Do you really need gigabit to the home?
OK, I’m going to get in a little bit of hot water over at AT&T HQ. They’re in the midst of a big push to roll out gigabit fiber to homes they serve, following the lead…
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Will LTE mess up your TV reception?
What you call LTE, I call UHF. Let me explain. Before the 700MHz band was allocated for high-speed cell internet, it was used for UHF television broadcasting. LTE sits right between UHF channels 52 and 53,…
Where can you get the new “Reverse DBS” (RDBS) LNBs for DIRECTV?
If you’ve been following this blog over the last year, you know that DIRECTV has launched two new satellites that give the company the ability to broadcast up to 50 new 4K channels. One key to…
Bad Wi-Fi coverage? Take care of it!
Not everyone is lucky enough to have great wi-fi coverage throughout the house. The chances are you’ve got a corner that doesn’t get great service. That hasn’t been a problem for you, since your smartphone can…
Do you need a DIRECTV Genie to share programs throughout your home?
Sshhhhh. DIRECTV doesn’t want you to know this. They love to tell you how their Genie DVR does a great job of sharing programs from a central DVR to three other rooms in your home. And you know…
THROWBACK THURSDAY: DIRECTV THR22 TiVo
There was a time when TiVo meant DVR. It wasn’t that long ago that the company had a virtual monopoly on good solid DVRs that worked well. The first DVRs for DIRECTV ran TiVo software, and when DIRECTV…
Does it “really” make a difference what router you choose?
I don’t have the numbers, but I’d feel pretty comfortable saying that around 75% of people use the free router they got from their internet service provider. I don’t blame them — depending on the ISP,…
The sordid history of HDMI (revised and updated)
HDMI is the standard for single-cable, HD audio and video today. It is reliable, cables are inexpensive, and it’s usually the right choice for connecting video sources like cable and satellite receivers, Blu-ray disc players,…
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Stop HDCP problems with this handy converter
HDCP. It’s always there. High Definition Content Protection encrypts digital signals. This makes content providers feel good about working with cable and satellite providers, but it can be a real pain in the neck for consumers….
So, NFL Sunday Ticket is over. What happens to all those unused channels?
Football season is DIRECTV’s best season. They’ve traditionally pulled in big profits and everyone’s happy when there’s money flowing in, especially when it comes from the excitement that is NFL football. Bringing you that football action…
Why are all the musicians mad at Spotify?
Look I admit I was a little late to the game, but now I’m a Spotify addict. If you’re even later than I am, let me tell you that it’s a streaming service that’s completely free…
Which is better: An Android TV or a traditional streaming stick?
Android TV is the next hacker toy. As I explained in an earlier article, Android TV is an evolution of Android tablet technology designed to work with simple remotes and HDTVs. A lot of Android software designed…
DO THIS NOW: Backup your Ubiquiti configuration
If you’re using Ubiquiti’s Unifi access points, you know that there’s a cute little desktop app called Unifi which makes it super easy to manage all of your access points at once. It’s great, except there is…
Can you connect your new DIRECTV-Ready TV wirelessly?
Sad news for folks who picked up a new Smart TV over the holidays. While most smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, and LG are “DIRECTV Ready,” they can’t connect wirelessly. You’ll need an ethernet cable connection….
Will 2016 be the year we get multiple Genies on our accounts?
I’d say chances are 60% in favor… which is a step up from 2015 when I would have put the chances at 25%. One of the biggest requests from our Solid Signal faithful is the ability…