DLP (Digital Light Processing) is a technology widely used for projecting images from a monitor onto a large screen for presentation purposes. A DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) is used to create sharp images which can be clearly noticed even in a normally lit room. Developed in the 1980s by Texas Instruments (TI), DLP became commercially available in the late 1990s. Texas Instruments remain the sole manufacturer of DLP technology. How DLP Works Before the development of DLP, most computer projection systems were based on LCD technology which tends to generate Read More

VGA (Video Graphics Array) based systems can have interesting uses. Whether it is to simply connect a computer to a television or convert an HD signal which uses the standard VGA connector into RCA compliant signals, it is possible with the correct hardware tools. What is VGA? The video graphics array was designed for computers in the late 1980’s which have undergone several advancements in the past couple of decades. It is now one of the standard options used in HD televisions. The HD-VGA connectors usually use the same set Read More

When using the actual iPod, it is impossible to organize the songs. While it is a great device, the order the songs are in when they are uploaded to the iPod is the order in which they will appear on the device. Therefore, to put songs in order on an iPod, one has to go into the folder where the music is and put them in order. Or, they can create play lists with the songs in order. How to Create a Play list on an iPod The most effective Read More

Free To View satellite is a British variant of Free To Air satellite. Regular Free To Air satellite exists in Great Britain, but Free To View satellite gives the viewer access to additional channels not available via a normal FTA receiver. FTV satellite content is offered exclusively through Freesat from Sky, a British satellite television serviced offered by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is often known as BSkyB, and trades as Sky. While regular Free To Air satellite channels are unencrypted, Free To View satellite Read More

The TiVo is compatible with all Dish Network receivers that support IR control. IR control is provided all recent Dish Network receivers. However, there is no need to purchase a TiVo. Dish Network provides satellite receivers with built in DVR (Digital Video Recorder) capabilities. Dish Network provides two models of DVR receivers, one for standard definition and one for HDTV. Features of the Dish Network HDTV DVR include: Independently watch and record programming on two TVs TV1: View and record high definition or standard definition programming TV2: View and record Read More

Satellite television networks currently available in the United States include FTA, TVRO, DBS, and DSS. DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) EchoStar's Dish Network utilizes DBS technology to distribute paid programming over Ku Band. DSS (Direct Satellite Service) DSS is actually a type of DBS. DirecTV uses DSS technology to provide paid programming over Ku band. FTA (Free To Air) Some television networks transmit in the clear over C Band and Ku Band. In addition to scheduled programming, many television networks use these frequencies for backhauls, which is transmitting unedited video from Read More

A DirecTV access card is a type of electronic card, roughly the size of a credit card, which provides programming to subscribers. DirecTV access cards may be provided to a customer along with his/her receiver box or separately, but must be activated before any programming can be used. When the user chooses a package and provides DirecTV with a payment method, DirecTV will activate the access card, which can then be inserted in the top-right corner of the DirecTV receiver box in order to provide programming to the subscriber.   Read More

MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) is an International Standards Organization (ISO) group which sets standards for compressing and storing video, audio, and animation in digital form. Moving Picture Experts Group’s first meeting was in Ottawa, Canada, in May of 1988. Over the years, MPEG has developed to include around 350 members per meeting from several industries, research institutions, and universities. The official designation of Moving Picture Experts Group is ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29 WG11. Pronounced “m-peg”, the term MPEG represents the entirety of digital video compression techniques and the digital file formats Read More

SRT is the file extension for subtitle files. Subtitle files are simple text files that have been synchronized with a video file so that viewers can read what is being said while they are watching the movie. SRT files are especially useful for viewers who have hearing disabilities or like to keep the sound low. SRT files can be made for any movie in any language and can be modified in a standard text editor such as Notepad. Subtitle files are easy to create. Each subtitle line only consists of Read More

Reducing Signal Theft by Blacklisting Access Cards DirecTV maintains a list of cancelled access cards. If an access card with a blacklisted CAM ID is utilized, you will receive the “Call Extension 745” error message. Reducing Signal Theft with ECM (Electronic Counter Measures DirecTV and Dish Network engineers also broadcast hostile signals that instruct the satellite receivers to cause unauthorized access cards to stop working. These attacks are commonly known as ECM (Electronic Counter Measures). Common ECM attacks are: Datastream updates Datastream updates are new software which is sent to Read More