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What can you do if you don’t like your Gemini?

I was talking to one of the folks at Solid Signal, and they said they wanted to upgrade a customer to the new DIRECTV Gemini. It’s the little box that gives you satellite TV and all your favorite streaming apps, all together in one easy package. What happens, they said, if the customer gets a Gemini and they don’t like it? Can they switch back to a Genie Mini Client instead? Well… The first thing that I should mention is that it’s not easy to take a receiver or client off your account once it’s activated, unless you’re replacing it with a different one. Luckily we have experts in our Signal Connect division who specialize in this sort of thing. They’ll be able to help you if you really want to go back to the regular Genie Mini box...
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UPDATED FOR ’23: How to reset any DIRECTV remote control

Is your DIRECTV remote not responding? It happens to everyone. Maybe it got dropped one too many times, or maybe you’re trying to use an old remote with a new box. Either way, you may need to reset it. No matter which remote you have, as long as it has a DIRECTV logo on it there’s a very easy way to reset it. First things first: replace the batteries Dead or weak batteries are almost always the problem with remotes. Even if the remote is working some of the time, change the batteries before doing anything else. Weak batteries can cause poor signals that cause problems. Put in a fresh pair of batteries. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. How to reset the old-school white remote Does your remote look like the one above? This remote...
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What can be done about slow performance from the DIRECTV wireless Genie client?

Hard to believe, but DIRECTV’s wireless Genie client has been with us for ten years. Back then, it was considered to be one of the marvels of the tech world. There were a lot of people at that time who were saying that you couldn’t do a wireless client. AT&T had tried and failed by this point. But, with this silent box you can put DIRECTV almost anywhere in your home, including out on the patio. Other companies have followed up in the years since, but there’s no denying DIRECTV’s early success. But what if you think yours is a slow piece of (well you know)? There is a small but vocal group who don’t like the wireless clients and they’re willing to tear their hair out. For them, it’s the slowest box they’ve ever used. And yet this is...
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Get DIRECTV in Your Apartment or High-Rise

Has a DIRECTV installer ever told you that your building is “too high to have DIRECTV?” If so, there are other satellite TV installers who deliver DIRECTV to apartments and high rises. Getting DIRECTV in buildings more than two stories tall can be a problem. DIRECTV’s installers won’t do it because most landlords won’t let them. Our affiliate company, Signal Connect, has the solution. Signal Connect is a DIRECTV Authorized Dealer that delivers satellite TV solutions for a variety of situations. Apartments or high-rises is one of these. This is just one of the many ways our affiliate company makes DIRECTV available to everyone who wants this premier satellite TV service. “Your Building is Too Tall for DIRECTV” Have you ever heard...
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Is it time to replace that broken TV antenna?

Well that’s embarrassing. A random search of the internet turned up this picture which looks like an early version of our Xtreme Signal HDB91X that took a turn for the worse at some point. Yeah, I’d probably be replacing that. I mean, chances are it still gets some reception, but those broken directors on the front mean that an antenna like that is seriously compromised. A 75-year history of antennas The first TV antennas went up just before the Second World War after television broadcasts started in New York City. Work on television was suspended during the war and didn’t start up again until 1946. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that television hit its tipping point, where every household either had a TV or desperately wanted one...
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Ken Reid and Laura Wimbels

/ December 26 1992 – January 1, 1993 This week Ken welcomes creator of Lenora’s Midnight Rental and his new best friend forever Laura Wimbels to the show. Ken and Laura discuss how Laura is a Ken Reid fan, Ken’s story on the podcast Risk!, Fred Willard Super Dad, loving horror, the wonderful terrible movie Rollerblade, opening sealed VHS tapes, Splatter The Architects of Fear, The Exchange, how contrary to his Mother’s insistence Ken’s favorite movie as a kid was NOT Mother’s Day, Revenge of the Nerds, telling on yourself for seeing an R Rated movie, divorces, what the f**k a frush is, Cleveland and douche bags, 1992-1993, the formative time of being 10, growing up without cable, organized hoarders exposing you to TV Guides...
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6 Things to know about ViaSat-3

Learn more about the ViaSat-3, a satellite constellation expected to create a seamless, global network, providing continuous coverage for nearly all of the populated world. 1. Each ViaSat-3 satellite has a wingspan of 144 feet, about as long as 10 mid-sized cars parked end to end. ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. ViaSat-3 Americas’ location in geostationary orbit (GEO) has it located about 22,236 miles above the equator. If you were able to see ViaSat-3 from Earth, it would look as if it wasn’t even moving. That’s because ViaSat-3 will be moving at the same period of rotation as Earth. ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Each...
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What is a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR)?

What you see above you is a time domain reflectometer. It’s available now from Solid Signal and it’s one of the more expensive things we offer online. It’s not the sort of thing you would normally buy just for fun. This specific TDR will set you back over $2k so you won’t find one in the average DIYer’s toolkit. In fact, you won’t find one in the average commercial installer’s tool kit. But, if you’re refitting old buildings, it will pay for itself over and over again. Here’s what it is A time domain reflectometer sounds like something that you would use to go back to 1955 and stop Marty McFly from dating his mom, but it isn’t (unfortunately.) It’s a device that measures important things about cables that are located inside a wall...
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Podcast #526: Linear TV

What’s Linear TV? It’s TV that you don’t have to panic over. Listen and learn, then shop at Solid Signal - Signal Solutions including HDTV Antennas, DIRECTV and DISH Network satellite equipment and home entertainment supplies and accessories for everything you need! 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 Google Podcasts...
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Can you use a satellite dish in the waters around Hawaii?

Satellite TV has been a popular choice for boaters for decades. Unlike streaming, it works up to 50 miles off shore and the service is much more reasonably priced. I do believe that at some point we will see a better streaming solution for marine, but it’s not there yet. For now, satellite is a much better choice For those outside the “continental US” If you’re an Alaska or Hawaii resident, you probably know that satellite TV works a little different there. Instead of the pert little Slimline dishes we use in the mainland, the recommended dish is a 1.2 meter monstrosity that requires special mounting. The satellites that provide DIRECTV programming are roughly in line with Texas, and that’s a long way away from Hawaii. So, you need...
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It’s time to talk about your boat. Got a second?

In a very real way, nothing much has changed in the world of boats in thousands of years. They’re made of something that floats, they displace water, and they go from place to place. To that degree, a Viking from the 11th century would feel right at home on one of today’s cabin cruisers. But, of course, we all know that technology changes everything, and that included boating as well. Over the years, you’ve taken the time to keep your boat up to date in a lot of ways. You added GPS, which was a huge change. You might have added some other creature comforts too, including satellite television in the 2000s. But, it’s time to talk about more upgrades. You don’t want to be left back in the Dark Ages, do you? First let’s talk about...
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Introducing Furrion Backup Camera Systems

“Just a little further…” “A little more to the right…” “Too far…” Does this sound like what you hear every time you try to maneuver your RV through tight spaces? A recent, totally unscientific survey revealed that roughly 700% of people use a second person to help them park a large vehicle or trailer. Sometimes that person shouts, or uses a walkie talkie or cell phone. Now, while I’m obviously quoting fake statistics here, the truth is that getting your RV or trailer into a tight spot isn’t easy. You can use all the help you can get. That’s where Furrion comes in. Furrion makes wireless camera systems that are perfect for vehicles. It’s as simple as it can me. The wireless camera sends a signal to a large, 7″ screen. That signal...
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Best of the Blog 2022, Volume 11

The Solid Signal Blog is your resource for thousands of articles and reviews, with new content coming every day. 2023 marks our seventeeth year since our humble beginnings, and today over 250,000 people read the blog every month. Every month, the staff gets together and gathers articles that really seem like they have long-term appeal. Here’s the list for November, 2022: Can you add a cell booster so that only the driver can use it? Is there any free satellite TV left in the US? How does satellite TV work on planes? Should you try to cool your electronics with a “chill mat?” Satellite TV: Still a great idea for rural areas Is satellite TV already obsolete? Should you use the Eco mode on your TV? Marine professionals… Signal Connect is...
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RV Dealers… partner with Signal Connect and give your customers something extra!

The last couple of years have been a pretty good time to be an RV dealer. For a lot of reasons (including one we’d all rather forget) there have been more Americans than ever who just want to get away from it all and not stay in hotels. The biggest problem for dealers has been having enough time and inventory to service the demand. That’s not a bad problem to have, right? When it comes to entertainment… …a lot of dealers don’t know what to do. As an RV dealer you’re really familiar with the ins and outs of an RV’s mechanical bits, but figuring out the upgrades can be hard. This is especially true when you’re talking about technology. Tech upgrades change so quickly and it’s hard to keep up. Luckily, you don’t have to. You have a...
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