What is “cord shaving?”
Maybe you’ve heard the term before. If you haven’t, it refers to people who don’t want to ditch cable TV completely, but who choose to cut their cable bill to the absolute minimum. These are people…
Read MoreArticles by Stuart Sweet
What is “over the top” (OTT)?
Other than, well, a Stallone movie about arm wrestling, of course. You’l hear this term used from time to time, and because the concept is becoming more popular, you’ll probably hear it more. “Over-the-top” refers to…
What should you do to get ready for a DIRECTV installation?
You’re finally doing it! After all these years you’ve decided it’s time to break up with the cable company and you’re going with DIRECTV. There’s never been a better time, because DIRECTV is offering more free…
WEEKEND PROJECT: Homemade wireless Genie Client?
I’d heard for years that it could be done. Rather than get the C41W Wireless Genie Mini and the Wireless Video Bridge, it’s supposedly possible to connect a regular C41 Genie Mini Client in such a way that it could be…
IT’S NOT JUST YOU: The tuner in your new TV probably isn’t as good as the old one.
Good news is, there’s something you can do about it. First, the problem: You’ve just upgraded your living room from a 40″ to a 60″ screen. Maybe this is your first big upgrade since you went…
Will fireworks mess up your TV or satellite reception?
Believe it or not they could, at least for a very short time. But only under very specific circumstances. Here are some specific ways that fireworks could cause problems while they’re actually occurring: Shaking your mast. If…
HDBaseT – the answer to so many problems
Send your HD signals everywhere. Well not everywhere, but everywhere within about 300 feet. HDBaseT makes it easy. It’s always been a bit of a drag getting HD where you wanted it. Component cables were expensive…
OPINION: Apple vs. Android, 2015
So here it is 2015, and both of the dominant mobile operating systems have been with us for eight years. We tend to remember the iPhone coming first but it’s really a toss-up; the first iOS…
Can you use a powerline adapter on a smart TV?
The better question is, “should you?” Powerline networking kits like this one from Tech Choice will help you get a network connection where none exists. Wired networking is necessary when your Wi-Fi doesn’t reach, or in the…
NICE AND EASY: Can you use an SSD with a DIRECTV DVR?
The better question is not “can you…” but “should you.” And the answer is “no.” By now, you probably know that you can use an external hard drive with a DIRECTV DVR by connecting it…
SWM 101: Why does SWM need a return path?
DIRECTV SWM technology is a very different way of distributing signals than traditional satelllite TV. It was developed in order to help installers take advantage of existing cable television wiring. In the mid-2000s, as DIRECTV was…
SAY WHAT? Surveillance cameras don’t have sound?
You heard that right. Or, if you’re reading this by pointing a surveillance camera at a monitor, you didn’t hear that at all. Most surveillance cameras don’t record sound. They’re video only. The conventional wisdom is…
NICE AND EASY: Can you use PIP with recorded programming?
Yes, one of the two programs can be recorded. Just start watching a recorded program as you normally do and then enable PIP as shown in this tutorial. The recorded program will go into the PIP window…
Cell Booster or Wi-Fi Extender: Which do you REALLY need?
So, you want to improve reception in the house. That makes perfect sense… it’s frustrating that you can use your phone anywhere but in your own home. Yet, the construction of a lot of homes isn’t…
TIME TO MOVE ON: It’s getting harder to find Spaun Multiswitches
The season of Spaun is coming to a close. Yes, there was a time when we recommended Spaun multiswitches to our marine customers because of their durability and features, but that day has passed. If you…