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TP-Link’s new WiFi 6E router has motorized antennas that follow your devices
The company also announced its first quad-band router.
Amazon's custom Ka-band antenna will deliver less expensive satellite internet
Amazon unveiled on Wednesday a revolutionary Ka-band phased array antenna design that will allow for more compact and less expensive user terminals.
Rumor suggests Apple's 5G iPhone could rely on a custom antenna
For years, leaks and rumors have targeted 2020 for the arrival of Apple's first iPhone with 5G capabilities. Now we're in the year, and carriers are starting to roll out networks with the high-bandwidth connections. Samsung already revealed that its Galaxy S20 series will offer 5G support across the line, although only the super-sized Ultra model will support both sub-6 and mmWave connections. Now Fast Company reports that as Apple continues to lock down plans for its 2020 iPhone models, the company is still choosing between two designs for a 5G version.
MIT's 'smart surface' could improve your WiFi signal tenfold
There's a problem with stuffing wireless connections into ever-smaller devices: they can struggle to maintain a good signal when there's so little space for antennas. MIT CSAIL researchers might have a fix, though. They've developed an RFocus "smart surface" that "can work both as a mirror or a lens" to focus radio signals onto the right devices on either side of the "fence." In return, this improves the median signal strength by nearly 10 times, while doubling the median channel capacity in an office environment. Instead of just a handful of monolithic antennas, the RFocus prototype revolves around 3,000-plus tiny antennas with software that arranges them to maximize reception. In other words, RFocus is acting as a beamforming controller in the middle, as opposed to letting the radio endpoints -- transmitters and client devices -- manage this activity, which would be difficult to implement on tiny devices.
This four-inch antenna could let you text from deep underground
There's a reason that scuba divers use sign language and that caves and tunnels create radio dead zones. The laws of physics prevent radio signals from penetrating materials like water, soil and stone, and that's been a frustrating limitation of modern wireless communication. Now, the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory might have a solution: a four-inch-tall, pocket-sized antenna that emits very low frequency (VLF) radiation.
NASA is testing Jupiter moon probe's data-beaming antenna
What the Europa Clipper finds when it starts orbiting Jupiter's icy moon won't be of any use to us if it can't send data back to Earth. In order to beam back information from that far into the solar system, the Clipper will be equipped with a high-gain antenna (HGA) that the space agency is currently testing. NASA is evaluating a full-scale 10-foot-tall prototype of the HGA -- a directional antenna that allows precise targeting of radio signals -- at the Experimental Test Range (ETR) at NASA's Langley Research Center.
Tablo's newest over-the-air DVR automatically skips ads
If you'd rather just watch Netflix and catch TV over the air for free, while still being able to skip ads, Nuvyyo's Tablo Quad DVR might be for you. It packs a 4-tuner DVR, letting you find, record, store and stream up to four live antenna TV channels at once. More importantly, Tablo has caught up to TiVo's Roamio, letting you skip OTA commercials automatically via a beta feature. It uses a cloud-based system that marries algorithms and machine learning to help you enjoy an ad-free experience without lifting a finger.
Fire TV Recast offers both DVR and streaming on the go
At Amazon's launch event today in Seattle the company announced its first DVR called the Fire TV Recast. There's no cable TV tuner built-in, so the channels available will be the ones you can access with a connected over-the-air antenna (like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS or the CW). Also, since the Recast doesn't plug directly into a TV, you can place it anywhere in your house to get the best reception, which the app can also help you determine. It then beams your recorded shows or live TV anywhere through your home to an Echo Show, Fire tablet, mobile device (iOS or Android with the Fire TV app) or a Fire TV device. You can also take your recordings on-the-go with the Fire TV app.
Qualcomm's 5G antennas are primed for next year's phones
One of the biggest challenges in tapping millimeter waves (mmWaves) for 5G is overcoming signal interference. Because they're easily disrupted by something as simple as someone walking in between a transmitter and receiver, mmWaves require technological finesse to be harnessed reliably. To that end, Qualcomm today unveiled what it says is the world's "first fully-integrated 5G NR mmWave and sub-6 GHz RF modules for smartphones and other mobile devices." These are the QTM052 mmWave antenna module family and the QPM56xx sub-6 GHz radio frequency (RF) module, and they'll pair with the company's previously announced Snapdragon X50 5G modem -- making next-gen phone networks a reality very soon.
How to find the best TV antenna for free HD channels
You can stream a lot of TV online, but for things like the Olympics and breaking news, you'll want a local broadcast station to deliver the goods. Buying an antenna isn't like buying a toaster, though -- there is no objectively "best" antenna that will work for most people. Instead, you'll need to do a bit of research and testing. If you want to get as many free channels as possible, including your local ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS affiliates, you'll need to consider where those broadcast towers are located, how strong of a signal they send to your location and what kind of obstructions might be in the way. Thankfully, there are some tools that can help.
The best indoor HDTV antenna
By Grant Clauser This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending more than 20 hours attaching many antennas to multiple TVs in two different testing locations (one suburban and one urban), watching way too much daytime programming, and compiling objective data from a signal-strength meter, we think the new 35-mile-range Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse is the indoor HD antenna with the best combination of features for most users. It matched or outperformed larger models in pulling in TV signals, required less (basically zero) assembly, and was easy to hide. The omnidirectional antenna is double-sided (black on one side, white on the other), equipped with a detachable 12-foot coaxial cable, and designed to stick to your wall without any hardware or tape, so finding the right mounting location is simpler than with the other antennas we tested.
Smartenna+ emulates seven TV antennas to find the best OTA signal
Believe it or not, some people still get their television signal over the air from antennas. It's one way cord-cutters can watch local television without purchasing a cable subscription. Getting good reception can be tricky, though. Channel Master's new Smartenna+ is an amplified, indoor TV antenna that uses an internal computer processor to analyze the signals at your home and choose the best one for you.
Dish customers can no longer access CBS TV channels
If you're looking forward to watching the NFL this Thanksgiving you might find yourself stuck watching holiday reruns instead, as CBS is making good on its threat to black out dozens of channels in response to its ongoing subscription feud with Dish. According to Dish, the network last night barred customer access to 28 local channels in 18 markets across 26 states.
Tablo's new Dual DVR is ready to record right out of the box
The original Tablo box debuted in 2013, pitched as a DVR for cord-cutters that could stream TV nearly anywhere, and now the company is back with a second generation version. The Tablo Dual is redesigned to fit everything in a smaller case with no fans for quieter operation, and also manages to squeeze in 64GB of memory. That means new users can start recording TV right away, without needing to plug in extra storage (although it does support to 8TB).
Mohu's wireless AirWave antenna makes cord-cutting simple
We got a peek at Mohu's wireless TV antenna last night, and this morning the company is releasing a few more details. The AirWave promises free TV "everywhere" across a variety of mobile and connected TV devices, because it catches the OTA signal and turns it into an IPTV stream for its app, sort of like a localized Aereo (RIP). The antenna will cost $150 when it launches in "late" spring at Best Buy stores, and won't require any kind of subscription package for access. All it needs is power, access to local TV signals and WiFi. Then you've got TV, and the viewing app has a guide that integrates TV broadcasts with content from various streaming services.
Mohu teases its wireless TV antenna
One thing about cord-cutting and switching to antenna-delivered TV is that some people can't get a good signal near their TV. Mohu's new AirWave antenna solves that by making it wireless. The $150 device just needs to plug into power to catch TV broadcasts, transcode them and stream the video via WiFi to its apps on platforms like Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, iOS and Android, not to mention the web. We couldn't get all the details tonight at the CES Unveiled event, but it should hit shelves in the spring.
Engadget giveaway: Win a pair of GoTenna off-the-grid communicators!
Camping and hiking trips can be doubly relaxing since you're often left without cell service and have no choice but to enjoy nature undistracted. If you get separated from fellow travelers and need to communicate, though, having a tool like GoTenna can be a lifesaver. This long-range radio transmitter and receiver connects locally via Bluetooth to the GoTenna app on mobile devices (iOS and Android). You can send private one-to-one or group messages and even share GPS coordinates with other users in the area. For most outdoor terrains, the range is between one and four miles. If you're using them in urban areas, it's around one mile or less, but that's still useful for finding nearby friends at crowded events where cell service is overloaded. The company has provided us with two pairs of GoTennas for a couple of lucky readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winners: Congratulations to Manuel O. of Brooklyn, NY and Adrian T. of Toronto, ONT!
The best HDTV indoor antenna
By Grant Clauser This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After spending more than 20 hours attaching many antennas to multiple TVs in two different testing locations (one suburban and one urban), watching way too much daytime programming, and compiling objective data from a signal-strength meter, we think the Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse is the indoor HD antenna with the best combination of features for most users. It matched or outperformed larger models in pulling in TV signals, required less (basically zero) assembly, and was easy to hide. The omnidirectional antenna includes an attached 12-foot coaxial cable and sticks to your wall without any hardware or tape, which makes finding the right mounting location simpler than with the other antennas we tested.
Cord cutters can have DVRs with multiroom and placeshifting
Most of the developments in DVRs are for people who still have cable or aren't bothered by paying a monthly fee (see the new TiVo Bolt and Dish Network's new Hopper 3), but what about cord cutters? Three new Funai-built, Magnavox-branded DVRs due out later this year have no subscription fee and aren't built for cable at all: They simply record free TV broadcasts via antenna. Better yet, they can stream those recordings to other boxes in your house and stream or transfer the recording to your mobile device (Android or iOS) for watching on the go.
Channel Master's DVRs add Sling TV to entice cord cutters
One of the few major drawbacks of Sling TV is that it doesn't license the big broadcast channels, but there's an easy fix for that now. Channel Master announced at CES that its DVR+ products -- which are built to catch your local broadcast channels via antenna -- are adding Sling TV to the mix. That puts an impressive slate of channels on one box, right next to the likes of Netflix, YouTube and a few others. The two DVR+ setups don't have any service fee or subscription by themselves, and are available for $249 (16GB storage if you'd like to BYO hard drive) or $399 (1TB HDD built-in). Owners should see Sling TV appear in an update on the 6th and then they'll be ready to go.
