Do you really need gigabit to the home?
OK, I’m going to get in a little bit of hot water over at AT&T HQ. They’re in the midst of a big push to roll out gigabit fiber to homes they serve, following the lead…
Read MoreJanuary 2016
What ports on a SWM-16 need to be terminated?
This one’s easy: all the ones you’re not using. Well, that’s not completely true but it’s close. The port labeled “PWR” doesn’t need a terminator, but you should really be using that for your power inserter….
Is your DIRECTV receiver giving you error 775?
According to DIRECTV, about half of the issues where customers see Error Code 775 on the screen are due to unplugging the power inserter. The power inserter is the grey or black box that powers your…
Will LTE mess up your TV reception?
What you call LTE, I call UHF. Let me explain. Before the 700MHz band was allocated for high-speed cell internet, it was used for UHF television broadcasting. LTE sits right between UHF channels 52 and 53,…
Should you choose professional cell booster installation?
Cell boosters sure have come a long way. Today’s boosters are easy to install and come in kits that have everything you need, so long as you’re talking about a home or small office. But what…
The best investment you’ll make (in your DIRECTV system)
Buy an extra remote. Solid Signal has them for really cheap. This old-style white remote will work with every DIRECTV receiver made from 2003 until the present day. If you lose your remote or if you…
FUN FRIDAY: Crazy Rubik’s Cube
Is it me or are Rubik’s cubes back in a big way? I’ve seen kids playing with them at least half a dozen times in the last couple of weeks. Is this some sort of retro…
Is it possible to get over-the-air free HDTV without an antenna?
There are reports out there of people who get free, over-the-air HDTV channels without even hooking up an antenna. How can that be, you say? Isn’t an antenna necessary for reception? Well, yes it is, but…
What’s the difference between a VHF antenna and an FM antenna?
Antennas come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re close to the broadcast towers, almost anything will do for an antenna. Even a twisted up piece of aluminum foil or a copper wire will do…
THROWBACK THURSDAY: nytimes.com
Just a little over 20 years ago… one of the most important news sources in the world went online. The New York Times launched nytimes.com, which went on to become a pioneer in high-quality news online. According to their…
BUH-BYE: Java finally fades away
Well, at least it will. Java, once the darling of programmers all over the world, is finally planning to leave the browser. Three years ago, I spat on Java, calling it a “must-miss.” I took some flak for…
FAIR IS FAIR: Time Warner Cable did pretty well last quarter
So, look, I pick on them a lot. But why shouldn’t I? Time Warner has some of the lowest customer satisfaction on the planet, their products are often out of date, and let’s not forget that…
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The outlet center of your dreams
Think of it as a 21st-century update. This Tech Choice 3 Outlet Power Surge Protector Wall Tap gives you everything you could possibly want in an outlet. Plug in three power bricks using the widely spaced outlets, then…
AT&T reports subscriber increases
Late yesterday, AT&T reported its fourth quarter earnings and things are looking rosy. Earnings per share were up and income, while not quite meeting expectations, was also quite good. If you’re interested, the entire presentation, including…
The FCC wants new rules for cable boxes
This could be a mess for so many reasons. Several sources including Engadget and The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) are reporting that the FCC plans on taking another swipe at the growing problem of expensive cable box rentals. I…