How to Troubleshoot Video Problems
December 15, 2007
Few things can be as frustrating as picture problems. You get your system all ready to go, flip the switch, and WHAM! One or more channels look terrible. The good news is that the majority of video problems can be traced to just a few causes. Most problems are comprised of the following:
Snow
Horizontal bars rolling though the picture
Vertical bars rolling through the picture
Ghosting
Herringbone pattern (diagonal lines through picture)
Lower channels look fine, upper channels are not
These six are the main symptoms you’ll find when seeing video problems. Thankfully, most are fairly easy to fix.
Snow -
Snow is caused by inadequate signal strength at the tuner. It’s usually caused by:
1 Splitting the signal too many times.
2 A weak signal from the antenna or cable company
3 A very long cable run
If the signal is snowy at all your TVs, especially if you have more than 4 TVs, you probably need an RF amplifier. Check the strength at the demark (service entrance). If it is fine there, add an amplifier before the splitter. Make sure to use a quality unit with good bandwidth (out to at least 1000MHz). If you have digital cable or a cable modem, get an amplifier with a bidirectional return path to allow for communication back to the cable company. If the picture looks bad at the demark, contact the cable company.
How to Layout Recessed Lighting
December 14, 2007
One of the most important principles to understand when designing a recessed lighting layout is beam angle. In recessed cans, the light is produced in the shape of a cone. You picture the light starting as a point at the light fixture and forming a circle on the floor. The beam angle is the angle of this light out of the bulb. For example a 60-degree beam angle will produce a circle of light about 9 feet across on the floor if the fixture is 8 feet off the floor. See a Diagram.
That is just one part of the formula. That circle of light we now have on the floor is not all the same intensity. About five and a half feet of that circle is good intense light while the remainder is spill over and diminishes as it gets further from the center. This is very important to understand. With this information, you can overlap the spill over light so that you end up with a nice even light pattern over the entire area you are trying to illuminate. Something to remember when you are planning this out is something called the work plane. This is an area about 30″ above the floor. It is an area where most tasks take place.
The Dangers of Pesticides and the EPAs Harrowing Plan to Test Them on Kids
December 13, 2007
Pesticides are a ubiquitous toxin in our environment. We spray them liberally on ants and spiders in our homes, use them in our gardens and on our lawns, fog our streets with them to kill mosquitoes-even spread them on our own bodies to keep bugs away.
Farmers use 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides every year-and most have been found by the EPA to be carcinogenic.
But that’s not all. American farmers use 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides each year-that’s 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides sprayed onto the food that we, and our children, eat. And it’s not just fruits and vegetables; meats contain pesticides too because the animals eat feed that has been heavily sprayed.
Plus, pesticides are used in many consumer products, including paints, cosmetics, food packaging, fabrics, carpets and exercise mats. And they’re used extensively in parks and other recreational areas-golf courses are some of the biggest offenders; in one year they use seven or eight times the pesticides used on a comparable sized area of agricultural land.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered close to 900 pesticides, which are formulated into over 20,000 products, according to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides.
Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators
December 12, 2007
Notice any fish disappearing lately? While herons are present year-round, water gardeners notice the challenges they bring to the pond in spring and early summer when herons feed their young.
An adult heron needs about 13 ounces of food daily, which is equivalent to three 6″ koi. If herons find an easy source of food (i.e. colorful fish in a shallow pond), they’ll return on several consecutive days. They can quickly decimate your fish population.
They’re generally shy birds who typically visit early in the morning or in the evening, when everything is quiet.
Prevent herons from attacking your fish with these simple precautions. If you do lose some fish, don’t resort to harming or killing the herons; they are a protected species.
? Netting: The most effective deterrent for herons is to suspend a net 6″-12″ above the pond surface. Make sure the net is taut and cannot fall into the pond if the heron tried to land on it and spear the fish through it.
? Heron Scarers: Some work on a “trip-wire” basis, producing a loud noise while others use a sound inaudible to the human ear. Others sense the presence of heron using infrared detection, and scare them away by spraying a high-pressure jet of water.
Someone Spying?
December 11, 2007
Someone Spying? So are the Teddy Bear and the Potted Plant
See the cuddly teddy bear over on the shelf? Well, it sees you too. "Right here in the camera, behind the left eye." said Marvin Badler, the owner of The Spy Mart a Monmouth County company dedicated to the proposition that what you don’t know can hurt you and what you do know can protect you from being caught off guard.
"There’s a wireless camera transmitter in here." Mr. Badler said, holding the teddy bear in his arms and pointing to it’s furry little head. " It can send a signal up to 300 feet away , so you don’t even need a wire to attach it to a VCR.
Mr. Badler a licensed Private investigator since 1961 and former chief investigator for the New York City Department of Correction, was demonstrating some of the item he sells from The Spy Mart’s showroom. "See that planter over there." Mr. Badler said, pointing in the direction of an ordinary-looking potted plant. "There’s a camera in the pot. We build it last week. I was shopping with my wife, I saw the planter and came up with the idea."
Is YOUR Home A Safe Home?
December 11, 2007
Do you or one of your family members suffer from allergies, asthma, add/adhd Heart disease, cancer, or respitory problems? It could be from the toxins in your home! Did you know that there are more Toxins in your home than in the outside air? Chances are, the cleaning products And hygienic products you use are making you and your family sick.
In the past 10 years, there has been a 42% increase in asthma (29% for men; 82% for women - the higher rate for women is believed to be due to women’s longer exposure times to household chemicals) (Source: Center for Disease Control)
So, what are some of these products, and what makes them so harmful?
Lysol is a registered PESTICIDE ? (think about that the next time you spray It indoors in the middle of winter with the windows and doors tightly closed)
Johnon’s and Johnson’s baby shampoo contains formaldehyde (used for embalming). It also contains an ingredient called Lydacaine, which NUMBS the nerve endings ? Hence the ‘no more tears’ slogan. (I don’t know about you, but numbing my kids Nerve ending does not sound very safe to me)
What To Look For In Persian Rugs
December 10, 2007
Selecting a Persian rug can be a daunting task for most people. There is a lot of misinformation out there as to what to look for. Let’s face it, a good Persian rug can cost a lot of money, and most people will be hesitant to make a significant investment on something they know little about.
The best solution for most is to find a reputable dealer who will work with you to find the rug you are looking for. The disadvantage to this is you will be paying for their help and advice in the markup of the rug, which can be quite high.
Another alternative is to use the power of the internet. There are a number of sites out there that sell authentic Persian rugs, with money back guarantees and free shipping.
Which ever way you choose, a little knowledge can go a long way.
An authentic Persian rug is handmade. There are a lot of machine woven imitation rugs out on the market. How do you tell the difference? Two ways:
1. The loops on the back of the rug will be visible on a handmade rug.
Brighten Up Your Shelves With Picture Frames
December 9, 2007
Would you like to add a personal touch to your home or office, but not sure how? Picture frames may be your answer. Picture frames are a fun and simple way to add color, character and style.
Decorating with picture frames is fun and simple. To add a splash of color to a shelf or mantle choose a series of similar frames in coordinating colors, such as three shades of green. To set a theme in the bedroom stick with one basic color and two or three styles of frames, such as silver or pewter antique-style frames. Or to make a dramatic statement on a wall choose one bold color, such as black or deep red, and identical picture frames, such as simple squares. No matter what look you’re trying to achieve, group picture frames together for impact.
Once you’ve decided on a style, it’s easy to find the perfect picture frames. Department stores and home decorating stores are a good place to start. But don’t forget about antique stores, flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores. These are all great places to find unique picture frames. Look for unique picture frames with beveled glass, unusual shapes, or matching sets.
How to Choose Between Goldfish and KOI
December 8, 2007
Many people have asked us over the years “Should I add goldfish or KOI (or both) to my pond? The answer is “it depends.”
Goldfish are better suited to smaller water gardens and ponds, in the 50 - 500 gallon range. Goldfish are extremely hardy and easy to care for, which makes them the perfect choice for the new pond owner or water gardener.
KOI Feeding
KOI, on the other hand, require a little more knowledge and better water quality in most cases, than goldfish and are better suited to the more experienced pond keeper. KOI generally thrive best in ponds over 500 gallons (the bigger - the better.)
This is becuase KOI can grow quite large and therefore require more water in the pond for proper biological breakdown of waste. KOI are also more expensive (and harder to replace) than goldfish, so this should also be taken into account before filling your new pond full of KOI fish. More considerations…
Goldfish are an excellent choice for the average water garden that is usually also full of a variety of potted plants. Lilies, Lotus, Iris, and submerged annuals - these all do well in a water garden pond with goldfish. Goldfish will not disturb the plants, and will enjoy playing around under the lily pads without disturbing the plants.
Feng Shui Tips For Your Home Office
December 7, 2007
Did you know that over 50% of women now run their own home business or work from home? Get your compass out and find the following directions because we are going to try and make things run a little smoother for you using the ancient art of object placement - Feng Shui.
The most ideal locations to situate a home office, in order of best to second, third ad fourth best are the North (the Career Sector), the Southwest (the Wealth sector), the Northeast (Skills and Talents sector) or the South (the fame and recognition sector.) If possible try to locate your home office in one of those locations.
Here are some other general tips that are thought to bring prosperity to your business.
Always sit with a solid wall behind your back to ensure that you have support in your life. Never sit with a window behind you.
In the office always place the fax machine, telephone, and computers in the southeast wealth sector, as this will attract more contacts.
Position your desk to have a clear view of the door. If this isn’t possible, hang a small mirror so you can easily view the door’s reflection.
