Amazon 4K comes to Samsung TVs
4K streaming is coming sooner than you think, as early as October Amazon Instant Video could start streaming 4K. With one catch, they will only be streaming to Samsung UltraHD TVs. The announcement came from…
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IMPORTANT: If you use a SWM32 you also need a polarity locker.
There are several reasons we don’t recommend the SWM32 for home use. It’s expensive, it doesn’t work as well in a home environment as other multiswitches, and it’s hard to set up. Still, there’s one reason that keeps getting…
CEDIA Show Floor Wrapup
My feet are sore and I think I caught a cold. But it was worth it to get all the skinny for you, my loyal Solid Signal Blog readers, as I scoured the CEDIA EXPO in…
CTIA 2014 Wrapup
One and done. Our time at CTIA 2014 was short, but oh did we get to see a whole bunch of stuff. In a lot of ways, it was a condensed version of CES, just without…
DISH DOES IT SO… Why can’t you turn a DIRECTV receiver into a DVR just by plugging in a hard drive?
DIRECTV fans aren’t jealous of a lot of DISH’s hardware, but there’s something special about its 211z HD receivers. See, they’re really DVRs in disguise: Plug in an external hard drive and boom, instant DVR. It’s that…
HD-BLADE Generation 1 vs. Generation 2: Is newer better?
Our top-rated HD-BLADE is back for 2014 and better than ever! We’ve added a new Clear version as well as a slimmed down model, and we didn’t stop there. It’s all about the accessories for this year, and that…
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Startech HDMI VGA Adapter
The cure for old monitors. Ever since VGA was introduced in the late 1980s on IBM’s PS/2 line, that 15-pin connector with the blue plastic cover has been the ultimate standard. Plugging in a monitor…
UNBOXING VIDEOS: HD-Blade Antennas
You asked for them, you got them! You said you wanted to see unboxing videos from Solid Signal and we’re happy to oblige! Our first three videos cover the new HD-BLADE antennas and the stand that…
Thinking of putting a SWM32 into your home? Think again!
Ah, the poor maligned SWM32. Sure, it’s still the favorite multiswitch for high-end commercial installs, but it just doesn’t get any love from single-family homeowners. Why? The answer is quite simple: it doesn’t deserve any. Folks, I have…
The history of DIRECTV DVRs, part 3: The Genie is out of the bottle
By 2010, DIRECTV had a pretty good idea what it was doing with DVRs. In order to understand what happens next, you have to go almost back to the beginning. In 2006, DIRECTV was working…
EDITORIAL: Have we reached “peak gadget?”
Yeah, I’m making up a new term. It’s like “peak oil,” that theoretical point where our demand for oil permanently outstrips the amount we can take out of the ground. It’s an indication that we’ve innovated…
The history of DIRECTV DVRs, part 2: From Zero to Hero
The world of DIRECTV changed in the summer of 2006 when DIRECTV released its first HD DVR developed in-house. DIRECTV had used TiVo hardware and software, and for the most part people were happy, but there…
The history of DIRECTV DVRs part 1: Prehistory
It all began fourteen years ago. The DVR was an incredibly new concept at the time and DIRECTV was one of the first pay-TV providers to offer one. While DIRECTV’s DVRs are smooth, slick and powerful…
Your guide to the new HD-BLADE antennas
The next generation is here… and it’s gorgeous! If you were a fan of last year’s model, you’re sure to flip over this year’s new and improved line of HD-BLADE antennas. Performance is increased 20% over…
Why can’t cable companies put HD Channels in the low numbers?
One of the major advantages of satellite TV is that when you want your local stations, they’re all where you expect them to be… channel numbers below 99. In fact, all HD channels share numbers with…