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HERE TO HELP YOU!
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Cutting Edge
I know a lot of people would like to see the output from their security camera as part of their satellite TV guide. Unfortunately, it's not possible with most systems, but there are some workarounds. It's not that there's a real technical reason, but there are several reasons why this isn't going to happen anytime soon. Luckily, there are some options out there that can help at least a little bit.
That's the first hurdle, and probably the most important. There is no way to hack into your DIRECTV guide to add any sort of content at all. This is done on purpose, since most people "just want to watch TV" and adding that capability might make it too complex for mom and pop to understand.
Commercial installs are able to do something like this several different ways. The most common is a system that uses a separate computer for guide data and lays that over a system where all your video is distributed. The thing is, this is much more expensive than your average homeowner is going to want to pay for.
You've probably already figured out that you can't just connect the DIRECTV cable to your TV and scan for channels and have it work. Even if you have a DIRECTV-ready TV you need a special scheme to hook things up. It's not like old-school cable TV where it was easy. In fact, even cable TV isn't like that anymore.
You could set up a headend system in your house to allow your top channels to be visible using a cable-TV-like system which connects directly to the TV. At that point you could also insert your security feed. Unfortunately you would lose the guide, or you would have to buy something special to replace it. And, you'd be paying thousands of dollars, so there's that.
While a device to let you put standard definition content on a regular cable channel is dirt cheap, doing the same thing with an HD channel usually costs you about $1,000 per channel. No, I am not kidding there and I did not misplace a decimal point. Content providers like Disney and Time Warner are so worried that you'll steal content that they put all sorts of licensing costs and encryption technologies into high definition. This makes it ridiculously expensive to modulate an HD signal and it means most people won't ever do it (even though it's one of the most common requests we have at Solid Signal.)
So, bottom line this seems to be an impossible request. So what can you do? There are two options I would consider.
There are a lot of security cameras, including some you can find at solidsignal.com, that will let you use an app on your smart TV or streaming device. Even more have apps for your phone. This is a much better option than anything I've listed above. It also beats the old way of doing things, which was to run a video feed from your security system and adapt it for the antenna input on your TV.
There's another option that could work for you depending on your system, as well. If you are using a DIRECTV Genie system or DISH Hopper system, you can get a Gemini (for DIRECTV) or Hopper Plus/Joey 4 (for DISH.) These devices are based off Android TV. If your security system supports Google Home, then you can not only get the app for your TV through the Google Play store, you may be able to get on-screen notifications while you're watching TV.
Of course, every system is different and the best thing to do is research what you've got, and what you want to get.
The post Can you add a security camera feed to your satellite TV guide? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
First of all you can't add anything to your guide.
That's the first hurdle, and probably the most important. There is no way to hack into your DIRECTV guide to add any sort of content at all. This is done on purpose, since most people "just want to watch TV" and adding that capability might make it too complex for mom and pop to understand.
Commercial installs are able to do something like this several different ways. The most common is a system that uses a separate computer for guide data and lays that over a system where all your video is distributed. The thing is, this is much more expensive than your average homeowner is going to want to pay for.
Second of all, DIRECTV doesn't use the same sort of modulation system that your TV does.
You've probably already figured out that you can't just connect the DIRECTV cable to your TV and scan for channels and have it work. Even if you have a DIRECTV-ready TV you need a special scheme to hook things up. It's not like old-school cable TV where it was easy. In fact, even cable TV isn't like that anymore.
You could set up a headend system in your house to allow your top channels to be visible using a cable-TV-like system which connects directly to the TV. At that point you could also insert your security feed. Unfortunately you would lose the guide, or you would have to buy something special to replace it. And, you'd be paying thousands of dollars, so there's that.
Finally, if you want HD from your security camera in this scenario, it's going to cost you.
While a device to let you put standard definition content on a regular cable channel is dirt cheap, doing the same thing with an HD channel usually costs you about $1,000 per channel. No, I am not kidding there and I did not misplace a decimal point. Content providers like Disney and Time Warner are so worried that you'll steal content that they put all sorts of licensing costs and encryption technologies into high definition. This makes it ridiculously expensive to modulate an HD signal and it means most people won't ever do it (even though it's one of the most common requests we have at Solid Signal.)
So, bottom line this seems to be an impossible request. So what can you do? There are two options I would consider.
The best option: an app for your smart TV or streaming device
There are a lot of security cameras, including some you can find at solidsignal.com, that will let you use an app on your smart TV or streaming device. Even more have apps for your phone. This is a much better option than anything I've listed above. It also beats the old way of doing things, which was to run a video feed from your security system and adapt it for the antenna input on your TV.
There's another option that could work for you depending on your system, as well. If you are using a DIRECTV Genie system or DISH Hopper system, you can get a Gemini (for DIRECTV) or Hopper Plus/Joey 4 (for DISH.) These devices are based off Android TV. If your security system supports Google Home, then you can not only get the app for your TV through the Google Play store, you may be able to get on-screen notifications while you're watching TV.
Of course, every system is different and the best thing to do is research what you've got, and what you want to get.
The post Can you add a security camera feed to your satellite TV guide? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
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308 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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4 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....
68506 Replies
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2671298 views
Marques Brownlee
Time for another AWESOME video from Marques Brownlee!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
0 Replies
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5 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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15 views
For quite a while now, people with a VIP211k have been losing their recordings on their activated external HDDs... even when there's nothing physically wrong with HDD. I believe this is an intentional and underhanded tactic that Dish is pulling in an attempt to force users away from the VIP211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
168 Replies
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7494 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Has anyone subscribed to NBA League Pass for 2026-27 and try to link their account to NBA.com to stream League Pass? I purchased it for 2026-27, and when I linked, I got a message saying success, but then I receive an error that my linked subscription does not include the preseason games for NBA League Pass. Is that how it has always been? I know satellite doesn't have the preseason games on the NBA League Pass channels, but I thought that I was able to stream the preseason once I linked my account on NBA.com?
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86 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
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1465 views
Nah, you just don't understand how ignore works, which is why you made your own NFL thread thinking there wasn't one
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
530 Replies
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18124 views
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. 
WTF… …What the Foxbat!Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
S
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming youWTF… …What the Foxbat!
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you
S
OMG to freaking funny
You're no fun.
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
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157 views
Supporting Founder
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Apple has finally released their Apple TV 4K with built-in Siri and a microphone so it can respond to your queries even if you don't have the remote. It also increases in price, to $299. I had been planning on updating my current Apple TV 4K streamers, but that's $600 for the two of them, and that's a pass at this point.
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K. New Siri AI and hands-free control. Stunning picture and immersive HomePod surround sound. Works with your Apple and smart home devices.
www.apple.com
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331 views
S
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
they all do that anyways.. ever notice your cell phone slows down when you come up for an upgrade..
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
You should have looked in the APP STORE instead.
