30 Days With the zBoost YX545, Part 3: Outside Antenna
I’m beginning to get the feeling that the zBoost YX545 is as good as they say. All I did was tape the antenna to the window and I went from one bar to three. I…
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Diplexer? Splitter? Combiner? What are these things?
If you think that the two images above look like the same thing, you’re not alone. It’s very confusing to know the difference between a splitter, a combiner, a tap, and a diplexer. To make…
Use the Right GPS for the Job!
GPS has revolutionized the way we get around. No more asking for directions, no more following maps… just get in and go. GPS is on our phones, it’s in our cars, planes and boats. A…
Hands on with DIRECTV/Samsung’s RVU solution!
RVU is here. At least for a few people. DIRECTV’s HR34 is more than a 5-tuner DVR. It has a whole new technology called RVU that promises to revolutionize the way that TV is delivered in…
TIP: Use an RF remote for the best possible results
If you’re tired of pressing the same remote buttons over and over again, or if your equipment is hidden in an entertainment center or closet, you need an RF remote. RF remotes use the same…
Are People Really Cutting the Cord?
There’s a lot of talk lately about “cutting the cord.” Cutting the cord means turning off your cable or satellite service. It’s one way to save about $1,200 every year on your household expenses. Even…
TIP: Make your DIRECTV receiver skip forward 30 seconds
If you’ve been using DVRs since the old days when ReplayTV and TiVo were king of the hill, you might miss the ability to skip forward 30 seconds instead of fastforwarding through the commercials. The…
Hands on with the NextGen Remote Extender, part 2
After two days of charging, I was ready to try the NextGen Remote Extender. The first step was to take the batteries out of the charger and put them in the remote. It was at…
New to the DIRECTV TiVO? Keep that old remote around!
The THR22 DIRECTV/TiVo has been a real hit at Solid Signal! There has been a lot of demand for these DVRs ever since they were first announced almost four years ago. Many users who missed…
MoCA 101: Can I diplex with MoCA?
In our first article on MoCA, it was stated that there is no real downside to MoCA. That’s true for almost everyone, but there are a small group of people who will be negatively impacted…
30 Days with the zBoost YX545, Part 2: Quick Installation
After a long weekend, it was time to put the zBoost YX545 through its paces. There was an included setup guide which I promptly ignored. I wanted to see if I could get this device…
TIP: Press and hold {EXIT} if you’re running two TVs from one receiver.
If you’re using one DIRECTV receiver to run two TVs, you might have noticed that annoying message on the older TV telling you that “Your TV or its cables are not HD!” DIRECTV receivers have always…
DIRECTV THR22 TiVo is Now Available!
TiVo® HD DVR Available Nationwide from DIRECTV TiVo and DIRECTV Back Together Again ALVISO, Calif. (February 9, 2012) – TiVo Inc., the creator of and a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders…
TIP: Use the smallest splitter possible
Admit it, we all have a tendency to use large splitters when we could use small ones. Even though the large ones cost more, we put them in because we want to future-proof our systems….
Hands on with the NextGen Remote Extender, part 1
A really clean home theater means hiding the equipment. Unfortunately, hiding the equipment sometimes means problems with the remote. Most remote controls work with infrared signals that can’t see through wood or metal. The problem…