Today I want to spend some time talking about DVR. The first TiVo, the brand name that is virtually synonymous with DVR, shipped in 1999. In the last 15 years the DVR has become a staple of modern life. While the term TiVo has become a proprietary eponym for DVR, the TiVo company itself holds a very small share of the overall DVR market. The majority of households use the DVR that is provided by their cable/satellite company.
Category Archives: How-To
Cut the Cord this Weekend : A Beginners Guide to Over the Air (OTA) and Internet Streaming Boxes (Part 2 of 2)
In part one we covered how to get crystal clear broadcast TV Over the Air using an antenna. In part two we’ll focus on expanding your programming options using an Internet connected set top box, or streaming box.
Cut the Cord this Weekend : A Beginners Guide to Over the Air (OTA) and Internet Streaming Boxes (Part 1 of 2)
In late 2003, my wife and I moved into our first house and were quickly realizing that we didn’t have a spot in the budget for cable television. We liked TV, we enjoyed watching TV together, but we were having trouble justifying $60 a month for 100+ channels when we watched only a dozen or so. Logically, it made sense to stop paying for 80 channels we didn’t watch, but we really enjoyed the evening downtime together that TV often provided. We didn’t want to give it up. Then in early 2004, we reached the inflection point. It was time to cut the cord. I was determined to find a way to get the television we enjoyed without paying for cable TV. This is the guide I wish I’d had to help me get started.
Choosing an Outdoor HDTV Antenna
Before we dive in, let’s talk tech for a minute…there’s technically no such thing as an HDTV antenna. Antennas are made to receive “over the air” (OTA) signals. It doesn’t matter if the antenna says it’s HDTV compatible or not. What matters is if the signal that is being broadcast is High Definition (HD). Continue reading