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Cutting Edge
Thanks to Signal Pro Ryan McDonnell for this suggestion!
DIRECTV's Gemini comes in two distinct flavors, as you probably know by now. One is designed for people who have a satellite dish and a Genie in their home. The other is for people who use DIRECTV's streaming service. Yes, they are both called Gemini. Yes, they look identical. But the differences start to mount up when you get under the skin.
The "Gemini for Internet-only customers" is the device that until recently was called the "DIRECTV Stream device." Before that it was the "AT&T TV device." Internally, it's always been called Osprey, but it's never been publicly advertised as such.
This is the device you want if you don't want a satellite dish on your house or you can't get one. All the content is delivered over an internet connection. The channel selection is roughly the same as the satellite-delivered product, but the interface is a little different as you can see above.
When you record something, you're actually sending a message to a server somewhere that flags a recording it was going to make anyway. This service, called Cloud DVR, is fairly common among live streaming services at this point. It's been around for a decade or so. It means you don't need a DVR in your house. The recordings expire after 90 days, but you can "record" an unlimited number of things.
The "Gemini for Satellite and Internet customers" is essentially this decade's answer to a traditional Genie client. It retains the familiar DIRECTV menus and interface and works with your satellite dish and the Genie DVR you have in your home.
When you schedule a recording on this Gemini, it's recorded on your home DVR. While it's not truly unlimited, DIRECTV's Genies have big hard drives that can hold hundreds of hours of content. You can keep this content forever if you want, and that's a big difference.
If the content you've recorded is available on DIRECTV's cloud DVR service, you can access it by using the DIRECTV app for your phone, tablet, or streaming device. What you'll get though, is generally a program that won't let you fast forward through the commercials. It may also differ from what you would record at home, for example if a live broadcast is censored on one coast or the other.
Bottom line here is you can't record to the cloud using your Gemini for Satellite. You can watch cloud versions of what you've recorded, if they are available. Most national programs are. That's something anyway.
It also means that you can't take your Gemini for Satellite on the road. If it doesn't detect a Genie DVR, it won't work at all.
I hope that clears things up at least a little. DIRECTV doesn't really want you to think about the differences, they want you to think about the similarities. Well and good, but there are differences and that's the reason for this article.
If you're ready to upgrade to Gemini, no matter if it's for satellite or internet, shop for one at Solid Signal. Here's why. Most DIRECTV dealers only offer Geminis to new customers. They're not familiar with the upgrade process. When you go through Solid Signal, you'll get a top-notch tech on the other end of the phone who knows how to do this right. They'll make sure you're getting the right things done, period.
It's worth the call to 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it's after hours, just fill out the form below and we'll get right back to you!
The post Can you use DIRECTV's Cloud DVR service with your Gemini for satellite? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
DIRECTV's Gemini comes in two distinct flavors, as you probably know by now. One is designed for people who have a satellite dish and a Genie in their home. The other is for people who use DIRECTV's streaming service. Yes, they are both called Gemini. Yes, they look identical. But the differences start to mount up when you get under the skin.
Gemini for Internet-only customers
The "Gemini for Internet-only customers" is the device that until recently was called the "DIRECTV Stream device." Before that it was the "AT&T TV device." Internally, it's always been called Osprey, but it's never been publicly advertised as such.
This is the device you want if you don't want a satellite dish on your house or you can't get one. All the content is delivered over an internet connection. The channel selection is roughly the same as the satellite-delivered product, but the interface is a little different as you can see above.
When you record something, you're actually sending a message to a server somewhere that flags a recording it was going to make anyway. This service, called Cloud DVR, is fairly common among live streaming services at this point. It's been around for a decade or so. It means you don't need a DVR in your house. The recordings expire after 90 days, but you can "record" an unlimited number of things.
Gemini for Satellite and Internet customers
The "Gemini for Satellite and Internet customers" is essentially this decade's answer to a traditional Genie client. It retains the familiar DIRECTV menus and interface and works with your satellite dish and the Genie DVR you have in your home.
When you schedule a recording on this Gemini, it's recorded on your home DVR. While it's not truly unlimited, DIRECTV's Genies have big hard drives that can hold hundreds of hours of content. You can keep this content forever if you want, and that's a big difference.
If the content you've recorded is available on DIRECTV's cloud DVR service, you can access it by using the DIRECTV app for your phone, tablet, or streaming device. What you'll get though, is generally a program that won't let you fast forward through the commercials. It may also differ from what you would record at home, for example if a live broadcast is censored on one coast or the other.
Brass Tacks
Bottom line here is you can't record to the cloud using your Gemini for Satellite. You can watch cloud versions of what you've recorded, if they are available. Most national programs are. That's something anyway.
It also means that you can't take your Gemini for Satellite on the road. If it doesn't detect a Genie DVR, it won't work at all.
I hope that clears things up at least a little. DIRECTV doesn't really want you to think about the differences, they want you to think about the similarities. Well and good, but there are differences and that's the reason for this article.
If you're ready to upgrade to Gemini, no matter if it's for satellite or internet, shop for one at Solid Signal. Here's why. Most DIRECTV dealers only offer Geminis to new customers. They're not familiar with the upgrade process. When you go through Solid Signal, you'll get a top-notch tech on the other end of the phone who knows how to do this right. They'll make sure you're getting the right things done, period.
It's worth the call to 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it's after hours, just fill out the form below and we'll get right back to you!
The post Can you use DIRECTV's Cloud DVR service with your Gemini for satellite? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
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414 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
67105 Replies
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2662249 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Our DNS provider is encouraging us to enable DNSSEC on our domains for added security.
I have gone ahead and enabled it, and am told it may take anywhere from 90 minutes to 24 hours for it to take effect.
Hopefully doing this does not harm the site in any way. (It shouldn't) but if it does, you will then know why and I will revert the settings.
But from what I am reading it should be ok. so just giving a warning as I have screwed up DNS stuff in the past.
I have gone ahead and enabled it, and am told it may take anywhere from 90 minutes to 24 hours for it to take effect.
Hopefully doing this does not harm the site in any way. (It shouldn't) but if it does, you will then know why and I will revert the settings.
But from what I am reading it should be ok. so just giving a warning as I have screwed up DNS stuff in the past.
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16 views
Ham Radio 2.0
Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpXkKWLg54
Direct YouTube Link - I Went Wardriving for Meshtastic and Meshcoree Nodes!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpXkKWLg54
Direct YouTube Link - I Went Wardriving for Meshtastic and Meshcoree Nodes!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
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2 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Due to security concerns and the fact that the Tapatalk Plugin for Xenforo is no longer being updated we have removed Tapatalk support from SatelliteGuys.
For those who were using it we recommend using our PWA App instead which is faster and does not have all the spam Tapatalk had. Below is a graphic showing how to add SatelliteGuys to your devices home screen. (While iOS is shown the process is mostly the same for Android.)
Thanks for your understanding.
For those who were using it we recommend using our PWA App instead which is faster and does not have all the spam Tapatalk had. Below is a graphic showing how to add SatelliteGuys to your devices home screen. (While iOS is shown the process is mostly the same for Android.)
Thanks for your understanding.
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176 views
Actually, PWA stands for "Progressive Web Application" and is basically just saving a site's homepage to your desktop where it appears as an "App" with the rest of your smartphone's Apps.
A PWA is a custom version of SatelliteGuys which is optimized for mobile devices. While it may look like the website, its actually different so that only the files needed for mobile are sent, meaning its a much faster experience all around.
TapaTalk is essentially dead. It was written for PHP 5.4 and we are now running PHP 8.4. There have been a LOT of PHP security updates since then and since Tapatalk for Xenforo has not been updated in a long long time it is not the safest idea to keep running it.
In addition those trying to view the site on their mobile devices using a browser were getting spammed on the top of the screen for people to install TapaTalk, this ad in some cases would take up 20% of the users screen. We could get rid of that ad but we would have to pay $20 a month to get rid of it.
In addition TapaTalk could and was inserting their own ads on SatelliteGuys in the app which only benefitted them, SatelliteGuys was not paid for those ads they were displaying on our site. Again we could pay to get rid of those ads.
And here was the cost of the Premium Tier.
Now to make matters worse Tapatalk recently announced that they are going to start charging users of the app 99 cents a month to continue using it.
So soon you would be paying them each month to access SatelliteGuys via their app, again all the money going to them... and you would still see all their ads too.
Tapatalk was a great program which we run for many many years, and for a long time we DID pay for the premium tier. But now with such a small offset using it (My numbers show a total of 6 members) it wasn't work paying for any longer.
In addition Tapatalk was sold to a different owner who made lots of promises of improvements and updates but then that owner has been really radio silent since, instead they have been letting TapaTalk rot on the vine.
If you visit their support forum at https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tapatalksupport/ you will see there is not much going on, in fact most of the support questions posted there go unanswered.
Please give the PWA a try, I was a die hard Tapatalk user myself but now only use the PWA on devices. It is a much better all around experience, with no bloatware or additional ads based on your user membership level.
I don't have an android phone so I could not make a graphic showing you how to add SatelliteGuys PWA to your phones apps or home screen. But here is a site that explains how to do it on all kinds of devices. How to Install a PWA on iOS, Android, Windows & Mac [2025 Guide]
The above link also explains PWA's better as well.
If Tapatalk were to update their plugins so we know we are more secure and up to date and allow us to remove the "Smart Banner" without having to pay $20 a month, we would consider adding it back. I don't even care about their ads, as if a user wants to use their app and is willing to sit through their ads in order to use that app then I am ok with it.
But hopefully that explains better why it was removed. It was not done to cut anyone off from the site. Please give the PWA a try.
TapaTalk is essentially dead. It was written for PHP 5.4 and we are now running PHP 8.4. There have been a LOT of PHP security updates since then and since Tapatalk for Xenforo has not been updated in a long long time it is not the safest idea to keep running it.
In addition those trying to view the site on their mobile devices using a browser were getting spammed on the top of the screen for people to install TapaTalk, this ad in some cases would take up 20% of the users screen. We could get rid of that ad but we would have to pay $20 a month to get rid of it.
In addition TapaTalk could and was inserting their own ads on SatelliteGuys in the app which only benefitted them, SatelliteGuys was not paid for those ads they were displaying on our site. Again we could pay to get rid of those ads.
And here was the cost of the Premium Tier.
Now to make matters worse Tapatalk recently announced that they are going to start charging users of the app 99 cents a month to continue using it.
So soon you would be paying them each month to access SatelliteGuys via their app, again all the money going to them... and you would still see all their ads too.
Tapatalk was a great program which we run for many many years, and for a long time we DID pay for the premium tier. But now with such a small offset using it (My numbers show a total of 6 members) it wasn't work paying for any longer.
In addition Tapatalk was sold to a different owner who made lots of promises of improvements and updates but then that owner has been really radio silent since, instead they have been letting TapaTalk rot on the vine.
If you visit their support forum at https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tapatalksupport/ you will see there is not much going on, in fact most of the support questions posted there go unanswered.
Please give the PWA a try, I was a die hard Tapatalk user myself but now only use the PWA on devices. It is a much better all around experience, with no bloatware or additional ads based on your user membership level.
I don't have an android phone so I could not make a graphic showing you how to add SatelliteGuys PWA to your phones apps or home screen. But here is a site that explains how to do it on all kinds of devices. How to Install a PWA on iOS, Android, Windows & Mac [2025 Guide]
The above link also explains PWA's better as well.
If Tapatalk were to update their plugins so we know we are more secure and up to date and allow us to remove the "Smart Banner" without having to pay $20 a month, we would consider adding it back. I don't even care about their ads, as if a user wants to use their app and is willing to sit through their ads in order to use that app then I am ok with it.
But hopefully that explains better why it was removed. It was not done to cut anyone off from the site.
Please give the PWA a try.
I just installed the PWA on my Android phone. It was pretty easy to do, and now I'm posting this from my phone. Thanks, Scott!A PWA is a custom version of SatelliteGuys which is optimized for mobile devices. While it may look like the website, its actually different so that only the files needed for mobile are sent, meaning its a much faster experience all around.
TapaTalk is essentially dead. It was written for PHP 5.4 and we are now running PHP 8.4. There have been a LOT of PHP security updates since then and since Tapatalk for Xenforo has not been updated in a long long time it is not the safest idea to keep running it.
In addition those trying to view the site on their mobile devices using a browser were getting spammed on the top of the screen for people to install TapaTalk, this ad in some cases would take up 20% of the users screen. We could get rid of that ad but we would have to pay $20 a month to get rid of it.
View attachment 191729
In addition TapaTalk could and was inserting their own ads on SatelliteGuys in the app which only benefitted them, SatelliteGuys was not paid for those ads they were displaying on our site. Again we could pay to get rid of those ads.
View attachment 191730
And here was the cost of the Premium Tier.
View attachment 191731
Now to make matters worse Tapatalk recently announced that they are going to start charging users of the app 99 cents a month to continue using it.
View attachment 191732
So soon you would be paying them each month to access SatelliteGuys via their app, again all the money going to them... and you would still see all their ads too.
Tapatalk was a great program which we run for many many years, and for a long time we DID pay for the premium tier. But now with such a small offset using it (My numbers show a total of 6 members) it wasn't work paying for any longer.
In addition Tapatalk was sold to a different owner who made lots of promises of improvements and updates but then that owner has been really radio silent since, instead they have been letting TapaTalk rot on the vine.
If you visit their support forum at https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tapatalksupport/ you will see there is not much going on, in fact most of the support questions posted there go unanswered.
Please give the PWA a try, I was a die hard Tapatalk user myself but now only use the PWA on devices. It is a much better all around experience, with no bloatware or additional ads based on your user membership level.
I don't have an android phone so I could not make a graphic showing you how to add SatelliteGuys PWA to your phones apps or home screen. But here is a site that explains how to do it on all kinds of devices. How to Install a PWA on iOS, Android, Windows & Mac [2025 Guide]
The above link also explains PWA's better as well.
If Tapatalk were to update their plugins so we know we are more secure and up to date and allow us to remove the "Smart Banner" without having to pay $20 a month, we would consider adding it back. I don't even care about their ads, as if a user wants to use their app and is willing to sit through their ads in order to use that app then I am ok with it.
But hopefully that explains better why it was removed. It was not done to cut anyone off from the site.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
As you may have noticed we are doing a Fund Raiser for SatelliteGuys!
As many of you know I have been paying for a majority of the operation of the site out of my own pocket for awhile now. Now looking at things we have a number of renewals coming up that I could use some help with. These renewals include the license renewal for our Forum Software, Renewal of a number of our add on's the site uses, renewal of domain names etc.
I have set a goal of $400.00 - any extra that comes in will just go to fund the operations of the site. None of the money will go to me (I tried BuyMeACoffee a few months ago, and they denied me saying they do not do business with Satellite Piracy sites... which we are not... hell we host the beta programs for both DISH and DIRECTV here...)
Anyways... if you would like to help out please click the link below.
www.satelliteguys.us
Thank you in advance.
As many of you know I have been paying for a majority of the operation of the site out of my own pocket for awhile now. Now looking at things we have a number of renewals coming up that I could use some help with. These renewals include the license renewal for our Forum Software, Renewal of a number of our add on's the site uses, renewal of domain names etc.
I have set a goal of $400.00 - any extra that comes in will just go to fund the operations of the site. None of the money will go to me (I tried BuyMeACoffee a few months ago, and they denied me saying they do not do business with Satellite Piracy sites... which we are not... hell we host the beta programs for both DISH and DIRECTV here...)
Anyways... if you would like to help out please click the link below.
SatelliteGuys Maintenance Fund Raiser
www.satelliteguys.us
Thank you in advance.
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554 views
I planned on removing it today, but then my fathers car broke down and I had to drive him all around to get his stuff done. Then I had a doctors appointment after that which was annoying...
Dr asks me if I have had any changes, so I tell him something wrong with me that started a month or so ago and his reply back is, that it sucks to get old... I hate that. Why ask me. if your going to come back with a smart ass answer.
Anyays I hope to get rid of Tapatalk tomorrow.
And we had more people donate today, thank you! The extra money is going to future expenses since things like add ons don't expire at the same time.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN!
Dr asks me if I have had any changes, so I tell him something wrong with me that started a month or so ago and his reply back is, that it sucks to get old... I hate that. Why ask me. if your going to come back with a smart ass answer.
Anyays I hope to get rid of Tapatalk tomorrow.
And we had more people donate today, thank you! The extra money is going to future expenses since things like add ons don't expire at the same time.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN!
Tapatalk has been removed.
I have added a new feature which is a work in progress called "Social Feed" which displays the forums Facebook style. Its nice for people who like that, but needs work. But i have been watching this one for awhile and the author is being really responsive to suggestions and adding them. So if you have any please let me know and I can pass them along.
I have added a new feature which is a work in progress called "Social Feed" which displays the forums Facebook style. Its nice for people who like that, but needs work. But i have been watching this one for awhile and the author is being really responsive to suggestions and adding them. So if you have any please let me know and I can pass them along.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
111 Replies
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2720 views
TFLEV
Time for another AWESOME video from TFL Electric Vehicles!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7CB6m89_RY
Direct YouTube Link - How the Heck Do You Tell the NEW 2027 Rivian R2 from the R1? I Compare Both Side-By-Side!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7CB6m89_RY
Direct YouTube Link - How the Heck Do You Tell the NEW 2027 Rivian R2 from the R1? I Compare Both Side-By-Side!
0 Replies
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6 views
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
I have had good experiences with Brave but lately I am frustrated with it.
Now when I launch the app it shows a box at the bottom asking if I want to go back to the last opened page. It is in conveniently located and I would prefer to eliminate it.
Does anyone know how to do this?
Please let's not sidetrack the discussion into an exploration of why I don't care for it or a lecture about all the wonderful aspects of the feature. I just do not care for it.
Now when I launch the app it shows a box at the bottom asking if I want to go back to the last opened page. It is in conveniently located and I would prefer to eliminate it.
Does anyone know how to do this?
Please let's not sidetrack the discussion into an exploration of why I don't care for it or a lecture about all the wonderful aspects of the feature. I just do not care for it.
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68 views
I don't have an Android phone so I don't know if this will apply to the Brave settings on your android device but it works on the desktop for me.
Change this setting to either startup to a different website or a new tab page. I have mine set to open to google.com instead of where I left off and it doesn't ask me at the next startup if I want to open the last opened page unless it crashed.
Change this setting to either startup to a different website or a new tab page. I have mine set to open to google.com instead of where I left off and it doesn't ask me at the next startup if I want to open the last opened page unless it crashed.
Supporting Founder
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5346 Replies
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509285 views
Looking for a manual. Want to do some radio astronomy with it. Realize it's old but, since it's not for tv use don't need any decoders, just the RF section.
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16 views