Are those pesky electronics affecting your sleep?
I read a lot of blogs and articles on quite a large number of subjects. I recently read one about the effect of smartphones (and being tethered to them) and sleep. Let me give you…
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Someone, somewhere thinks chirpy phones are a good idea. This person is my sworn enemy.
Say it ain’t so, Joe. A recent article at MobileBurn claims that Sprint is expanding its DirectConnect Now service to several of its phones including the popular Samsung Galaxy S4. DirectConnect Now is the spiritual successor to Nextel, providing…
Solid Signal’s 2014 Cell Booster Buyer’s Guide
This is the year it all comes together. Thanks to sensible rules from the FCC regarding cell booster design and usage, manufacturers have finally been able to create solutions that are 100% approved by your cell…
The web is where new music happens
Up until just last year, new songs were introduced almost exclusively via radio and sometimes TV. Last year was the first time that some major songs were introduced via the web and made their way…
HD-BLADE vs. Clear TV: Can an infomercial actually be true?
When we tested the Mohu Curve against our HD-BLADE antenna we proved that our labs can do real side-by-side testing. Now, we’ve used exactly the same test parameters against another so-called contender, the Clear TV Antenna. This antenna is featured…
DRE Installers: Are you leaving a regular remote behind?
If not, why not? One of the keys to making sure that your DRE installation runs smoothly without calls to you in the middle of the night is proper training. The on-site staff should have a…
EDITORIAL: I hate the word “trending”
It seems an odd thing for a blogger to say, doesn’t it? But really, the word “trending” really gets on my nerves now and again. It’s hard to say why, but it just really rubs me…
Five Rumors that might have started with Investor Day
DIRECTV’s Investor Day can be a mixed bag for techies. After all the point is to impress the financial types and anything we tend to get will just be table scraps. However, if you really look at…
Have you seen GenieGO lately?
If you haven’t seen GenieGo lately, you just haven’t seen GenieGo. The hardware is still the same, but the experience is completely different. What started out as a largely unloved little transcoding box has become the…
BREAKING NEWS: Wilson Electronics buys zBoost
This is big. The top manufacturer of cellular boosters for the US market has agreed to buy its largest competitor. Wilson Electronics today notified us that it has recently acquired zBoost. What does this mean? Until…
FROM THE RUMOR MILL: Can you turn a C41 wireless?
Buzz around a few internet forums and you’ll find people who claim they’ve frankensteined a C41 Genie Client together with a wireless Cinema Connection Kit to create a wireless client. DIRECTV hasn’t come out with their true wireless solution yet,…
What is Reverse DBS (RDBS or Reverse Band)?
Put a note in your calendars, you heard it here first. Years from now when everyone is talking about RDBS, you’ll be able to say, “Oh yes, I do remember back in early 2014 when I…
EDITORIAL: Maybe I don’t want a Smart TV
Longtime readers of The Solid Signal Blog will see that over time, my thinking about Smart TVs has evolved. I was a big fan of the technology in 2011, even investing my own money to get a…
Protect your connections from the weather with STUF
We know that there are all sorts of installs. Some have the luxury of having everything in an air-conditioned and moisture-controlled room. Others have to survive the harshest elements. A weather boot can help control corrosion…
TIP: Set your satellite dish type for DIRECTV
If you’ve recently replaced your dish, you might need to check or change the satellite dish type. (Here’s a quick tutorial on how to check your satellite setup.) These are the proper dish types for the different…