The ABC’s of Antennas, part 2
There’s so much to talk about with antennas! The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn! Today we continue our series with a few more entertaining nibbles of knowledge. Gain Gain is…
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DIRECTV’s iPad App — now for Commercial Customers too!
It’s no secret that we’re fans of DIRECTV’s iPad app. It’s a must have here for all the staff. It combines a super-remote with guide, playlist management and search that are even better than the on-screen…
The ABC’s of Antennas, part 1
Antennas are more of an art than a science. There’s a lot that goes into getting that TV picture just right, but for the antenna hobbyist there’s nothing like seeing that crystal clear picture once everything…
What do you mean, “Clear QAM?”
The TV industry loves to confound you with strange abbreviations. One of the weirdest is QAM, pronounced “kwam.” It sounds vaguely Australian, doesn’t it? What’s worse is that if you search for QAM, you find out…
Is it true that Genie has a client without wires or boxes?
Have you seen the commercial where DIRECTV points out that their equipment will work without visible wires or boxes? There’s a disclaimer at the bottom but it goes by pretty fast and you probably won’t be…
Use a meter to read your signal levels
Whether you work with big beasts like this SWM-32 multiswitch or just average DIRECTV equipment, you need to know what to expect when setting up your system. You’ll need a signal meter like our AIM Advanced Installation Meter to test,…
HOW TO DO IT: Set up Pandora on your DIRECTV DVR
Free music tailor made to your tastes… what else could you ask for? Pandora and other online services make it easy to listen to music and with a recent update, DIRECTV made it possible to stream…
It’s easy to install a satellite dish on your RV (BONUS DIAGRAM INCLUDED)
With our RVSATKITs, it’s easy to put up a temporary satellite dish for when you part for the night. These kits have everything you’ll need for a quick setup… some of them even have meters. To…
TIP: What are acceptable output levels (signal strengths, dB) for DIRECTV equipment?
Whether you work with big beasts like this SWM-32 multiswitch or just average DIRECTV equipment, you need to know what to expect when setting up your system. You’ll need a signal meter like our AIM Advanced Installation Meter to test,…
Best of the Blog 2012, Volume 2
Here’s even more of the great stuff we found from a few years ago.
How do all your clocks set themselves for Daylight Saving Time?
Spoiler alert: it’s GPS. You know all those self-setting clocks in your weather stations and cell phones? They’re the reason that you don’t have to run around like (as much of) a crazy person on days…
Proper use of a Band Stop Filter (Residential customers)
If there’s any piece of equipment that is more misunderstood than the lowly band stop filter, I can’t think of it. The band stop filter has one purpose in life. It lets your satellite signal in but…
Ten biggest Genie myths (and two facts)
DIRECTV’s Genie system is still fairly new so there are a few myths that are out there that just aren’t true. Let’s take a look at the biggest myths, things people think are true but aren’t….