Can you take an antenna with you when you move?
Yes, I understand that to some people it may seem like a silly question. But when you realize that most of us who move into an older house have an antenna on the roof that was…
Read MoreSeptember 2016
DIRECTV phasing out satellite TV by 2020?
The web is abuzz this morning with comments from AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, who said in a recent Bloomberg article that DIRECTV Now, the company’s upcoming streaming service, will be the primary TV delivery vehicle by 2020. Personally,…
EDITORIAL: I (unexpectedly) miss slow motion on DIRECTV
You CAN do slow motion on DIRECTV. This isn’t a secret… in fact I’ve published a previous article on it. But it’s far from easy. Your options are to either press-and-hold the {PLAY} button for what seems…
Slow internet? Blame the neighbors.
OK, it’s not all their fault. But if you’re not getting the internet speed you paid for, the culprit may not be the internet company. OK it’s still sort of the internet company. It’s confusing. Maybe I should…
STREAMING SATURDAY: The “real” Emmy Winners
Oh, Buckler, you just don’t get it. My esteemed colleague, deskbound and cranky for having been left behind to mind the blog last week, wants you to think that streaming services won big at the Emmys. He…
Streaming Saturday: Netflix, Amazon Win Emmy Awards
Streaming services Netflix and Amazon won 15 and nine Emmy Awards, respectively. Could this be a sign of the supremacy of streaming in the entertainment world? Whether it took home the win or was honored with…
When do you need a power passing splitter?
Power passing splitter. It’s another one of those terms you will hear about if you spend enough time around antennas and satellite dishes. It’s not a truly accurate term… what is usually meant is “all ports…
OK, let’s get going with “DIRECTV Now”
It’s been over six months since DIRECTV announced that it will have streaming services for customers who don’t want to get satellite TV. Am I the only one who’s getting antsy? Several sites have reported AT&T exec Randall…
FUN FRIDAY: McWhat?
We all know it’s not good for us. There’s no disputing it, though… McDonalds’ fortunes may rise and fall but they’re here to stay. The company has roughly 35 quadrillion locations(slight exaggeration) all over the world…
Do you need a preamp AND a distribution amplifier?
There are two different kinds of antenna amplfiers. Preamplifiers are usually used fairly close to the antenna and are used to compensate for long runs between the antenna and the TV. Distribution amplifiers are traditionally used…
THROWBACK THURSDAY: I was right about HDMI
Take a look for yourself. Back in 2012 I forecast that HDMI would be pretty much the only connection you’d find on TVs and other devices. Of course it wasn’t too hard to guess, considering that the…
Why can’t you get one amplifier that will work for everything?
If you have a TV antenna, cell booster, satellite dish, Wi-Fi, and home theater, you might also have a whole rack full of amplifiers of one sort or another. You see, each of these systems may…
Can your heater or air conditioner affect your Wi-Fi?
File this one under “plausible.” If you’re having Wi-Fi issues, the culprit could absolutely be your heating or cooling system. I’ll tell you, I’ve seen it myself. Turn off the central A/C and the Wi-Fi gets…
Is “Cable” Now a Dirty Word?
In its efforts to reinvent itself, the cable industry’s top lobbying organization confirms that “cable” a dirty word. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) recently announced it will be known as “NCTA – The Internet & Television…
BACK TO BASICS: Grounding Block
Whether it’s an antenna or anything else metal on your roof, it simply needs to be grounded. Grounding is a simple procedure where you run a wire from the antenna or dish to a ground source….