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Ken Reid and Mike Watt

June 13-19, 1970 This week Ken welcomes legendary bass-man, and all around punk rock royalty, Mr. Mike Watt to the show. Ken and Mike discuss San Pedro, first meeting D. Boon, moving to San Pedro in 1967 from Navy Housing, living in the projects, saying no to Alameda, George being from Brocton, strong accents, how all the Minutemen were transplants to San Pedro, D. Boon’s mom, how trippy the Summer of 1970 was, Blue Oyster Cult, UHF stations, Wild Wild West, Star Trek, Mission Impossible, not having a color TV, how The Prisoner is Mike’s favorite show, MAS*H, All in the Family, D. Boon’s love of Johnny Carson because his dad was from Nebraska, WWII movies, T. Rex, local horror hosts, the origin of “D.” in D. Boom, Steve McQueen...
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What can you do if your Gemini Air has Wi-Fi problems?

See if this sounds familiar to you: That’s a message from a customer after they got a new Gemini Air. People love the Gemini Air because it’s small and simple and has a real remote with easy-to-understand buttons. But every so often we get someone who complains about the Wi-Fi performance. Unlike other streaming devices, Gemini Air doesn’t have the ability to connect over wired Ethernet, so if your Wi-Fi doesn’t work with it then the device doesn’t work period. So what can you do? One thing you can do to test The easiest way to be sure there’s nothing wrong with your Gemini Air is to temporarily move it into the same room as your Wi-Fi router. If there isn’t a TV in that room, move the Gemini Air to a TV that’s as close to the...
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NICE AND EASY: Does DIRECTV’s Gemini Air support Dolby Audio?

DIRECTV’s Gemini Air has been one of the company’s best and most successful product launches. Folks just love the small size, voice-activated remote, and the ability to run DIRECTV’s internet streaming service alongside all the most popular apps. Personally I’m impressed by how easy it is to use and how it runs on USB-C power. The Gemini Air has gotten so popular that even home theater enthusiasts are getting interested in it. And that’s led to the question at the top of this article. Real quick, what is “Dolby Audio” anyway? When TV first started, all the sound was mono. In the 1980s, stereo was added. But that was just the beginning. Dolby Labs, a tech company that’s been around since the mid-20th century, has made it a mission to...
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Can you use the DIRECTV (satellite) app on a Gemini Air?

If you’re a DIRECTV satellite customer, you probably covet the Gemini Air. It’s an owned device, meaning no monthly mirroring fees. It’s the smallest DIRECTV device ever. It’s small enough to hide behind the TV. But, it’s designed specifically for the DIRECTV streaming service. It can’t be used as a Genie client. One question we keep getting People who call us tell us that they understand that the Gemini Air can’t be used in a DIRECTV satellite system. But, they also point out that if you use the DIRECTV app on a streaming device, you can sign in with your DIRECTV satellite credentials and use that app almost like a Genie client. So, people ask — can you use the DIRECTV app on a Gemini Air, sign in with your satellite credentials...
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Podcast #567: Your questions… answered

This podcast is all about you! I answer listener question about this podcast and about what I do in general. Listen, shop at https://www.solidsignal.com, and call Signal Connect at 888-233-7563 for the best in customer service! Listen to the podcast your way! Just choose one of the following: Option 1: Click on the image above to stream the podcast in your browser. If you use the YouTube player above, be sure to subscribe to get future videos delivered to you! Option 2: The Solid Signal Podcast is available on several podcast aggregators. Search for us, or tap on the links below on your mobile device. If you want us to add another aggregator leave a comment below. Amazon iTunes Overcast TuneIn Spreaker Player.fm Spotify Option 3...
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NOT JUST YOU: DIRECTV 99 satellite is down for everyone right now

If you are experiencing issues with local channels today, February 27, 2024, it’s not just you. Users across the country are reporting issues with the 99 satellite for DIRECTV. This affects local channels in many markets, as well as several national channels. DIRECTV is working hard to resolve this issue and as I write this has no official statement on their site or on their X.com accounts. What you can do: You can tune to the standard definition version of the channels. The standard definition versions are unaffected, although not every area has standard definition locals. Here’s a tutorial for Genie users to show SD duplicates. Here’s a tutorial for non-Genie users. You can use the DIRECTV app on your phone or tablet. The DIRECTV...
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Moving your DISH receiver from home to RV (or back)? Don’t forget this step

Streaming may be the hot thing, but you know that if you’re in your RV, satellite TV is still the best way to go. With satellite TV, you have service any time you have a view of the southern sky. You don’t need to be worried about being close enough to a cell tower. You don’t have to worry about data caps or tethering overages. It’s really simple: watch as much TV as you like, and pick any channel you like. A lot of folks prefer DISH as the provider for their homes and RVs. DISH’s technology is a little more compatible with the RV lifestyle, allowing for smaller dishes that even work in motion if you’re willing to invest in them. DISH incorporates all the software and tools needed to run a mobile dish right into their receivers, and...
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A VERY basic discussion of grounding

I was talking to someone recently and they told me that they really didn’t understand grounding. There are a lot of resources on this blog having to do with grounding. But, when I look at them, I realize that there’s no single article that goes over the grounding in a really basic way. So, I decided to write one. Note: Experienced RF engineers will probably be tempted to point out minor inaccuracies in this article. I admit that I’m simplifying a lot of this so that it is as easy to understand as possible. If you’re really interested in the science of grounding, I encourage you to seek out college courses on the subject. Basically, here’s what grounding is and why you need it Stray electricity is everywhere. All life runs on...
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Can you run a satellite TV signal over Ethernet?

A couple of weeks ago, our Solid Signal customer service reps were diagnosing an issue with a customer. This customer didn’t want to run long coax cables so they found a solution on another web site that they thought would help. They found a pair of devices that translate coax signals to Ethernet cables and back. Unfortunately, this didn’t do what they needed. It seemed like a good time to explain why that can’t be done with the tech available today. Satellite TV is different from cable and over the air It’s true that satellite, cable, and over-the-air all travel on coaxial cables. But there are big differences in the signal that comes from satellite dishes compared to those from cable or off-air. The biggest difference is the...
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Should you keep that old PC after you’re done using it?

In the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II, our hero travels to the “future” 2015 and looks in the window of an antique store. Here’s what he sees. Universal Pictures There among the other antiques is a 1984-era Macintosh. When this film was made, that computer was about four years old and still being used. Of course it’s played for a joke along with the VHS tapes, bottles of Perrier, and tube TV. But what if it isn’t a joke? I’ve recently become aware that there’s a growing community of people who’ve taken an interest in 1980s and 1990s personal computers. I went down a Reddit rabbit hole the other day and I read one person saying, I know exactly what they were throwing away The original IBM PC was made largely from...
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How much data does it take to stream video on your boat?

Once upon a time, if you wanted to take a vacation on your boat, you told people were leaving and you left. You didn’t think about watching TV, or checking emails, or shopping on Amazon. Your office staff knew that you were going to be out of touch, period. Well, those days are long past, and I think we’re all happier for it. Today, you have a lot of different entertainment opportunities on your boat. You can choose traditional satellite television, which gives you hundreds of channels for one low price up to 100 miles offshore. You can choose a cellular solution which lets you stay connected without spending a lot, but you need to stay within about 10 miles. Or, you can choose satellite internet, which gives you access to the entire...
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STREAMING SATURDAY: Picture Quality on streaming

A while back, a customer was asking us if the picture quality on the Gemini Air was similar to the picture quality on other streaming boxes. I have to admit this sort of stopped me in my tracks because when it comes to streaming, I generally don’t consider picture quality. Streaming is more about convenience than picture quality, the way I see it. How do you even know what quality you’re getting? That’s sort of the real issue when it comes to streaming. The nature of streaming is that there are generally several different quality levels available when you choose to watch something. The experience is supposed to be optimized so that you get the best quality you can without buffering. Early in the streaming days, it was very common for...
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Why Isn’t My Cell Signal Booster Working Like It Used To?

Reprinted with permission from the weBoost blog. If you’ve noticed that your weBoost cell signal booster isn’t delivering the performance it once did, there is probably a simple explanation. A decline in a signal booster’s effectiveness can result from various factors. But thankfully, most of them aren’t difficult to fix. In this article, we’ll look at some common reasons why your cell signal booster isn’t working like it used to, and help you correct them. Structural factors in cell signal booster performance Sometimes, the reason your signal booster isn’t working like it used to is a fixable issue with physical structure. These structural factors that could affect your cell signal include: Outside Obstructions As growth...
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Your Workspace, Your Way: Tips for Personalized Ergonomic Adjustments

Sedentary office work can wreak havoc on your health. You’ll experience more than a backache when sitting at an uncomfortable desk for hours on end, as common long-term negative injuries associated with office work include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and tennis elbow. Fortunately, an ergonomic setup can alleviate these strains and preserve your health. A personalized approach to your workspace can also improve your comfort and productivity. It’s much easier to work when you’re not worried about the crick in your neck or the tingling in your fingers. Making personalized ergonomic adjustments is surprisingly easy, too. Plenty of budget-friendly products exist to help personalize your workspace. Leaning on these products is...
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