ONE will be available at SolidSignal.com in the third quarter of 2009.

To learn more about this and other exceptional Wi-Ex cell phone products please call our customer service phone number at 1-866-374-4625 extension 2208 to speak with our free technical support.

Source: laptopmag.com

Solid Signal gets the message, a 104% sales increase for 2008

2009-04-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Solid Signal shoppers put the niche retailer of specialty electronics gear squarely on their radar screens in fiscal 2008. The web-only retailer reported $14.6 million in web sales for fiscal 2008, up by 104% from $ 7.15 million the year before.

Solid Signal has molded itself into the place to go for specialized audio and video equipment and advice, much like hardware stores of the recent past, Jerry Chapman, owner of the 7-year-old company, tells Internet Retailer. “We’re the experts,” he says. “Consumers can’t go to just any store to learn how to put up a 15-foot antenna. We can recommend techniques on the web or by phone and hold their hands while they do it. Our success—our secret sauce—is to give step-by-step instructions on the phone and on the web.”

SolidSignal.com’s products include TV antennas, satellite television and radio equipment, cable and wire, and installation tools, along with TVs, GPS devices and cell phone equipment. Consumers can get information from an online product and installation library with links to equipment manufacturers’ instructions and diagrams. Each product listing also features a tab linking shoppers to a form on which they can pose technical questions by e-mail. The company also understands that specialized shoppers need to return products often and so is positioned to receive as well as ship, Chapman says.

Customers range from technologically adept consumers to professional communications gear installers. The company isn’t a head-to-head competitor for big boxes like Best Buy Co. Inc. or hardware chains like Ace Hardware, but it’s serving some of those companies’ customers. “We’re pulling bricks-and-mortar shoppers onto the Internet,” Chapman says.

While Solid Signal might swipe some business from the bigger electronics players, 60% or more of what it sells, shoppers can’t get elsewhere, Chapman says. And in some cases Solid Signal is just doing a better job of selling more readily available products, such as digital TV converter boxes. The boxes are needed to make the switch to high definition broadcasts for non-cable or satellite system users.

Solid Signal, No. 493 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, saw that market coming early in 2008, built up its inventory and sold about 100,000 converter boxes in the second half of 2008, Chapman says.

Even after the digital converter box business fades, Chapman is optimistic about 2009. The company plans a site redesign for this summer and has ventured into new product areas, including more mobile entertainment such as satellite TV and radio for recreational vehicles and boats.

Despite the lean economy, Chapman expects Solid Signal to log sales of $18 million-$20 million in 2009. “We help people feel the online purchase experience is as good as if they actually picked up and held the item in the store,” he says. “We’re product-driven.”

Article from InternetRetailer.com

Your Rabbit Ears Might Not Catch All Digital TV Signals

2009-03-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

If you use rabbit ears to watch Lost, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, NBA basketball, or Dancing with the Stars, you might soon find yourself staring at a black screen with a NO SIGNAL box.

That's because some homes that receive grainy reception on analog over-the-air television might not pick up a signal from certain stations once the digital transition happens in June. Homes using indoor antennas -- rabbit ears -- are the most likely to be affected.

WHTM-TV, ABC channel 27, has conducted signal strength tests throughout the market and found that areas south of York, from Hanover to Red Lion, might have trouble receiving the digital signal on rabbit ears alone, said station general manager Joe Lewin. Homes farther south, in places like New Freedom and Stewartstown, Lewin said, might require an aerial antenna with an amplifier.

Over-the-air digital television is an all-or-nothing proposition, Lewin said, meaning a television will either show a picture as clear as cable, or no picture at all. It's commonly called the "cliff effect." When the station has held phone banks to address viewers concerns, most of the calls were about reception, Lewin said.

In some areas, "It's going to be an issue," Lewin said, adding that most people will need either a rooftop or attic antenna.

Congress ordered the switch from analog to digital television in an effort to free spectrum bandwidth. Originally scheduled for Feb. 17, Congress last month delayed the transition until June 12.

WITF-TV (Ch. 33) and WLYH-TV (Ch. 15) both made the permanent switch to digital television on Feb. 17, eliminating their analog signals in the process.

Since hooking up their digital converter boxes, some York County viewers have found they're on the wrong side of the cliff effect for some channels.
Right now, WHP-TV's (Ch. 21) digital signal can be difficult to pick up in some areas because it is sent out over a weaker frequency, said station engineer Rob Hershey. Once the FCC transition happens in June, the station will start sending out over its main frequency.

Anyone that can see WHP clearly in analog should receive the digital signal in June, Hershey said.

WHP and WHTM both broadcast in the Harrisburg area, as does WITF, meaning their signals may have to travel farther than WGAL-TV (Ch. 8), which broadcasts in Lancaster County, and WPMT-TV (Ch. 43), which broadcasts in York County.

Hershey is also the station engineer for WLYH. The first day after going all digital, the station received about 25 calls, Hershey said. The biggest problem was that viewers did not re-scan their converter box, which they need to do so the box recognizes new channels, Hershey said.

When shopping for antennas, Hershey said, it's also important for people to realize they need one that picks up both UHF and VHF bands, since the digital broadcasts still use those bands.

John Zitnyer, of Dover Township, has lost PBS, ABC and CBS since hooking up his converter box. Now that WITF has gone all digital, he said he's going to miss out on his favorite programs, like Frontline and Masterpiece Theater.

"The digital (picture) is a whole lot clearer, but we got more channels on analog," Zitnyer said.

Not everyone is complaining about the digital transition.
Dale Mundis, of Winterstown, has a rooftop antenna and a large amplifier. Since setting up his converter box, Mundis said he's been able to receive all the local channels, plus stations from other markets.

Article from TMCnet.com

Influential Legislation Affecting the Digital Transition

2009-03-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

The digital transition period has been quite confusing for consumers, many people learned about the need to acquire digital converter boxes and the government DTV coupon program long after it ran out of funding to provide coupons for everyone who signed up. Many consumers were left unprepared for the digital transition. To address these problems, shortly after president Obama’s inauguration, congress passed two laws to literally buy some time for consumers to prepare for the digital transition.

The first important piece of legislation known as the DTV Delay Act pushed the transition date back from Feb 17th to June 12th; providing consumers a few extra months to prepare for the transition, whether they need to upgrade their antenna, or buy a converter box for their TV. There are a few exceptions to this new law, some stations were granted waivers by the FCC to allow them to transition into digital early, before June. The cost of broadcasting in analog and digital simultaneously for the extra months would cause these stations to go bankrupt trying to afford their power bill. The DTV Delay Act also slightly altered the rules of the DTV Coupon program, allowing consumers with expired coupons to get a second chance – one replacement coupon for each card that expired.

The second piece of legislation affecting the digital transition is the $787 billion dollar “economic stimulus package”. This law allocated an extra $650 million to the coupon program created to subsidize the cost of up to two digital converter boxes per household. The NTIA coupon program ran into funding limitations, and as it got closer to the transition date, more consumers were applying for cards than the coupon program could afford to send out. In order to ensure a smooth transition for low-income households the coupon program required more funding to continue issuing coupons. To compensate for such a high demand for coupons the NTIA created a waiting list for consumers to register under while waiting for cards to expire, freeing up unused coupon money. The coupon waiting list eventually got up to 4.2 million households before more money was finally allocated to the program.

Now that additional funding has been secured, they are processing applications as quickly as possible. Once the long queue of consumers on the waiting list has been processed, the NTIA will begin allowing people with expired coupons to re-apply for their second chance to use their $40 coupons.

Soon enough the headaches will be over. Everyone will be able to sit back, and enjoy free, over-the-air digital broadcasts, watching their favorite television programs with crystal-clear digital picture quality.

NTIA Whittles Coupon 'Queue' to 3.4 Million

2009-03-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration no longer has a DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program waiting list, but that is partly only a semantic change.

According to an administration spokesman, NTIA no longer has a waiting list, with all those coupon requests moved to a "processing queue." That "queue" for applications for the $40 coupons is down to 3.4 million from the 4.2 million on it when it was still a waiting list last week--before OMB freed up the $650 million from the economic stimulus package to fund more coupons.

NTIA is getting those requests out of the queue at the rate of about 400,000 per weekday--applications are not being processed over the weekends. It says it will have the backlog cleared up in 2-3 weeks.

Although the law changing the DTV hard date and extending the coupon program changes the program to allow anyone with expired coupons to reapply, NTIA is not ready to process any of those requests yet. Any reapplications it receives before it is ready will not be put on a waiting list, or even in a queue, but will be rejected, said NTIA spokesman Bart Forbes.

He warned that even if the rule is published and the date change law is published in the Federal Register this week that does not mean NTIA is ready to start processing reapplication requests. One is a rulemaking, he said, the other is changing the systems to accept reapplications.

That is still a week or so away and NTIA says it will let everybody know when it is open for reapplication businesses.

Changing the DTV hard date from Feb. 17 to June 12 was driven in large part by the waiting list for coupons, which started building up in early January after NTIA ran into a funding ceiling due to an accounting problem.

Article from Broadcasting & Cable.com

Angry Missouri Man Shoots His TV Over Converter Box Frustration

2009-02-23T09:14:00.001-08:00

The digital transition has left some confused, but a Joplin man was down right frustrated with the switch. So frustrated, in fact, that he peppered his television set with gunfire. Police responded to the man's house Wednesday after reports of shots being fired inside.

It turns out the 70-year-old gunman was livid over losing cable and could not get his digital converter box to work. Police took Walter Hoover into custody after a brief standoff and charged him with unlawful use of a firearm.

Hoover's wife told police that he had been drinking before the incident.

Don't let the digital transition frustrate you! Contact SolidSignal.com at 1-866-374-4625 or via E-mail and make use of our free technical support.

Article from www.KSDK.com

Be the First to Own the Worlds First 3D Webcam - Minoru!

2009-02-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

The Worlds first 3D webcam. Connect Minoru to your PC and he will come alive, his eyes will light up and he will be looking at you in 3D. Your friends and family can now see you in 3D over your favorite messaging program like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and many others. You can also take 3D photos to send to your friends or upload to photo sharing sites, or even shoot 3D videos and upload them to YouTube or other video sharing sites.

Buy from SolidSignal.com and get Free Shipping today!

The Top 5 Benefits of the Digital Transition

2009-02-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

1.) Multicasting – When broadcasting digitally, TV stations compress the data before transmitting, allowing them to send more information to the viewer in the same broadcast. Your converter box de-compresses the information for display on your television, allowing you to receive more than one channel per TV station. The exception to this rule is with High Definition – HD channels, the HD broadcast requires much more data to be displayed due to the increased picture quality.

2.) Free HD Channels – High Definition channels used to only be available to people who purchased digital cable, or satellite service such as Dish Network, or DirecTV. Now that TV stations are broadcasting digitally, HD is available for everyone free of charge due to the ability for digital broadcasts to compress their data – unlike the old analog transmissions.

3.) Enhanced Picture Quality – The first thing people notice once they plug in their digital converter box is the crystal clear picture quality provided by the digital transmission. This amazes many people, especially folks with old TVs made decades ago that are used to seeing a snowy picture. The digital converter box replaces your TVs old analog tuner with a new digital one, thus allowing your old TV to display the pristine digital picture in the higher quality provided by the digital transmission.

4.) New Wireless Technology – Converting the local broadcasts over to digital will free up a lot of space on the electromagnetic spectrum to allow new wireless technologies to operate between the channels in the white space – unused frequencies not allocated to channels in a certain area. There are various types of wireless broadband technology that will soon be available to consumers to compete with traditional cable or DSL connections. Once the transition is complete you will start to hear more about these new technologies.

5.) Improved Communications for Emergency Services – On 9/11 the airwaves were completely jammed with people trying to talk on their cell phones; 911 operators, and even emergency services were unable to communicate at times. After the digital transition you’ll notice that TV broadcasts are only going to be using channels 14-69. The FCC will reserve channels 2-6 for emergency services, such as 911 and the department of homeland security to use for communication.

Analog TV Watchers Not Ready for Digital World

2009-02-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

Sooner or later, James Richter knows the rabbit-ear antennas on his old-fashioned television will listen for a signal and hear nothing.

The 36-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, said he tried to convert his analog TV to digital but was turned down for a government coupon. He doesn't seem to mind.

"With the economy, I don't have enough cash to do cable, so I'm just really debating whether or not I really want to make that switch to digital," Richter said.

Richter will have four months longer to make up his mind after Congress voted Wednesday to delay the end of TV's rabbit-ears era.

On June 12, analog TV signals will end and only digital signals will remain. Old televisions like Richter's won't accept the new form of broadcast.

People with cable TV or satellite service will not be affected.

The switch had been scheduled for February 17, but Congress delayed the conversion -- which had been planned for years -- to accommodate people like Richter who had not been able to update their TVs.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration offered a program to help people buy converter boxes that make old TVs work in the new era. That giveaway didn't meet demand, though, and as of late January, more than 3.2 million people were on the program's waiting list.

More than 6.5 million U.S. households, or 5.7 percent, were not ready for the crossover last month, according to an estimate from the Nielsen Company.

There's been little made of the people behind those numbers, though, as media reports largely have focused on the mechanics of the switch and the politics of when and how it will happen. Many of those who haven't bought converters are poor, older than 55, rural residents or racial minorities, according to Nielsen's estimates. Some of them told CNN they couldn't afford to pay for cable or satellite TV service.

While a person can live without TV, some of the late converts to digital depend on television for information and companionship.

"I live here by myself, so it will be a big deal for me," said Monica Lawson, a 42-year-old from rural Alto, Georgia. "Even just a couple hours a day of having that extra interaction, it's a stress reliever for me."

Lawson said she got a coupon to buy the digital converter box for her analog television as soon as they became available. She's attached the box to her TV, but her signal got worse.

"Basically I'm downgrading at this point," she said. "I'll go from having four or five channels I can watch on a regular basis to having one channel I can watch every now and then -- if at all."
Lawson, who is a real-estate appraiser and practices kinesiology, said she can't afford satellite service because her business has dropped with the economy.

She falls into a category of people who may lose their TV coverage with the switch to digital. It's likely the result of a phenomenon called the "cliff effect." While analog signals fizzle out over long distances, digital signals tend to stop completely at a certain falling-off point.

"With digital, you get a great picture or nothing," said Mark Wigfield, spokesperson for the Federal Communications Commission.

Some remote areas of the country could lose reception when analog signals stop in June, said Shermaze Ingram, spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters, an advocacy group that has been trying to inform people about the switch since 2006.

On the whole, studies show more people will get TV signals than will lose them in the switch to digital, Ingram said. The National Association of Broadcasters supports delaying the change until June in part because it will cause fewer people to go without TV after the change.
"There's no question that television is an important piece of the fabric of American life," Ingram said.

Congress elected to delay the digital switch in part because lawmakers don't want people to go without TV.

George Touchine, a 64-year-old from Gallup, New Mexico, said he has not gotten a converter coupon yet and cannot find the device in local stores. He said he will check back often, though, and hopes to be able to switch to digital in the coming days.

Like Touchine, more than 12 percent of New Mexico households in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque TV market are not ready for the switch, making the area the least prepared in the nation, according to Nielsen.

Being left out of the switch would be a big deal for Touchine. He is retired and says he spends a substantial part of his evening watching TV with his wife.

"I just watch the news all the time, that's all I want," he said. "I get the weather, the news, what's going on -- all of it -- I want to know it."

The annoyance of having to convert to digital may push Richter, the man in Atlanta, away from television entirely.

Richter said he left a bad job as a local truck driver four years ago and hasn't been able to find steady work since. He's given up luxuries like cable TV, an Internet connection and movie rentals to make ends meet.

He said he applied for the free converter about a month ago but was turned down at least temporarily because all of the coupons had been given out.
He doesn't buy the idea that he needs a television to alert him about emergencies or severe weather.

"I do have a radio and I also have a cell phone. If something's really, really bad, someone can call me," he said. "And I figure if there's a nuclear war, it will be everywhere. Someone will let me know."

If Richter eventually gets a free converter box, he'll consider joining the digital TV world. But if not, he said won't be angry at the government for the delays.
He thinks he might be better off without all that extra noise

As Seen

House Votes to Delay Digital TV Transition to June 12

2009-02-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

Congress this afternoon granted a four-month reprieve to the millions of consumers who are at risk of losing access to TV signals during the switch from over-the-air television to digital broadcasting.

In a 264-158 vote, the House of Representatives approved a bill to push the transition to June 12 from Feb. 17. President Obama has promised to sign the legislation, which passed the Senate last week. The law will require TV stations to keep broadcasting their analog signals until June 12. Consumer advocates say that as many as 10 million viewers currently get their programming solely from over-the-air broadcasts and are unprepared for the digital transition.

"Consumers are confused about where to buy their converter box, about which box to buy, how to hook up their box, what to do if they lose a channel they once got and whether they need a new antenna," said Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst with Consumers Union. "Changing the date allows them more time to grapple with those questions."

But the delay also could make the confusing transition even more perplexing for some viewers.
TV stations are allowed to seek federal approval to turn off their analog signals before the new deadline. So instead of nearly all broadcasters making the switch on Feb. 17, stations now may ...
... make the switch at different times over the next four months.

That could create another hiccup: Some converter boxes don't have the ability to "pass through" analog signals. As a result, in areas where both digital and analog signals are transmitted, viewers with the wrong converter box may have to unplug the device to watch one channel broadcast in analog, then plug it back in to watch another in digital.

While the vast majority of converter boxes manufactured in recent months have the analog pass-through feature, consumers should check before buying. The Commerce Department has a list of such boxes available online (models with a red asterisk beside them allow analog pass-through).

Although the National Assn. of Broadcasters advocated the postponement, some stations have argued that a delay would impose "moderate to significant costs" because they'd have to maintain an analog signal for four extra months, said Stan Statham, president of the California Broadcasters Assn.

"We’ve had a hard date on the books since September of 2005. Every broadcaster in America is ready to go," said Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-Texas), who led the opposition to an extension.
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) complained that the delay would cost broadcasters in Oregon $500,000 to $1 million in electricity costs to continue running analog transmitters along with the existing digital transmitters, and would increase confusion among viewers. He noted that advertisements are still airing touting the Feb. 17 date. "They’re still being told this is what they should do," he said. "This is why people don’t trust the government."

Although they did not need to notify the FCC if they planned to switch on Feb. 17, 276 stations have, indicating that they may want to make the switch on that date regardless of the congressional delay. But acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps said this week that some of those stations may decide to continue broadcasting in analog after the delay is enacted.
The original law that set the Feb. 17 deadline also allowed stations to make the switch early. Some already have -- 143 of the nation’s approximately 1,800 stations have made the transition, and 60 more plan to do it before Feb. 17, according to the FCC.

But supporters said the delay was necessary, particularly to provide more money for the government's subsidy program for consumers who purchase converter boxes. The Commerce Department, which administers a $1.5-billion program to send coupons worth $40 toward the purchase of a converter, ran out of money Jan. 4 and started a waiting list. There are requests for about 3.2 million coupons currently on the list, according to Consumers Union.
"Even if money were provided today for the converter box program, there still would be massive dislocation on Feb. 17," said Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.).

While most TV stations already are broadcasting in digital as well as analog and could make the switch before June 12, competitive pressures in each market could make that difficult. Stations are unlikely to switch unless all their competitors in the market do as well or they'd risk losing viewers to those still broadcasting in analog. In 18 markets, including Los Angeles and Chicago, News Corp. would add to those competitive pressures. The company said the 27 Fox stations it owns and operates in those markets would not switch before June 12.

"The legislation passed by Congress provides more time for Americans to prepare for the DTV transition and will allow more time for the government to fix the coupon program," said NAB President and CEO David Rehr. “America’s broadcasters, which have spent the past decade preparing for this historic transition, are ready to make a successful switch."

As Seen

House Defeats Bill to Delay Digital TV Transition

2009-01-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - Bucking the Obama administration, House Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting to June 12 — leaving roughly 6.5 million U.S. households unprepared for the switchover.

The 258-168 vote failed to clear the two-thirds threshold needed for passage in a victory for GOP members, who warn that postponing the transition from the current Feb. 17 deadline would confuse consumers.

House Republicans say a delay also would burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the spectrum that will be vacated by the switchover, and create added costs for television stations that would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months.

The defeat is a setback for President Barack Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who maintain that the Bush administration bungled efforts to ensure that all consumers — particularly poor, rural and low-income Americans — will be ready for next month's analog shut-off.

The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not prepared for the transition. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected.

But Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Commerce Committee, insisted a postponement is not necessary.

"We could do nothing worse than to delay this transition date," Barton said. "The bill is a solution looking for a problem that exists mostly in the mind of the Obama administration."

Barton led the push to scuttle the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Monday night after lawmakers in that chamber struck a bipartisan compromise. Senate Democrats won over Republican support by allowing broadcast stations to make the switch from analog to digital signals sooner than the June deadline if they choose and permitting public safety agencies to take over vacant spectrum promised to them as soon as it becomes available.

But those concessions did not placate most Republicans in the House. Only 22 House Republicans voted for the bill, while 155 voted against it. Among House Democrats, 236 voted for the bill and just 13 voted against it.

The Obama administration called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department earlier this month hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the boxes, which translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs. The boxes generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., author of the bill, said he was disappointed by the outcome of the House vote.
"The outgoing Bush administration grossly mismanaged the digital television transition and consumers are confused, households are not prepared, and the coupon program for converter boxes is broken," Rockefeller said in a statement.

The Obama administration had no immediate comment on the House vote.
The next step remains unclear. Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal policy at the Consumers Union, which has been lobbying for a delay, said he hopes House Democrats will bring the bill up again for a regular floor vote, which would only require majority support to pass. Wednesday's vote took place under a special procedure that required two-thirds support for passage.

Congress in 2005 required broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals, which are more efficient, to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial services and interoperable emergency-response networks.

As Seen

Senate Votes to Delay Digital Transition by 4 Months to June 12

2009-01-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12 — setting the stage for Congress to pass the proposal as early as Tuesday.

Monday's Senate vote is a big victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who have been pushing for a delay amid growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready for the currently scheduled Feb. 17 changeover.

The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

"Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., author of the bill to push back the deadline. "I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time."

The issue now goes to the House, where Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has vowed to work with House leaders to bring Rockefeller's bill up for a floor vote on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama earlier this month called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for government coupons that consumers may use to help pay for digital TV converter boxes. The boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon, translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones expire and free up more money. The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list as of last Wednesday.

Jonathan Collegio, vice president for the digital television transition for the National Association of Broadcasters, argues that the Nielsen numbers may overstate the number of viewers who are not ready for the digital transition. He noted that the numbers exclude consumers who have already purchased a converter box but not yet installed it, as well as those who have requested coupons but not yet received them.

What's more, consumers who subscribe to cable or satellite TV service or who own a TV with a digital tuner will not lose reception.

Still Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal policy at Consumers Union, argues that millions of Americans — particularly low-income and elderly viewers — will pay the price because "the government has failed to deliver the converter boxes these people deserve just to keep watching free, over-the-air broadcast signals."

In 2005, Congress required broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals, which are more efficient, to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial wireless services and interoperable emergency-response networks.

Republicans in both the House and Senate have raised concerns that a delay would confuse consumers, burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the airwaves that will be vacated and create added costs for television stations that would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals.

Paula Kerger, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service, estimates that delaying the digital TV transition to June 12 would cost public broadcasters $22 million.

But Rockefeller managed to ease some of these concerns by allowing broadcast stations to make the switch from analog to digital signals sooner than the June deadline if they choose and by permitting public safety agencies to take over vacant spectrum that has been promised to them as soon as it becomes available.

As Seen

US Senate Passes Bill to Delay Digital Transition

2009-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Monday to delay the nationwide switch to digital TV signals, giving consumers nearly four more months to prepare.

The transition date would move to June 12 from Feb. 17 under the bill that was fueled by worries that viewers are not technically ready for the congressionally-mandated switch-over.

It also would allow consumers with expired coupons, available from the government to offset the cost of a $40 converter box, to request new coupons. The government ran out of coupons earlier this month, and about 2.5 million Americans are on a waiting list for them.

Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller said delaying the TV switch is the right thing to do because the United States is not yet ready to make the transition.

"The Senate acted responsibly to give the Obama administration time to attempt to bring order to a mismanaged process," the West Virginia Democrat said in a statement.

Many lawmakers worry that an estimated 20 million mostly poor, elderly and rural households are not ready for the switch, which requires owners of older television sets receiving over-the-air signals to buy a converter box or subscribe to cable or satellite TV.

Broadcasters are moving from analog to digital signals to give public safety officials more spectrum, especially useful for emergencies, and to improve viewing quality.

Momentum had been building for a delay since President Barack Obama backed it earlier this month.

The digital TV bill also would extend the licenses of AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications which are waiting for the airwaves to be vacated when all TVs convert.

The companies, which paid $16 billion for the public airwaves in an auction last year, would get 116 extra days on their licenses under the proposed legislation.

CTIA, the wireless trade association, has said a delay could hurt confidence in the FCC's spectrum auctions.

As Seen

Novi Prepares for the DTV Transition

2009-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

As the deadline looms for the federally mandated digital television transition, local businesses are offering consumers the necessary products and solutions to make the switch as smooth as possible.

Digital Communication Solutions in Walled Lake said the goal of its Web site is to explain the transition and offer services to help facilitate the change.
As of midnight Feb. 17, all television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to digital broadcasting.

"If someone is currently using a standard definition television with an over-the-air antenna, then on the date of the transition their TVs will just go to snow," said Jerry Chapman, president of the Novi-based Solid Signal.

Those who are currently connected to cable, satellite or any other pay TV service should not be affected.

In an effort to assist with the transition, the government is offering $40 TV Converter Box Coupons for households who wish to keep their analog television sets.

The Novi-based Solid Signal is an online retailer of high-tech consumer electronics and a government-approved vendor of digital television converter boxes.

"We carry a variety of products for those who want a choice," Chapman said, noting his company sells 5,000-7,000 converter boxes a week. "I think people think it's going to give them cable, but it just enhances what you've already got."

On average, Chapman said converter boxes range from $50-$90 and are offered with various amenities.

Other transition solutions include purchasing a new television with a built-in digital tuner or subscribing to cable services through a local provider.

According to Digital Communication Solutions, the transition is happening because broadcasters became interested in high-definition television and providing more channels to viewers, while Congress backed the move to digital to free up the analog channels for emergency communications and advanced services.

Among the benefits of the switch to digital, Chapman said it will offer different programming options and a clearer picture.

Although the switch day is still Feb. 17, a postponement, supported by the Obama administration, could be voted on by lawmakers in coming weeks.

As Seen

Congress to Weigh Delay of Digital TV Transition

2009-01-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team said it backs legislation to postpone next month’s digital television transition until June because some viewers won’t be ready for the switch.

Democratic committee chairmen in both houses of Congress are proposing to delay until June 12 the date for major TV stations to stop sending traditional analog signals. The change is now set for Feb. 17 at midnight.

The push reflects mounting concern that some households won’t have needed equipment by that date. The waiting list at a program to provide subsidies for digital converter boxes may swell to more than 6 million requests in the next month, said John Podesta, co-chairman of the Obama transition team.

“Lack of appropriate planning has left many consumers vulnerable,” Podesta said in a letter today to congressional leaders. He urged “immediate consideration and passage” of legislation put forth by Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, that would postpone the change.
There are concerns about the “capacity and competence” of a planned federal call center, Podesta wrote. He said the poor, disabled, elderly and rural could be most affected.
Some Republicans have opposed a delay, saying it would cause confusion.

Under the current plan, major TV stations are to cease sending the analog signals used for decades and begin transmitting programming exclusively in digital. Analog TV sets connected to antennas will need converter boxes to continue receiving signals.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to vote Jan. 21 on whether to delay the changeover until June 12, the date proposed by Representative Henry Waxman, the California Democrat who heads the committee, aides said today. The bill by Rockefeller, who’s the next chairman of the Commerce Committee, was introduced yesterday and offers the same date.

“Congress is likely to pass some sort of delay, given lawmaker concerns about likely disruptions to some TV viewers and a possible backlash,” said Rebecca Arbogast and David Kaut, analysts at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. in Washington, in a note to investors today.

Obama’s team called on Jan. 8 for postponing the date, citing a funding shortfall a program that subsidizes digital equipment. The program offers $40 coupons toward the cost of converter boxes, which sell for $40 to $80 at retail outlets.

Coupons are mailed out using third-class bulk mail and take four to six weeks to arrive, Podesta said in his letter. He reminded leaders of the Jan. 8 request and said that since then “the situation has only gotten worse.”

As Seen

Are you ready for the digital switch?

2009-01-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

We are five weeks away from the digital T-V conversion.

A Federal Communications Commissioner held a town hall meeting in Bristol Tuesday to address problems and questions about the upcoming change.

T. V. will be turning digital February 17th, but an FCC Commissioner's outlook for the conversion is grim.

"I do know we're not ready. This country is not ready. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of citizens are not going to be ready. It becomes a matter of public safety and security of the people, so it's not to be taken lightly," says FCC Commissioner Michael Copps.

Only people with analog televisions need to take action.

They'll have to get cable, satellite or a converter box within the next several weeks to watch T. V. after the switch.

Recently, the government ran out of coupons to help people pay for the converter boxes.
Congressman Rick Boucher, who was chosen chairman of the house committee on communications, technology and the Internet last week, says the program was flawed from the start.

"Those in control of congress at the time frankly decided to do this transition on the cheap," says Boucher.

Boucher says he'll push to fund the coupon program as soon as possible.

President-elect Barack Obama has also suggested the transition date be pushed back.

While it will give more time, Boucher says the delay could create other problems.

"There might be the potential to create some public confusion in the event that the date is changed. Broadcasters would be required to expend greater sums," says Boucher.

"The government did drop the ball. Where we did not get coordinated and organized quite as well as we should have been," says Copps.

Bottom line, the commissioner says, is act now. The digital conversion is still set for February 17th. If you can't afford a converter box, you should apply for the coupons now because more funding could be on the way.

As Seen

Funding For TV Coupons Runs Out

2009-01-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

At Solid Signal of Novi, owner Jerry Chapman says sales of TV converter boxes have doubled in the past month after a government public service campaign alerting people that TV signals switch from analog to digital on Feb. 17.

Converter boxes are needed for people who don’t have cable or satellite service, or who have older analog signal TV sets.

“Right now we’re shipping 5,000 to 7,000 boxes a week,” says Chapman. “That’s ramped up from two months ago when we were doing 3,000 boxes a week.”

But the urgency may evaporate in the coming weeks before the Feb. 17 switch to digital.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team on Thursday asked Congress to extend the Feb. 17 cutoff of analog broadcasting.

The federal program subsidizing the cost of the converter boxes through $40 coupons has run out of money for now, meaning that people are on a waiting list for the coupons to defray the costs of the boxes.

Congress in 2005 authorized the switch from analog broadcasting to digital, selling off digital bandwidth to free up analog bandwidth for other uses.

But until recently, people have been slow to sign up for the coupons that defray the cost of the boxes.

“We’re probably in the 11th hour,” says Chapman. “Most people have a clear understanding that something’s coming. I would say 90 percent of the people know what they need. About 10 percent are still clueless as to what they need. That’s a huge change from not too long ago.”

From the state of Michigan’s point of view, television is among the most common ways to get public safety or emergency information, and officials urge people with analog signals to sign up for the converters.

“The news, weather and community information we receive from television could be critical to our families,” said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. “We do not want any Michigan family to be left without this vital information.”

Michigan has a helpline available with live operators to answer questions and/or help citizens order a coupon to be used toward the purchase of a converter box.

The Michigan DTV Helpline is sponsored by Don-Lors Electronics and can be reached by calling toll free to (888) 643-8809 or visiting the Michigan DTV Web site at www.michiganDTV.com for more information.

With or without a coupon, the boxes, which cost between $40 and $70 are in plentiful supply.

“The big vendors have done a good job of making sure they have enough supply,” says Chapman.

He carries 20 varieties depending on what someone needs.

For example, nursing homes might prefer converter boxes with large buttons for the vision impaired. Some people care about color. Some boxes have extra features.

Meanwhile, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights encourages people to get ona waiting list for the coupons. It estimates it’ll take four to six weeks for someone to receive a coupon once it is requested.The group urges people to use coupons not used by friends or neighbors to offset the costs of the boxes.

As Seen

zBoost Launches International Version of Industry Leading Consumer Cell Phone Signal Booster

2009-01-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

Wi-Ex, the leading provider of consumer cell phone signal boosters, announced the launch of the zBoost International today at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The zBoost International works with all phones on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies and allows consumers outside of the US to not only experience increased indoor cell signal coverage - up to 200 sq. meters, but to be able to take full advantage of data and Internet services on their mobile phones including 3G high-speed data and video, instant messaging, pictures and more. The zBoost International will retail for an introductory price of $499. The award-winning, U.S. version zBoost which operates on the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz, was selected as a 2007 Consumer Electronics Association Innovations Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Las Vegas, January 7, 2009 -- Wi-Ex, the leading provider of consumer cell phone signal boosters, announced the launch of the zBoost International today at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The zBoost International works with all phones on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies and allows consumers outside of the US to not only experience increased indoor cell signal coverage - up to 200 sq. meters, but to be able to take full advantage of data and Internet services on their mobile phones including 3G high-speed data and video, instant messaging, pictures and more. The zBoost International will retail for an introductory price of $499. The award-winning, U.S. version zBoost which operates on the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz, was selected as a 2007 Consumer Electronics Association Innovations Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

"With more than 3 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide, cell phone signal issues are a major roadblock for today's consumers who rely heavily on their cell phone for voice and more increasingly data," said Lloyd R. Meese, CEO of Wi-Ex. "Today, consumers have limited options when it comes to improving in-door cell phone reception- either buy a cell phone signal booster like the industry-leading zBoost, buy an expensive femtocell from their carrier and pay an ongoing fee or as most of us have experienced at some point - stand by a window or go outside. With the launch of the zBoost International, consumers inside and outside of the U.S. have access to the solution they need for improving in-door cell phone signal issues and enjoying all the voice and data services their phone has to offer."

With the continued popularity of iPhones and Blackberries, data is playing a larger role in mobile phone service plans, and in-door coverage must improve to ensure reliability. According to Informal Telecoms & Media, in 2008 the home environment will be responsible for 35% of total mobile data traffic, but this traffic is expected to increase to an overwhelming 60% in 2013.
The zBoost International allows multiple users to operate their phones simultaneously (including both data and voice), works with all phones on the 900 MHz and 18000 MHz frequencies and is compatible with all major carriers. It's easy to install and the base unit can be placed in the family room, the basement, an office, a bedroom or a central location. Increasing coverage can be directly translated into increased productivity and savings.

Other benefits of the zBoost International include decreasing dropped or missed calls, no cradle or connection to your phone and extended battery life, since phones use less power when the signal is stronger. All zBoost products feature patent-pending technology which protects the carrier network. The package includes everything you need: amplifier base unit, power supply, base unit antenna, low-loss SATV coaxial cable (RG6), signal antenna and mounting hardware. The omni-directional signal antenna receives signals from multiple cell towers.

As Seen

NTIA Creates DTV Coupon Waiting List

2009-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Washington—Due to a federal accounting law they probably never heard about, consumers can't gain immediate access to $40 coupons created to help them buy converter boxes for the viewing of digital broadcast TV signals on old analog sets, the Bush administration announced Monday.
Congress set aside $1.34 billion to allow consumers to use 33.5 million coupons. About 18 million coupons have already been used and about 15 million more are still in the field and may or may not be used.

But a federal budget law, called the Antideficiency Act (ADA), requires the U.S. Commerce Department to assume that all 15 million active coupons will be used, even though the one-year program has had a 50% redemption rate, which has edged toward 60% only in recent weeks.
"For consumers, what this means is that anyone who is requesting coupons now will be placed on a wait list and will be mailed coupons on a first-come, first-served basis," Meredith Attwell Baker, head of the U.S. Commerce Department's coupon program, told reporters Monday on a conference call.

On Feb. 17, all full-power TV stations need to cease analog broadcasting and rely exclusively on digital signals, which in many cases have been up and running for almost a decade. According to the National Association of Broadcasters, 73 million analog TV sets were broadcast-only when Congress voted in December 2005 to end analog TV in a law President Bush didn't sign until February 2006.

To help consumers prepare for the switch, Congress approved $1.34 billion (plus $160 million in administrative funds) to subsidize the purchase of converter boxes at retail. The program was open to all households, not just to the estimated 12 million to 20 million households that rely exclusively on free, over-the-air broadcasting and are considered the most vulnerable to losing free TV service after the switch to digital.

The program reached its $1.34 billion commitment ceiling on Sunday. Those who applied before Sunday can expect to receive their coupons within four weeks, said Baker, who heads Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Those on the waiting list won't be mailed any coupons until previously mailed coupons have expired. Each household that received a maximum two coupons had 90 days to use them before they expired automatically.

Based on a 60% redemption rate, the Bush administration expects to mail out another 6 million coupons by March 31, when the program ends, Baker said.

The waiting list, at least initially, should clear quickly. Each week, about 350,000 coupons expire. "There are 103,000 on the [waiting] list right now," Baker said.

The Bush administration is not supporting an ADA waiver for the coupon program. But Baker said she is working with Congress and the incoming Obama administration on ways to unfreeze the coupon program.

"Certainly, if Congress chose to waive the ADA, we would comply with whatever Congress passed," Baker said.

The NAB and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) want to see the budget rules relaxed. "NTIA should be permitted to mail out coupons immediately, and we urge Congress to work with NTIA to lift the red tape that is keeping available coupons out of consumers' mailboxes," CEA spokeswoman Megan Pollock said.

The NTIA's program ran into accounting trouble when coupon requests spiked in December to 7.2 million, compared to a monthly average of 3.5 million from January to September. NTIA ramped up its coupon program promotion in the last quarter to maximize consumer receipt of coupons before the Feb.17 cutoff of analog TV signals."Our goal was really to make November and December out highest month," said Baker, who declared success.In September, Baker told Congress that based on redemption rates so far, the coupon program would likely return $300 million to the U.S. Treasury.

That prediction still might come true, depending on the ultimate level of consumer reliance on coupons.

A few weeks later, Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin sent then-House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) a letter saying he was concerned that the coupon program might run out of money.

As Seen

Government Creates Waiting List for DTV Converter Box Coupons as Program Hits Funding Ceiling

2009-01-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

Consumers who apply for federal coupons to pay for converter boxes ahead of next month's transition to digital television broadcasts are being placed on a waiting list and may not receive their vouchers before the switchover, the Commerce Department said Monday.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the coupon program, created the waiting list on Sunday after hitting a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress.

The agency will send out coupons to those on the list only as unredeemed coupons currently in circulation expire, freeing up more money for the program. The waiting list already has requests for 103,000 coupons.

And Meredith Attwell Baker, head of the NTIA, urged consumers now requesting coupons not to wait for them to arrive and to instead act quickly to ensure that they have at least one television set ready for Feb. 17 transition.

Under the rules set by Congress, which mandated that broadcasters switch from analog to digital broadcasts to free up more room in the wireless spectrum, the NTIA cannot commit more than $1.34 billion at any time to cover the cost of converter box coupons. That pool includes coupons that already have been redeemed; unexpired coupons that have been mailed out but not yet redeemed; and coupons that have been requested but not yet mailed out.

As The Associated Press reported Friday, Congress could address the funding problem by approving more money for the coupon program or raising the $1.34 billion cap by waiving the accounting rules that require the NTIA to wait for unredeemed coupons to expire before issuing new ones.

"The NTIA has left us with precious little time to respond to the cash crunch," Edward Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, said in an interview Monday.

Markey is working on bipartisan legislation to waive the accounting rules and said he hopes to pass a bill as soon as possible. That would immediately free up tens of millions of dollars for the program and buy Congress a few weeks to examine larger funding problems, he said.

The NTIA estimates that based on preliminary data and a 60 percent redemption rate, roughly 351,000 coupons will expire each week through the Feb. 17 transition, roughly 495,000 coupons will expire weekly through March 16, and 655,000 will expire weekly during the last two weeks of March.

Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the incoming chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, agreed that Congress needs to act quickly. "The change to digital television is just weeks away, and today we learn that the Bush Administration's approach to nickel-and-dime efforts aimed at making this conversion easier on consumers is flat broke," Rockefeller said in a statement. "The failure to protect consumers is simply astounding."

Although the converter box coupon program is open to all, it was created to help consumers who rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast TV signals, including many in minority and low-income communities. Under the program, consumers can request up to two $40 coupons per household to help pay for the converter boxes, which can translate digital signals from the airwaves into analog ones and generally cost between $40 and $80.

Coupon requests have ticked up sharply over the past six weeks as the NTIA, along with the Federal Communications Commission, TV broadcasters, cable operators and consumer electronics makers have ramped up efforts to educate people about the upcoming transition.

So far, more than 24 million households have requested more than 46 million coupons and redeemed more than 18 million of them, according to the NTIA.

Consumers do not need a coupon to purchase a converter box. Consumers also can sign up for cable or satellite TV or buy a television set with a digital tuner to ensure that their TV sets do not go dark on Feb. 17.

TV industry analysts at Nielsen Co. estimate that as of December, 6.8 percent of the 114 million U.S. households with televisions remained completely unready for the digital transition. Another 10 percent still had at least one television set that was not yet ready.

Unprepared households will lose all channels except for low-powered stations, which will still be allowed to transmit in analog temporarily.

As Seen

Digital Transition Countdown Begins

2009-01-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Soon, broadcasters will stop airing programs using analog signals. That means that anyone who does not have a digital television set and still gets over-the-air programming using rabbit-ears antenna, will need to get a special converter box in order to keep receiving TV signals. You won't be affected by the transition if you already subscribe to cable or satellite service, or if you have a digital TV.

The problem is, a lot of consumers don't know the transition is coming and have never heard about these converter boxes. That's why several officials charged with educating the public about the "digital transition," held a press conference this morning at the Best Buy in Tenleytown to show off the converter boxes and get the word out about their availability.
You can request a $40 coupon to help cover the cost of a converter box at www.dtv2009.gov. Each household can request up to two coupons.

U.S Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the department has received requests for more than 4.4 million coupons since they became available last month. Starting on Feb. 17, the one-year mark from the transition, consumers can start purchasing the converter boxes at Best Buy, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart. More retailers are expected to carry the boxes shortly thereafter. Thirty-four different converter boxes have been certified to be sold to consumers.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency within the Commerce Department, is responsible for directing the converter box coupon program. The NTIA, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, have been under pressure to do more to educate the public about the transition, so people still using analog television sets--particularly in elderly, low-income and minority communities--won't be left in the dark a year from now.

Industry officials also have a huge stake in the transition. For cable operators, it presents an opportunity to sell cable service to new customers. Broadcasters can now air more programming with better sound and picture quality, and want to make sure they can still reach viewers. And TV manufacturers see a chance to sell more digital TVs.

All the players say the transition is on track--and it needs to be, considering the FCC is currently auctioning off the analog spectrum being freed by going digital. But with 21 million households still relying on analog signals, and many more with analog TVs in their kitchens, bedrooms and basements, there undoubtedly will be a few people who don't hear the news. And some skeptics are questioning whether NTIA will have enough coupons for everyone who wants one.

It should be an interesting year.

As Seen

The New Year Will Be Very Happy at Rapha Residential Care

2008-12-31T05:40:00.000-08:00

The looming digital transition is quite confusing and stressful for many of us. The idea that everyone needs a digital converter box to be able to continue watching free local broadcasts on their analog TV means millions of Americans are now in the market for a new piece of technology – the digital converter box. This new product basically replaces your TV’s analog tuner enabling you to receive crystal clear digital broadcasts.

So now consumers are faced with the problem of choosing a converter box, a decision making process that has confused many. Which unit do I buy? What is the difference between them? What is analog pass-through? There are many questions being asked by consumers. The government has made an attempt to ease the cost of the digital transition on consumers’ wallets by providing up to two $40 coupons per household, since the new digital transition is mandatory. The task of acquiring these converted boxes is especially daunting for those who reside in assisted living facilities like Rapha Residential Care.

Rapha Residential Care is located in Gaston, South Carolina. It has been around since 1988, and it is the home of 92 residents. Rapha has three main areas, the Alzheimer’s unit (Dementia, or D-Hall) where the residents require hands-on care, the independent hall where attendants only help when needed, and the assisted hall where the attendants help with most day to day activities. Rapha Residential Care houses 45 residents in need of digital converter boxes, as well as five sitting areas where residents sit together and watch TV like a big family.

For Rapha to receive all the necessary coupons, they had to write the NTIA to receive a special form to apply for coupons for a Nursing home. Their application was eventually accepted and they were granted 50 DTV coupons. Keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, due to a generous donation by SolidSignal.com Rapha Residential Care was able to get 50 Sansonic FT-300A’s and their shipping cost for free.

The New Year marks the beginning of a new era of crystal clear reception for the recipients of the 50 converter boxes donated to Rapha Residential Care by Solid Signal. Now those residents are able to continue watching their favorite TV programs, and for some of those in the D Hall; continue their daily conversations with their televised, bed-side companions.

J.S.

6 Technology Trends for 2009

2008-12-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Energy management, Apple, wireless HD, virtual surround sound, national installation programs and online content to thrive in 2009, says CE Pro's Julie Jacobson

12.26.2008 — What's in store for technology in 2009? Nothing entirely new -- mostly existing products and services that will gain traction in the new year: Apple in the home, virtual surround sound, national installation programs and online content. The only "new" thing will be wireless HD, which manufacturers have talked about for years but never quite got around to shipping. Several wireless products will come to market in 2009, and none too soon. New construction is flat, but high definition is hot -- the perfect storm for wireless entertainment.Here are 6 top technology trends for 2009:

Energy Management

This trend seems obvious, but we have never included it in our yearly Top 5 Technologies to Watch. The reason that this year will be a watershed for energy management is the increasing amount of legislation on the subject (and more to come with a Democratic president?). Other contributing factors include utilities reaching capacity crises and a wide range of new retrofit-friendly HVAC-control products.

Apple in the Home

This could be the year that Apple finally makes a strong showing in the home. Spurred by the popularity of the iPhone and a plethora of applications for the device, Apple is generating greater mindshare among consumers who have not typically embraced multi-purpose electronics. Seems like Apple can do anything this year … and succeed.

Wireless HD

For various reasons, including technological challenges and high costs, wireless HD has failed to hit the residential marketplace, even after three years of promises. Manufacturers and technology developers are nearly there on the development side, and we should expect products from Belkin, Gefen, Monster and others to hit the market in 2009.

Virtual Surround Sound

With new-home construction in the gutter, the prospects for surround-sound wiring is grim. We've seen an explosion of virtual surround-sound systems that simulate the real thing, and 2009 should be a big year for the category.In 2008, Mitsubishi began shipping TVs with an "Integrated Sound Projector." Vice president of marketing Frank DeMartin says the TVs carry about a $400 premium over similar units. He adds that the technology makes it simple to sell a subwoofer with the package.Lest integrators think the solution cannibalizes sales of complete surround-sound set-ups, DeMartin notes, "How many people walk into retailers and don't buy audio?"

National Installation Programs

2008 was a big year for so-called national installers. Despite what integrators think about them, Best Buy's Geek Squad and Circuit City's firedog have gained consumer attention.We also saw the launch of Zip Express, a hang-and-bang installation company that does work for CompUSA and Tiger Direct, and OnForce, provider of leads for integrators willing to take relatively simple jobs. Yet another company (that wishes to keep under the radar for now) is expecting to start installing for Costco customers nationally.Integrators that can systematize the installation of simpler systems (such as TV, surround sound and universal remote) might take some cues from some of these mass marketers.

Online Content

IP-based video-on-demand has finally arrived, with help from such vendors as Vudu, Blockbuster, Hulu, VideoGiants and Netflix (which has partnered with several hardware providers). The forthcoming Windows 7 will kick the trend up a notch, although that OS is not expected to ship until the end of 2009.

What are you doing to capitalize on these new opportunities?

As Seen

Is Detroit all set for digital TV?

2008-12-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

Efforts begin this week to let the public know if their old televisions will go dark when over-the-air broadcasts end in February, and that has at least one Michigan retailer anticipating a boost in business.

A federally mandated Feb. 17 deadline ends current analog broadcasts in favor of digital, meaning televisions not hooked to cable or satellite services, or without a digital converter box, won't pick up any programming.

Detroit television stations on Tuesday will begin airing weekly tests that will let television owners know if their sets need a converter box.
Jerry Chapman, owner of Novi-based online electronics retailer Solid Signal Inc., has watched converter box sales become 40 percent of his business this year and expects the tests to spike sales.

So far, he's sold 60,000 boxes for a total of about $3 million.

He estimates his company is selling 3,000 to 4,000 boxes weekly, and he predicts that will peak next month.

“There will be lots of people who get into the basement and realize the TV doesn't work down there,” he said. He expects converter box sales, many of which are bought in conjunction with $40 government coupons, to continue strong sales through next summer.

“We're buried in the number of orders,” he said.

His sales are worldwide, with Detroit among the strongest. As of Sept. 1, nearly 78 percent of households in the Detroit market were completely ready for the digital conversion, according to a national study by New York City-based The Nielsen Co., which tracks television ratings and other broadcast information.

Nearly 14 percent of metro Detroit households were partially unready and 8.4 percent (114,000 households) were completely unready for the conversion, according to the study. Those percentages nearly matched the national averages: About 80.5 percent of U.S. households were completely ready at the time of the report, and 8.4 percent were completely unready. Houston was the nation's most unprepared city, with nearly 16 percent of households unable to receive digital signals. Fort Myers, Fla., was most ready with a U.S.-low 2.4 percent unprepared rate.

The federal government is providing $40 coupons through a $1.3 billion program to offset cost of the boxes, which range in price from $40 to $70. Households can request two coupons and redeem them at stores selling the government-approved boxes. Sixteen million coupons have been redeemed out of 40 million requested through Dec. 10, according to www.dtv2009.gov, the U.S. government Web site dedicated to the coupon program.

An increase in coupon requests is expected once local compatibility tests commence: Starting Tuesday and then every Tuesday through Feb. 17, Detroit's TV stations will run 60-second tests to allow set owners to determine if their television needs a converter box. Televisions will either show a green “pass” or red “fail” screen during the test. Failure messages will tell set owners where to get details on how to ensure their set can receive digital signals.

A similar one-time test in Arizona prompted 13,000 calls in three hours, said Karole White, president and CEO of the Lansing-based Michigan Association of Broadcasters, a nonprofit trade group.

The public-awareness campaign about the transition has gone well, based on survey results, White said, but acknowledged that the final weeks before the switch will be tense for the television industry.“Getting millions of people to do the same thing by a specific deadline is very difficult,” she said. “A certain number of people will wait until their television screens go blank.”

As Seen

2008-12-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

DTV converters: Best performers from our tests

We tested 14 of the first digital converter boxes on the market, and the preliminary results are in: The models we tested—all of which are approved for use with the government's $40 coupon and thus have a basic set of features in common—didn't differ significantly in performance.
And, pricier models aren't necessarily better than those that cost less.
But for those who face a looming DTV coupon expiration date or are looking for a Father's Day gift, here are some DTV converter box recommendations and guidelines that should help right now.

Every one of these set-top DTV boxes converted broadcast digital signals pulled in by our rooftop antenna into analog signals an older TV can accept. They can receive both high-definition and standard-definition digital broadcasts but will down-convert programs transmitted in HD (such as prime-time network fare) to a resolution a standard-def TV can display. When supplied with a strong signal, all produced acceptable picture quality—although some were better than others—plus good sound, and they were capable of detecting a similar number of digital channels.

While you can't go too far wrong with any of the models we tested, there are several we would consider first, based on a combination of picture quality, features, and pricing.
Some add optional features that increase convenience. For example, the electronic program guides on some have only minimal information while others give you fuller descriptions for more channels and cover a longer period of time. The ability to change the appearance of closed captions to make them more or less visible is another handy feature.

That said, here are the models that stand out. (Prices shown are what we paid. Several models appeared to be "twins" made by the same manufacturer, with differences noted.)

Tivax STB-T9 $50, available from Solidsignal.com
Microgem MG2000 $65, available from Solidsignal.com
Philco TB100HH9 $47 available from Solidsignal.com

Read on to see what made these models standouts and for a list of the other models tested.

Tivax STB-T9, available from Solidsignal.com

This box was among the best for picture quality, with images that come close to those of a DVD. It had a minor flaw that only the fussiest might notice: If you're watching a down-converted HD program letter-boxed to fit your squarish screen, images are stretched vertically to a slight extent. It has an informative program guide, a few nice convenience features, and comes with A/V cables (composite-video and stereo audio) in addition to the usual RF cables.

Microgem MG2000 $65, available from Solidsignal.com

The Microgem is one of the smallest units we've seen. It too was among the best for picture quality and has the same issue as downconverted HD images. Its program guide lists the program title and run time for several hours' worth of programming for the currently tuned channel but does not provide show descriptions. It has an informative program guide and a few nice convenience features.

Philco TB100HH9 $47, available from Solidsignal.com

The Philco stands out as the lowest-priced of the models we tested and the only one to offer analog pass-through. This allows broadcast analog signals to be passed through from the antenna to the box to the TV, along with converted digital signals. Picture quality was a small step below that of the top boxes but still impressive, better than most analog broadcasts. Although the stereo left/right audio output provides good audio, the RF outputs audio volume is quite low, which results in a noticeable hiss when you raise the TV’s volume to compensate. The program guide presents a limited amount of information. It has fewer features than the other boxes recommended.

Other DTV converter boxes

Here are the other boxes we tested, in alphabetical order. They might be worth considering, especially if the features and price suit you. We will be testing more boxes as they become available and posting results soon after on ConsumerReports.org.

Artec T3A Pro, $40. Picture quality was a small step below the best. A decent choice, though it lacks a few useful features of recommended boxes.

Lasonic LTA-260, $59.99. This was among the best for picture quality. Has a very basic program guide that gives minimal information and lacks many useful features. Functionally and stylistically similar to the Sansonic.

Magnavox TB100MW9, $50 (See image at right). Picture quality was a small step below the best. Functionally and stylistically similar to the Philco but lacking the analog pass through feature. A decent choice, though it lacks a few useful features offered by some recommended boxes.

RCA DTA800B, $59. Picture quality was a small step below the best. Lacks some useful features.

Sansonic FT300A, $60. This was among the best for picture. Has a very basic program guide that gives minimal information and lacks many useful features. Functionally and stylistically similar to the Lasonic.

As Seen

What's the story on the 2009 Digital Conversion?

2008-11-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

The 2009 digital conversion has created a lot of confusion for consumers who are looking to purchase a converter box for February 2009. Thus, we have attempted to shed some light on the issue in order to ease customers’ concerns.

Can I use my old antenna? (Rabbit Ears) Yes! In February 2009 your good old fashioned rabbit ears are getting a government-mandated upgrade. In order to facilitate this new law, consumers need a new piece of hardware to convert the new digital signal picked up by their antenna into the old analog format for display on analog TVs. Fortunately the government is providing up to two $40 DTV coupons per household to help with the cost of the converter box needed to pick up free local programming.

Solid Signal is one of the largest online retailers dealing with the 2009 digital conversion. Solid Signal carries a wide variety of converter boxes, ranging in price from $40.01 (practically free after the government rebate coupon.) To boxes that come with a smart antenna for $163.99. The process of choosing the right converter box for your needs can be very confusing. Each converter box comes with its own specific set of attributes ranging from boxes with analog pass through to others with VCR timers.

Do I need Analog Pass Through? We have an article that might help make this decision easier. There also three small exceptions to the digital conversion law passed by congress.

Which box has S Video? The only converter box with an S-Video capability is the CM7000.

What is the best box? That really depends on the price and the features that are most important to you. THE most commonly asked question is “which converter box is the best?” The answer to this question depends on the needs of the customer. The converter boxes will all give you basically the same picture quality. The main difference between the products is the price, which is based on the added features being paid for. You can use our online comparison tool to see the difference between features offered by the different boxes.

If you still can’t decide feel free to call our customer service department at 1-866-374-4625.

What are the exceptions to the new Digital Conversion Law?

2008-11-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

What are the exceptions to the new Digital Conversion Law?

“Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog.”

There are three exceptions to the new Digital Conversion law: Low-power stations (LPTV), Class A stations, and TV Translator stations.

“You may have noticed that Congress mandated that “full-power” TV stations will not be able to broadcast in analog after February 17, 2009. While the majority of the viewed TV broadcast stations are full-power stations, three other categories of TV stations exist – “low-power” stations, “Class A” stations, and “TV translator” stations. There is currently no deadline for these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.

The FCC created low-power television (LPTV) service in 1982 to provide opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small communities. These communities may be in rural areas or may be individual communities within larger urban areas. LPTV stations are operated by diverse groups and organizations including high schools and colleges, churches and religious groups, local governments, large and small businesses and individual citizens. More than 2,100 licensed LPTV stations are in operation. LPTV programming can include satellite-delivered programming services, syndicated programs, movies, and a wide range of locally-produced programs.

Class A TV stations are former LPTV stations that have certain interference protection rights not available to LPTV stations. These stations are technically similar to LPTV stations, but unlike LPTV stations must air at least three hours of locally-produced programming each week and comply with most of the non-technical regulations applicable to full-power stations. Approximately 600 licensed Class A TV stations are in operation.

A TV translator station rebroadcasts the programs of a full-power TV broadcast station. Translator stations typically serve communities that cannot receive the signals of free over-the-air TV stations because they are too far away from a full-power TV station or because of geography (such as uneven terrain or mountains). Many of the 4,700 licensed TV translator stations operate in mountainous or more remote areas of the country.

There are several ways to determine whether the broadcast stations you view over-the-air are LPTV, Class A or TV translator stations. Class A stations are required to visually or aurally identify their stations with their community of license and call sign (that includes the suffix “-CA” for Class A) at sign on, sign off, and on an hourly basis. LPTV stations also must regularly identify their station call sign. When locally originating programming, they must visually or aurally identify their call sign and community of license at sign on, sign off, and hourly. LPTV call signs may consist of four letters followed by the suffix “-LP” (for low power) or, alternatively, five characters beginning with the letters K or W followed by two numbers (their operating channel) and two additional letters. Also, some TV translators are identified by the full-power TV stations whose signals they rebroadcast. Further, LPTV, Class A, and TV translator stations may regularly broadcast information as to their status, and may include information regarding the DTV transition.”

From the DTV Consumer FAQ

Do I need Analog Pass-Through?

2008-11-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

“If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts on an analog TV and also wish to continue watching analog LPTV, Class A, or TV translator stations, you should purchase a converter box with “analog pass-through” capability, which allows analog broadcast signals to pass through the converter box to be tuned by your analog TV. NTIA’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program has certified converter box models that have analog pass-through capability.

You can find out which boxes have analog pass-through via our online comparison tool.
The NTIA will mail a list of current coupon-eligible converter boxes, noting with an asterisk those that have analog pass-through capability, to each household that receives converter box coupons. You can also check with your retailer to determine whether the converter box you are purchasing has analog pass-through capability.

If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without analog pass-through capability, you may have to connect an antenna switch or a signal “splitter” to bypass the box if you wish to view analog TV broadcasts. Check with the manufacturer of the digital-to-analog converter box and your retailer if you need instructions on how to connect the box to view broadcasts from both analog and digital stations.”

From the DTV Consumer FAQ

Hi Definition Predictions

2008-11-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Through working with thousands of customers as well as personal research, Solid Signal has insight on the future of HD technology. Here are a few predictions we propose for the next five years, in terms of high definition television.

Transition from a “home theater room” to a media room. These days, systems in the home are increasingly connected and many homes have personal home theaters. We see these trends continuing to come together as average families have media rooms with convergence of computers, HDTVs, HD DVD players, sound, lighting and so on to enhance customers’ technology experiences.

1080p. This will be the main resolution sold in the future – because there is nothing better that will be practical for average buyers. For those of us withot an inherent knowledge of all things technical, here is an excrept from Wikipedia: "1080p is the shorthand name for a category of display resolutions. The number "1080" represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1080 horizontal scan lines), while the letter p stands for progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). 1080p can be referred to as full HD or full high definition to differentiate it from other HDTV video modes. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels in total."

LCD as frontrunner. Technology innovation has been more prevalent with LCD than with plasma – i.e. there are few 1080p plasmas in 50 inch or larger .

Bigger is better (for TVs). Most new HD televisions purchased are 42 inches and up. This will only increase as technology becomes more affordable.

Using an antenna to get HD. Antennas are an affordable way for customers to get the best HD picture quality. At Solid Signal, we’ve seen sales surge in the past few years and anticipate this continuing to increase as more people own HDTVs and learn about the benefits of antennas.
Working with professional media installers – as well as average families – helps us see these HD trends in action. Let us help you stay on top of the latest tech trends! Visit http://www.solidsignal.com/ for the latest products or discuss your thoughts on trend predications in our forum.

Looking to score some great deals, but hate battling the crows on black friday?

2008-11-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

Try finding those bargains online at online retailers such as http://www.solidsignal.com/ by shopping on "Cyber Monday."

As Seen

Although Consumer Reports expects one in every four consumers to be out bargain-hunting on Black Friday, I'm not fond of crowds, so I'll be taking a walk in the woods and watching football. I do most of my shopping online, and Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Black Friday, as been anointed as the day that online merchants roll out some of their best deals of the season. In 2007, online merchants raked in $730 million in sales that day.

The National Retail Federation's site Cybermonday.com, serves as a portal to 550 companies offering special online deals on Cyber Monday. While I suspect many of the deals duplicate those offered to flesh-and-blood shoppers of merchants which have both virtual and brick-and-mortar stores, such as Target and Best Buy, CyberMonday.com promises special hourly deals that day. We'll see.

When shopping on that Monday, I'd suggest using the comparison shopper on CyberMonday.com, then accessing the site directly to compare. Also check the print ads from your Thanksgiving Day newspaper. Don't forget to check for refurbished items on sites such as Apple's, too. You could score a deal there.

Best of all: on Cyber Monday, there's no need to get up at 4:00 a.m. and wear shin guards, elbow pads and your most comfortable shoes. A warm pair of jammies would work just fine.

Do you have an HDTV set?... and do you have HD programming?

2008-11-24T12:15:00.000-08:00

Although these should go hand in hand, they are very different questions. A recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association shows that 30 percent of U.S households have HDTV…but less than half (44 percent) of HDTV owners receive HD programming.

Owners cite a few reasons for not getting HD programming… including cost and disinterest. In addition, many admit to not knowing if they have HD programming or not.

If cost is the issue for you – we understand. HD programming can be expensive. One cost effective way to get HD programming is an antenna. For a low, one-time cost, you can receive high quality over-the-air HD content.

Antennas provide free access to regional channels – some areas have more than 30 stations available over the air, including music and weather channels. But for those of you who can’t live without HD programming from ESPN and other networks, cable or satellite is the way to go.

The moral of this study is that many of you aren’t experiencing the true benefits of your HDTV set. We can help you pick out an affordable antenna or the right satellite provider to enhance your experience – without breaking the bank.

Evidence to support our prediction... LCD vs Plasma

2008-11-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

In our blog entry from June 6 - http://blog.solidsignal.com/index.php/2007/06/12/hd-predications - we predicted LCD would continue to emerge as a frontrunner in terms of HDTV.

A recent article from the Financial Times discussed this trend. “Hirotsugu Terada, the head of Sharp’s audio/video group, forecast that sales of large LCD TVs inJapan would reach 1.1m units in the half year from October to March 2008, compared with 478,000 units for plasma televisions.”

So it sounds like LCD sales could be more than double that of plasma. Although plasma was originally the frontrunner, LCD technology innovations have positioned it for future growth, a trend Solid Signal has been noticing, especially as more 1080p LCD TVs 50 inches or larger have been introduced.

Now – we are not saying not to buy plasma. Different factors, from budget to use to personal preference can influence the decision. At Solid Signal, our goal is to help you find the best product to meet your personal needs. We’ve gone as far as to contact a customer after they order something to let them know something else might be a better fit. This is why there is a “Have a product question” button by every product – we are happy to answer anything to help you find the right products to enhance your technology!

Get your Cell Phone to Work Virtually Anywhere

2008-11-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

We’ve all been there – in a basement or office where your cell phone just won’t get a signal. And of course, it usually happens at a time when you are expecting an important phone call. Or maybe even your whole house or office gets little to no quality reception. A few years ago, there was not much you could do about it. Maybe pay a fee to break your contract with one carrier to switch to another – or consider moving! Not anymore. There are several effective, affordable (starting from just $199) ways to improve cell phone reception.

Extend. Repeat. Boost. Sounds like a work out plan, right? Maybe, but they are also terms that can mean getting better cell phone signals.

Repeater: whatever is outside, you get inside.
Good for: business owners. Hundreds of people can benefit from it at the same time.
Learn more: http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=07&CAT=Repeaters

Booster/Extender: boosts what little signal you have.
Good for: homes, cars and small businesses, many cover about 3,000 sq. ft
Learn more: http://www.solidsignal.com/manu_display.asp?line=prodpage&main_cat=07&manu=Wireless%20Extenders%20(Wi-Ex)

We at Solid Signal came across these products originally because of poor reception we were getting in an office space. Yes, there was some skepticism at first. But both boosters and repeaters are effective ways to increase cell phone reception. You can check out some reviews and info about Wi-Ex boosters here - http://www.wi-ex.com/Page3591.aspx.

It’s estimated that 35 percent of cell users have trouble with cell phone reception in their home or office. Let us help you get the right product to meet your needs – send us an email at http://www.solidsignal.com/contact_us.asp.

Are you making the most of your DIRECTTV HD experience?

2008-11-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

As more and more people invest in HD televisions, the popularity of products such as HD antennas and HD satellite receivers are increasing. In fact, two of Solid Signal’s most popular products are the DIRECTV H20 DIRECTV® MPEG-4 High Definition (HD) Receiver (H20) and DIRECTV®s New High Definition MPEG-4 DVR (HR20) HD DVR.

The DIRECTV HD DTV-H20 Receiver ensures DIRECTV subscribers get the latest HD programming up to 1080i.

The DIRECTV(R) Plus HD DVR (HR20) brings together the new DIRECTV Plus DVR and DIRECTV HD Receiver. Viewers are able to record one HD program while watching another and record two different shows at the same time, while watching a pre-recorded program.

Realizing the power and appeal of HD, DIRECTV will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in high-definition to its viewers. In addition, next month, DIRECTV plans to launch a HD DVR that can store up to 100 hours of high-def programming. See a recent article from Multichannel Merchant http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6476815.html?q=directv to learn more. DIRECTV has also recently introduced Game Lounge, where you can play classic games directly your DIRECTV remote control. As Solid Signal continues to see convergence of the Internet, TV, home theater, gaming world, etc, we can bet we’ll see more things like this feature.

We know many of our readers know the benefits and features of DIRECTV like they know the backs of their hands. But for those who don’t, or who are thinking about signing up, Solid Signal is happy to help provide the facts about what is right for you. See a list of tips for maximizing your HR20 - http://www.solidsignal.com/hr20/hr20_tips_tricks.asp or call us today - 1-866-374-4625.

Cell phone booster rescues busy offices and talkative families

2008-11-24T11:56:00.001-08:00

Does your cell phone suffer from interference or poor reception at your office? Is reception iffy at your home?

Solve both problems by buying two stationary cell phone boosters. The Wi-Ex zBoost YX 510-PCS/CEL Wireless Extender is the ideal booster for home or office — anywhere that calls must not be missed!

Moreover, this YX510 is guaranteed by Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com), which is the premiere online retailer for signal products, from HDTVs to GPS systems to antennas.
This YX510 is on of the few dual-band amplifiers available. It boosts cell phone signals to improve coverage for 800 and 1900 MHz carriers. If you don’t know your cell phone’s frequency range, go to http://www.solidsignal.com/cellular/find_cellphone_range.asp and Solid Signal will tell you.

The YX510 provides up to 3,000 square feet of coverage, or up to 10,000 feet with an optional upgrade.

At Sold Signal, this Wi-Ex zBoost YX510 is available for a discounted price of $294.99 – which is a whopping $105.00 off the suggested retail price of $399. Solid Signal is so confident that the YX 510 is a great product that the Web tech retailer offers a no-questions-asked, 30-day return policy on the unit. Go to http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=07&CAT=Repeaters and it’s the first unit featured among wireless extenders/boosters on the page.

You may count on Solid Signal for all of your cellular solutions.

Consumers can get on track with handheld GPS units

2008-11-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

Top brands offer various reliable choices

Historically, the people who needed handheld GPS units the most — the chronically lost — were the same people who couldn’t figure out how to use them.

But there are several user friendly, handheld GPS navigation systems now on the market. Some of the most reliable helpers in this diverse group are manufactured by Cobra, Delphi, Garmin, Jensen, Lowrance and Magellan. All are described and sold at the online consumer electronics retailer, Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com).

A full menu of about 50 handheld GPS units, with features explained, is at http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?CAT=Handheld%20GPS&page=1&main_cat=11&siteREF=SSCOM&sort=&DIR

At Solid Signal, three of the most popular handheld GPS choices are:

The Cobra GPS1000DLX Global Positioning System with Rand McNally StreetFinder Software (GPS1000DLX) for $290.99.This unit’s exclusive ASAP II makes it start up and run twice as fast as other recreational GPS receivers. It has 4 MB of internal memory, stores up to 500 waypoints, is preprogrammed with coordinates for hundreds of world cities, and can calculate average speed, ETA, altitude, date, and miles traveled.The Cobra includes a PC interface and cable, 32 MB of memory on an SD card, and Rand McNally StreetFinder software.

Gamin manufactures about 30 handheld GPS models, specializing in everything from hunting and fishing use to multi-function units that include a personal organizer.Garmin prices range from $104.99 to $549.99. A pair of Garmin units with two-way communication runs $559.99. See all of the Garmin units at http://www.solidsignal.com/manu_cat_display.asp?cat=Handheld%20GPS&main_cat=11&manu=Garmin

The Delphi NAV200 Handheld GPS Navigation System with MP3 and Movie Player (NAV200). This versatile unit offers the budget-conscious customer a unique blend of advanced navigation and entertainment features to get users to their destinations on time, every time — in style.The NAV200 comes preloaded and ready to quickly calculate your route. Just insert its 1.5 GB SD card (included), which carries U.S. and Canadian maps.This GPS unit also sports an MP3 and movie player. You must download the entertainment onto an additional SD card (sold separately). The Delphi’s product’s other major virtue is its real-time traffic readiness, which allows city commuters to use Traffic Monitoring Channel (TMC) programming. (TMC is a new subscription-based service that sends up-to-the-minute traffic information over certain radio stations.) Using TMC on the NAV200 requires an optional adaptor. After receiving TMC traffic information, the NAV200 adjusts your route accordingly. More NAV200 features include a photo viewer, game, world clock and calculator. This handheld GPS has a 3.5-inch bright, anti-glare, full-color LCD touch screen. It has dashboard and windshield mounts.

For more information on a GPS unit or other consumer electronics, go to www.solidsignal.com. Solid Signal was named to the 2007 Inc. 500 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in America.

2007 Marked "Year of the Woman" for Consumer Electronics Inquiries

2008-11-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

For the first time in Solid Signal’s five-year history, a majority – some 55 percent – of calls received by the consumer electronics e-tailer came from women.

Solid Signal specializes in products geared towards helping consumers get the best possible reception on their personal electronics. More and more women are buying high-definition TVs, satellite systems, cell phones, GPS systems, antennas and other new technology. They want to ensure that they get the reception they need, so they turn to Solid Signal for questions.

Solid Signals reports that women seem to prefer personal dialog to e-mail communication. This year’s telephone call stats are validation of that preference.

Many factors play into the rise in women on the consumer electronics customer service scene. Many of the latest consumer electronics products have become more mainstream, and more accessible in recent years. This accessibility helps break down the intimidation in the female market, and empowers them to engage in personal dialog to get the help they need.

In response to the shift to female callers, Solid Signal recognized quickly that they needed to staff differently to handle this demographic. Female callers seem to like dialog and personalized help. They typically aren’t afraid to ask a lot of questions. As a result, call center employees carefully are chosen for their ability to engage in this type of dialog and offer the step-by-step solutions sought after by women.

It has been part of Solid Signal’s mission, from the start, to help customers to find products, solve problems and enhance technology.

Solid Signal was founded in 2002 to help customers find new solutions to enhance technology. The company offers satellite, outdoor antenna, consumer electronics and commercial media. It sells thousands of products to help distribute high quality, digital audio and video to a variety of media outlets.

Solid Signal provides advice for product selection, installation and troubleshooting to enhance customers’ experiences. It is a CEDIA member, allowing the company to better serve professional media installers. Solid Signal was named to the 2007 Inc. 500 List as one of America’s fastest-growing retailers. It also is an Internet Retailer Top 500 retailer.

For more information, visit www.solidsignal.com or call 1.866.374.4625.

What do you want us to carry?

2008-11-24T11:07:00.000-08:00

What do you want us to carry?

We at Solid Signal are a consumer electronics distributor, meaning everything we sell is for YOU. Having a problem with cell phone reception? We sell the cell phone boosters. Want the best viewing picture on television? We carry the HD antennas. Whatever electronic void is in your life, we try to fill it. We help professional installers as well as the average consumer find products and advice to create solutions to technology challenges.

As an Inc 500 company, we know that it is you, the consumer, who helped us be one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation. As we embark upon the last part of this year, we ask that you help us help you another year. Is there a service or a product that you would like us to provide for you? We believe in carrying the top-rated products by top-rated manufacturers to help you with your needs. We want to continue this tradition. We welcome your feedback. At a time when customer service is not at its highest peak, we pride ourselves in giving educated advice on purchasing the right product, solving problems and enhancing your technology. As corporations are in the “war for the best talent,” we want to provide the BEST products along with the BEST service. We would like the honor to continue to serve you with the best for your audio, video or cellular needs.

You can leave your comments on this blog or e-mail me personally at jerry@solidsignal.com. We’d like to hear from you.

“Why would you buy model…” - Help with choosing between DTV Converter Box models

2008-11-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

“Why would you buy model…” - Using your Government $40 Converter Box Coupons to purchase digital converter boxes for post-digital transition in February 2009.

We’ve been receiving a large number of questions regarding the differences between the available DTV converter boxes.To help field some of the questions, we assembled a small comparison list of the models we currently have listed on SolidSignal.com.

Channel Master CM-7000 - The only DTV converter box we carry at this time that has a Super VHS output (S-Video Output).

Philco TB100HH9 - This unit has an “Analog Pass-Through”, which means the unit will allow the off-air signal to go from your antenna all the way to your TV. Other models listed here will not.

MicroGEM MG2000 - Smallest DTV convertor box unit on the market as of this writing.

Sansonic FT300A - “Dual Silicon Conversion” unit - most of the DTV converter boxes listed here are not.

Artec Digital T3APro - Utilizes a 12V DC power plug, perfect for use in RV’s, boats, and other vehicles.

Tivax STB-T9 - Lowest priced DTV converter box we currently carry.

Digital Stream DSP7500T - Compact design, nice looks, appears to be built strong.

Keep in mind that we can only accept DTV Converter box coupons for models that we currently have in stock.This rule is set forth by the Governing body responsible for administering the digital conversion coupons.

For an updated list of stocked models, please visit this link.

For information on how to use your Government Converter Box Coupon, click here.

DIRECTV to Offer 100 National HD Channels in 2007

2008-11-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 8, 2007–DIRECTV, the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, is hailing 2007 as the “Year of HD” with the planned launch and carriage of 100 national high-definition (HD) channels. With this substantial HD muscle, DIRECTV will offer three-times more HD programming than any other multi-channel distributor, with the majority of these channels launching in Q3.

DIRECTV also announced today that it currently has signed agreements, or agreements in principle, with more than 70 major networks including:

– A&E
– National Geographic
– Bravo
– NFL Network
– Cartoon Network
– SciFi Channel
– CNN– Speed
– Food Network
– TBS
– FX
– The History Channel
– HGTV
– The Weather Channel
– MTV– USA Network

DIRECTV will also extend its leadership in HD sports programming by offering hundreds of games and other HD programming available from Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) around the country, including YES Network, Comcast Sports Net, New England Sports Network and FOX Sports.

To satisfy the insatiable appetite for a greater number of movies in HD, DIRECTV will offer an expanded line-up of HD programming available from all premium movie channels.

“This is DIRECTV’s break-out year for HD,” said Chase Carey, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. “The launch of our two new satellites will complete the largest capacity expansion in DIRECTV history, and no other video service will be able to match the sheer volume and quality of our HD programming. With HD adoption now reaching critical mass in the U.S., and 40 million homes projected to have HD-capable TVs this year, DIRECTV will be uniquely positioned as the best choice for HD programming.”

With the launch of DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 satellites in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.

DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as local HD broadcast channels in 49 cities, representing more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households.

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

Solid Signal Blog- Get Wife Excited about HD

2008-11-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

Women are pretty simple, right? – WRONG. Their likes and
dislikes regarding TV, for example, can range across the board –
from Patrick Dempsey in “Grey’s Anatomy” and the Lifetime
Channel to NASCAR and the World Series.

For the men, TV may be a little bit more simple — sports,
sports, news and more sports (OK, throw in a chic flick or two).
But the most important component of to this entertainment is
watching the best damn show the best damn way
— in HD.

So how will you get your wife to support and get excited
about this wonderful world of HD? Well, you may not have to.
Surprisingly more than half our calls in 2007 were from women.

But if it isn’t that simple, you must do what she does.
Negotiate.

Let’s face it, perfectly stated by none other than James
Brown, “It’s a man’s world, but it wouldn’t be nothing without a
women.” Women are all about the bargain. Do some research here
at Solid Signal and explain to her you want to ensure you all
are getting the best reception you can for the best price
possible. Here at Solid Signal, it is part of our mission to
help customers find products, solve problems and enhance
technology. Our company offers
satellite,

outdoor antennas, consumer
electronics and commercial media. We sell thousands of products
to help distribute high-quality digital audio and video
equipment to a variety of media outlets. Compare the services
you have now to the option of high definition television.
Present her with visual evidence. Perhaps show her life with HD
and life without. Then you could lead her to us. We can be
reached at 1-866-374-4625 from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. (M-Th) and 8 a.m.-8
p.m. (Fri) EST and Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. . Our specialists are ready and eager to hear from you!