Top Tips For the Best At Home VOD Movie Watching Experience

The COVID-19 pandemic has practically shut down the movie theater networks across the world. Some old-fashioned drive in theaters are thriving, but most standard movie theaters are either still closed or very empty, due to both limited capacity regulations and general consumer fears about sitting in such close quarters with a bunch of people when an airborne virus is still very much at large.

Movie studios have been left with two choices. Delay the opening of their films indefinitely, or make them available to the public at home, and as the pandemic continues more and more new films are getting the latter treatment.

This is great for consumers being asked to spend more time at home, but if you are going to pay up to $20 to watch a brand new, first run movie in your living room then you want the environment to be as conducive to doing so enjoyably as possible.

As the concept of the first run movie release to homes is unlikely to go away, even when the pandemic subsides, now is a great time to start thinking about creating an environment in your home that will make movie night in your living room/spare room/basement more like the real thing while also overcoming some of the difficulties you can face. when trying to stream such ‘heavy’ content.

Here are some tips and ideas to get you started.

Planning Better Seating

Relate screen size to seating distance when designing ‘home theater’ seating. Professional home theater installers advise a seating distance that is 2 to 2 1/2 times the width of a screen for optimal viewing. So, for example, if yours is a 48″ TV then seating should ideally placed around 90 inches away.

That’s a long way though – over seven feet – and some may simply not have that much room. A little closer is OK, just test drive the seating as you place it to ensure that everyone will have the best possible view.

Calibrate Your TV

Have you ever taken the time to properly calibrate your fancy big screen TV? As we explained here a while back, these settings can make a world of difference and can be hard achieve alone. That’s why if you are going to be watching ‘should have been in theaters’ movies often – and why not? – then investing in professional help to get your TV calibrated properly will be a worthwhile investment.

Work On the Sound

One of the great things about watching movies in a theater is the sound. The good news is that it’s getting easier and easier to recreate that audio experience at home. Great home speakers are getting smaller – without losing ‘power’ – and sleek soundbars are becoming more efficient and effective too.

These things are far more affordable these days too, but again, for the best possible results call in a pro to help you get the most out of these purchases.

Prevent Overheating

Ideally you should place speakers in a ventilated cabinet or on roomy shelves so components don’t overheat; be careful not to block the vents on the equipment.

For easy access to the backs of the electronic components, construct the shelving or cabinet units 4 to 5 feet in front of the wall to create a narrow “hallway” behind the units.

Light the Space Better

Lighting is also an important factor in ‘home theater planning’. In a room with windows, be sure to have adequate light-blocking shades so the midday sun doesn’t disturb your viewing.

Ambient, or overall, lighting on dimmer switches gives you control over how much light is emitted. Task lighting in the form of table lamps or wall sconces is useful for viewers who are multitasking while they watch TV (ie on their phones, something that’s banned in theaters, but may be OK in your home.)

The Top 5 Reasons Why More Businesses Are Switching to Fiber Optic Cable

The digital element of a huge number of businesses operating in all kinds of niches continues to experience tremendous growth. And while that growth may be great for both a customer or client’s experience with a company, and for that company’s bottom line it can place huge stresses on the cabling systems that keep a business computing network up and running.

The simple fact is that having the right cabling can make a huge difference when it comes to bandwidth, voice, data, multimedia, and many other aspects of your business.

While there are a number of different cabling options in the marketplace, here are five reasons why more companies are investing in fiber optics.

Faster Speeds and More Bandwidth

Copper wiring was originally created with only voice communication in mind. Because of its original intended usage, its bandwidth offerings are limited and it will struggle to keep up with the demands that all your other needs are placing on it.

Because it’s a technology designed for multi-media use fiber optic cables increase your bandwidth potential at rates that were previously unprecedented in the industry.

You’ll also see an increase in speed when you switch to fiber, and that can make a huge difference for both your company and in many cases your customers

Reliability

Extreme weather seems to be everywhere these days and that can lead to costly outages. Fiber optic cabling is safe from extreme weather conditions because electricity is not actually being sent through the wiring.

When you choose fiber optics, you remain unaffected by the elements that often adversely affect the performance of copper wiring leading to the kind of downtime you really can’t afford.

Size

Perhaps the most practical advantage of fiber cabling is its size. You no longer have to compromise quality for size. The speed of copper wiring is directly related to its size. Ultimately this creates a higher cost of resources.

The size of a fiber cable does not impact speed at which it performs. Choosing fiber means using fewer resources and saving more money without product compromise. The size advantage makes transportation, installation, and usage easier and more effective.

Security

Cybersecurity and safety have become everyday concerns with the constant threat of data breaches and identity theft potentially just a few clicks of a hacker’s mouse away.

Tapping into fiber cabling is not just more complex but more expensive than hacking into traditional copper or electrical wiring which is a significant deterrent to data breaches.

Price

Fiber’s durability, functionality, and lack of commonly required maintenance make it more cost-effective in the long run and ultimately provides a better consumer experience.

Thinking of making the switch to fiber optics but have more questions or concerns? Call us at 800-730-3468 or contact us here and we will be happy to discuss them with you.