We can’t change the channel on our TV without leaving the room. Here I sit surrounded by the latest computer and data communications technology and we can’t change the channel on the TV.

How did we reach this point? I’m blaming Andie…

When we moved the furniture around, we really went crazy. The dining room became the den… The den became the dining room and some sort of open “Florida” room with wicker furniture, plants and all kinds of windows. The living room was turned into a foyer and sitting room. After the furniture was moved, we realized that there were no cable or phone connections in the “new” den where we now have the TV. This means Mike has to crawl around in the attic and get that pink stuff all over while he routes a new phone and cable TV connection to what was previously a dining room.

I hate the attic… Simply hate it. There is very little snow in south Florida so the roof doesn’t have much of a pitch. This means I have to squat around in the heat, bump into stuff in the dark, and wade through pink stuff while trying not to put my foot through the ceiling. To make things worse, the new den is way on the other side of the house. As you might guess, my goal would be to put this off until next summer when we move the furniture back to its original location.

To get us by for the next six months, I’ve enlisted the help of some computer technology. As part of the web cam project, I had purchased a pair of devices designed to “beam” video and audio through thin air. These devices operate in the 2.4 ghz range and use spread spectrum radio technology to broadcast a video signal from the transmitter unit to the receiver. I simply moved our cable box and VCR into the office, and split the cable lead off the computer I use as a TV in the office. Then I used the transmitter to beam the signal to the den. The picture is great and we get great stereo sound.

The only problem - we have to go to the office to change the channel. Fast forwarding and rewinding the VCR has become somewhat tricky as well. Since the VCR is also now in the office, fast forwarding past the previews on a rented tape becomes a two-person operation. I usually go to the office and blindly hold the fast forward button until Andie yells “okay.” I’m also beginning to worry about health issues. The TV picture goes nuts whenever we use the microwave. Does this mean they’re both operating on the same frequency? Do I get micro waved every time I walk in front of the transmitter?

Here is a typical TV evening:

Andie: “This is on the wrong channel.”
Mike: “Remember, we have to change the channel in the office”
Andie: now yelling from the office – “Where is the remote?”
(Yes we have one of those all-in-one remotes which is now really working against us)
Mike: “Its right here”
Andie: stomp stomp stomp – gets the remote control from the den… stomp stomp stomp
(The channel now changes)
Andie: yelling from the office “Whats on TV?”
Mike: “The Simpsons”
(Andie returns and we both sit down only to realize the volume is too low and the remote is still in the office)

Does anyone remember TVs where you twisted a clunky dial to change channels and turned a little knob to change the volume? How about hanging tin foil from rabbit ears to get a better picture? Anyway… I’m prepared to hold out until Christmas when we pull a bunch of stuff out of the attic. Maybe then I’ll run the cable.