AT&T to test “5G” technology
So, let’s get this out of the way first. A few short months ago I said there was no such thing as 5G. And there isn’t. I stand behind that. So what are engadget and others talking about when…
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NOT JUST YOU: HR34 Genies are getting awfully slow
It was “the thing to have” in 2012. But things change. This HR34 Genie was the popular toy for DIRECTV enthusiasts in the Christmas ’12 season, easily blowing away the 2-tuner DVR that came before. It’s…
2016 Edition: Do you need a 4G/LTE booster or will a 3G one work as well?
About once a year, I write an article about cell boosters that asks whether you need one designed for 4G or not. (Here’s my article from last year.) And so far, the answer has been the…
DIRECTV announces LOWER pricing for MLB Extra Innings
Aren’t too many things that get cheaper over time. DIRECTV’s new pricing for MLB Extra Innings was just announced, and at $173.94 for the year (as of 2/10/16) it’s about twenty bucks cheaper than last year….
NICE AND EASY: Do you need a DIRECTV HR54 Genie to use the C61K 4K client?
This is the DIRECTV C61K Genie Mini Client. If you want to watch DIRECTV’s 4K pay-per-view programs, you’ll need it, or you’ll need a DIRECTV 4K-ready TV. You’ll need a Genie DVR, too, but it doesn’t have…
GenieGO is no longer offered at Solid Signal (or anywhere else.)
Yes, it literally went “poof.” Just a quick note to say that DIRECTV’s transcoding device, the GenieGO 2, is no longer offered by Solid Signal. Our friends at DIRECTV are telling us that no new devices…
Will hotels just give up on TV and let you use Netflix instead?
Yeah, I get it, it’s hard running a hotel. It used to be easy. A clean bed, a color TV, maybe a pool. Now guests don’t just want a nice view and a continental breakfast, they…
The easy way to install your HR54 Genie or H44 Genie Lite
DIRECTV’s newest DVRs are easier to install than ever before. Both the HR54 Genie and H44 Genie Lite have been designed to make installation easy, especially if you are using the most common dish, the SWM-enabled Slimline. Because both Genie and…
Is the age of good Super Bowl commercials long past?
Let me just say that I’ve been predicting the death of the Super Bowl commercial for about ten years. And you could argue it both ways; how many really memorable ads have there been since 2006?…
It’s Super Bowl Sunday. Where’s the 4K?
The lawyers would like me to tell you that displaying this graphic doesn’t imply any relationship with the NFL or anyone else and that we’ll take it down if they ask. So there. Seriously? I know…
OPINION: Is ownership obsolete?
Let’s set the record straight: you don’t own half the things you think you do. You don’t own the operating system on your computer, you don’t own any of the digital music and video you have…
DIRECTV 4K Ready TVs Compatibility Chart (Spring 2016)
DIRECTV recently published a new list of DIRECTV 4K Ready TVs on their site. It’s probably the simplest list I’ve seen, so I’m posting it here for you all to enjoy as well. Brand Year Models…
DISH plans another new facility in Denver
I don’t usually publish these press releases,, after all most people don’t care too much about staff changes and relocations and stuff. You, my Solid Signal faithful, usually care more about the technical stuff, the…
Who will end up getting the rights to stream Thursday Night Football?
Streaming is the future. Heck, streaming is the present. There are plenty of times when I will move from live TV to recorded TV to streaming and not even think about it. It’s a reality that’s…
Which is better, an RF remote or an IR target cable?
What you see here is called an IR Target Cable. These used to be very common, and now you hardly ever see them. They’ve been replaced with RF remotes. In order to understand why, you need to…