Don’t trust those cell phone bars
Remember this chart? It made the rounds a few years ago when Apple was trying to convince everyone that their iPhone didn’t have antenna issues. It’s a little dated but the problem it displays is still…
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Why do phones have the * and # buttons? (And why do they call the # button “pound?”)
One hundred years ago, if you had a phone at all, you still had to call the operator first. Dial phones were introduced in some areas as early as 1916, but it wasn’t until 1951 that…
Why you should NOT make your own antenna
That same old story keeps coming back. This time it’s a major web site claiming that you can make your own TV antenna for $10 or less in parts. Is this really something you want to…
Watch your TV from anywhere with the DIRECTV App — yes YOUR TV!
DIRECTV has spent over a decade developing its DVRs and in some ways, there are actually “too many” features. They are so rich and so capable that sometimes people don’t realize everything they can do. For…
NICE AND EASY: Tell me again the difference between component and composite
Component Video. Composite Video. Why do they have to sound so similar? Here’s the simplest way we can think of to explain the difference. Component Video is designed for HDTVs and has five plugs – red/green/blue for…
What’s the downside to an omni antenna?
This Winegard Metrostar is a great little antenna. It can pull in signals from 25-30 miles away in every direction at once. It’s perfect for urban dwellers, because the closer you are to the broadcast towers, the…
Best of the Blog 2017, Volume 7
The best of July 2017 is all right here.
What’s the best dish for the DIRECTV HS17 Genie 2?
The internet is abuzz with news of the DIRECTV Genie 2. It’s DIRECTV’s latest gamechanger DVR, with the ability to store over 450 hours of HD content and support two 4K TVs at once. It does other tricks,…
UPDATED: Be careful when upgrading to a SWM-30 multiswitch
You know you want this SWM-30 multiswitch. Not only does it support up to 26 receivers or DVRs, it also gives you full support for 4K in the future. Yeah, the 4K LNB that connects to it…
What’s the best name in weather stations?
Simple as that. If you’re looking for a weather station, you want La Crosse Technology. If you look anywhere else, you’re just better off saving your money and using an app on the phone. Why even bother…
A cell booster for your apartment?
There’s a new version of this article! Check it out here! Pretty easy math here. 1. Younger people use their phones a lot. 2. Younger people tend to live in apartments. 3. A lot…
Can you still have a Genie 2 if you have more than 7 TVs?
It’s the new hotness.The DIRECTV Genie 2 can record up to 7 things at once and can supply 5 rooms with HD and 2 rooms with 4K, all at the same time. What if that’s not enough?…
Is there a limit to Wi-Fi range?
As you’re sitting in the living room wondering why the wi-fi from the bedroom isn’t getting all the way to you, you might be wondering exactly how far a wi-fi signal can travel. The answer, it…
Sometimes it’s worth paying for a quality antenna
The MSRP of this antenna is $129.99. You might be thinking, that’s a lot of money. After all, you can go down to the drugstore and pick up a “miracle” antenna that will sit next to…
REVISED: Can you use a DIRECTV AM21 with an HD receiver?
This article originally ran in early 2014. The answer has changed. No. and here’s why. [strike]The AM21 antenna module will work with all current model HD receivers and DVRs. That includes HR21, H21, HR22, HR23, H23, HR24,…