TIP OF THE MONTH
These tips are from our newletters. Each month we publish a great tip in the newsletter but you can also download the tip from here.
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OCT. TIP: Have a Ball-Chain
This October tip covers a bunch of stuff about using and abusing ball-chain. Every time I give a retrofit class, I'm a little amazed by how many in the class have never used the stuff. If you're one of those unfortunate who haven't, let me get you up to speed. Ball-chain is one of the most useful retrofit "tools" you can have. I guess I wouldn't roll the truck without it.
Open October TIP
NOV. TIP: The A/V Test Equipment Already in Your Pocket!
This November tip is all about how to use that entertainment device already in your pocket as one the best pieces of A/V field test equipment you can buy. Do audio/speaker system setup and calibration, video display calibration and troubleshooting with the audio or video iPod you already have lying around. All you need is to store some audio and video signals, and a couple of output adaptors. Read all about how to do it in the full TIP
Download November TIP
DEC. TIP: Managing the Network Numbers
This month's tip is for anyone that deals with installing, configuring, and servicing home data networks. Home networks require you to keep track of dozens of numbers, addresses, address ranges, passwords, etc. Even if you document all the configuration carefully when you originally installed the network, it can be time consuming to sort through when you're back out on the job trying to figure out why your customer's IP camera or music server is suddenly nowhere to be found on the network and you don't have the documentation handy (this usually happens when you went to service one thing and the customer says "while your here could you..."--words we all love/hate).
Download December TIP
JAN. TIP: Using the Tone Generator as a Retrofit Tool
This month’s TIP is all about things you can do with a standard tone-generator/tone-detector to help you locate a lot more than cable in the wall! Find plumbing, electrical wiring, radiator pipes, drill bits, fish tapes as well as the cable you’re trying to fish.
Download January TIP
FEB. TIP: A Solution to the NID Nuisance (plus a Bonus TIP)
In the February TIP I'll pass along a neat solution to the problem of how to terminate cables to the NID. There are two variations of this technique but they both involve securing a 1-1/2” PVC pipe through the outside wall as a conduit for the cable. The difference is how you handle the cable on the inside.
Download February TIP
MARCH TIP: Off-air Antennas and an Alignment Tip
This months TIP is all about off-air antennas and proper alignment. It includes a little history and current events to get you up to speed on what the latest rule-making from the FCC is all about and how to find out what’s happening in your local area with station assignments. There are some interesting surprises. It then tells you how to make a simple alignment tool that will let you get DTV antennas “dead-on” to the station.
Download March TIP
APRIL TIP: Retrofit Bit "Shoot out" and Restoring Rods
In this month’s TIP I’ll pass along some new tips on retrofit tools. I spend a lot of time teaching people how to use retrofit drill bits so I want to pass along the results of recent "shoot out" I did on larger bits. This took a lot of work so READ it. I also have a great little tip on restoring fiberglass rods!
Download April TIP
MAY TIP: iPod RETURNS!
This month’s TIP covers some updates on using the iPod as test generator. I got a lot of good feedback and suggestions from that TIP plus requests for audio and video files for the iPod. I've created a set of audio and video files with instructions on how to load and use them for basic monitor testing. Also included are how-to instructions on making a modulator attachment to test your cable infrastructure.
Download May Tip
JULY TIP: Magnetic Personality Test Leads
This month’s TIP is a quick review about a great new gadget you can use with any type of multi-meter (or other device that uses fairly standard test leads). The “gadget” is a new set of test leads that incorporate a magnetic tip on each end. This is used to quick-connect to different types of lead end adaptors (probe tips, alligator clips, etc.), but the biggest advantage is that fact that the magnetic tip will stick to any “ferromagnetic” material...like screw terminals! I'll show you how to make your own.
Download May Tip
NOV 07 TIP: 802.11 Debugging Made Easy
Wireless data network technology, mainly 802.11, is essential for home network installations, primarily for use by laptops, portable touch screens, keypads, and so on. The purpose of this month's TIP is to help you understand some of the limitations of 802.11 technology, how to measure it's performance in the field using my favorite WiFi gadget (Wi-Spy), and to pass along some tips on improve the reliability and bandwidth of your installations.
Download Nov Tip
JAN 08 TIP: Get Your WiFi Where You Want It
This month's tip is a continuation of some WiFi tips I started in the last Nov. TIP. This tip covers how to make some basic improvements in WiFi signal coverage by changing the antenna radiation pattern. It will show you what the stock antenna is good and not good for and how to change the stock antenna and/or add a home made reflector.
Download Jan 08 Tip
FEB 08 TIP: The A/V Troubleshooters
This month’s tip returns to the “tool of a thousand uses”, the good old tone generator, tone detector to solve a common field A/V equipment troubleshooting task. The TIP also shows how to make a simple adaptor to use the tone generator as a quick field signal generator.
Download Feb 08 Tip
MAR 08 TIP: Using Drill Guides
This month’s tip covers another retrofit tool that not many people seem to know about, the drill guide (or steering guide). It seems not many people know how to use them, much less how to use them properly. Since it’s such an essential tool if you’re using long shaft bits in any kind of wall, I though it would be good to pass along some tips on how to use this tool properly.
Download Mar 08 Tip
APRIL 08 TIP: Cable Labeling the Right Way
While teaching CEDIA Advanced Boot Camp I’m constantly reminded that nobody seems to understand how to do proper cable labeling, much less why it’s so darn important. I’ve written about proper labeling many times in the past, but the procedure is worth repeating since there are always new people in the industry. Besides, I’ve got some new labeling techniques worth passing along to save you time and frustration. I’ve tried every kind of cable labeling you can think of, and there may be a better way than what I’m about to recommend, but I doubt it.
Download April 08 Tip
MAY 08 TIP: Retrofitting in Insulated Walls
At every retrofit class I hold and at retrofit demonstrations in our booth at shows, I ALWAYS hear “...yea, but you couldn’t do that in an insulated wall.” Guys relatively new to retrofit, and even some seasoned pro’s seem to have a real fear of insulated walls. Fear not! Drilling up or down, or fishing cable in insulated walls is an inconvenience but nothing more. Sure, there are certain techniques you can’t use through insulation like dropping a ball chain (actually, you can use a ball-chain, read on) but there are always workarounds.
Download May 08 Tip
JUNE 08 TIP: RF Distribution Revisited
Most custom installation companies I'm familiar with consider the only respectable way to distribute video around the house is to use a baseband signal distribution system. The less sexy approach of simply modulating sources onto the cable system to be viewed on any TV seems to have gone out of style.
This month's TIP revisits this technique with some new ideas and technology including tips to make it work perfect and options to modulate digital HD video sources.
Download June 08 Tip
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