How to Estimate your Signals
I said I wasn’t going to give you equations for calculating gain, loss, and Noise Figure/margin but I will explain how I estimate the Noise margin (NM) of the antenna system. I’ve worked in a…
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CABLES 101 – How to choose the best cable: Part 4, Signal Loss
It’s just a fact of life… signal loss happens. Of course, the image above would result in complete, 100% signal loss. However, there is a lot more to the idea of loss than just broken cables….
How to Attach a Magnetic Antenna to an Aluminum Vehicle
Here’s a question for you: If you’re installing a cell booster in your vehicle, and it has an aluminum body, how do you install the outside antenna? The antenna is magnetic, but it won’t stick to…
CABLES 101 – How to choose the best cable: Part 3, connectors
When you think about it, a cable isn’t just the wire. The ends are important too. They’re the point of contact between the wire and everything else, and if that connection isn’t very good, then you’ll…
Learn more about the Televes Nevoswitch!
The Televes Nevoswitch is designed to help customers who have been left high and dry since it’s almost impossible to get a Spaun multiswitch in this country. The new multiswitches from Televes are perfect replacements for…
CABLES 101 – How to choose the best cable: Part 2, technical specs and terms
There’s a lot to learn about cables. Before we go too far, we need to look at the parts of a cable and why they’re important. Center Conductor The center conductor, marked “D” in the…
CABLES 101: How to Choose The Best Cable
Are you using the best cable for the job? You may have heard terms like RG59, RG6, RG11, and Slim RG59 but you didn’t know what they meant. There is actually a real difference between these…
Power Over Ethernet: One Cable to Rule Them All
My router is in my home office, surrounded by a mountain of cables. I’d love to put it in the attic more centrally located. I could run an ethernet cable up there, but I’m more worried…
Is your phone unlocked? Here’s how to tell
Here’s the quick answer to the title question: If you have purchased your phone recently, it’s probably unlocked. But if you’ve had it for a while or if you’re planning to purchase a used phone, you…
REVISED AND UPDATED: Frequencies in use by different services
If you’re looking for the ultimate resource for frequencies in use by different broadcasters, you’ve come to the right place. Our PDF showing common frequencies used by radio, television, satellite, and government has been fully updated!…
The built-in USB port in your car probably doesn’t do real well. Just ignore it.
It’s great that cars come with USB ports now. It’s an easy way to charge any phone and it’s also a way for your friends to play music through your car stereo without having to permanently…
Top 10 reasons to use a prepaid cell phone (even if you’re not a drug dealer)
I get it… prepaid cell phones still have a bit of a “reputation” with some people. They’re thought of as “burner” phones, the kind of things that a dicey character from a TV show would speak…
Should you stay up late worrying about space junk?
It’s up there. In fact pretty much every communications satellite ever launched is still up there. A few hundred miles above the “geostationary” band where communications satellites serve their useful days is a growing graveyard of…
Sprint users: Put an AT&T Prepaid cell phone in your car for emergencies
This AT&T Prepaid cell phone could be a lifesaver. Let me lay it out for you. You’re a thrifty person, you watch those Sprint commercials where they tell you you can save a lot with just a small…
How do you go to a specific time in the DIRECTV Guide (new Genie GUI)
Those lucky folks who got the most recent update for DIRECTV Genie are still working out the kinks. This is going to be a very long and slow process for DIRECTV customers as their feedback is…