HDTV: Batteries Not Included

One of the worst feelings as a kid was opening up my Christmas presents and seeing the phrase "batteries not included". To my young and fragile mind, this was a travesty for which there was no equal. Requiring me to wait before I played with my new loot? It was unthinkable! Interestingly enough, many are experiencing the same thing when it comes to HDTVs. Same problem, different packaging.

Last month, we posted on the blog about the fact that over 50 percent of households have HDTVs. The more curious part of that article is the notion that of the millions that now have a high definition television set of some sort, 69 percent of HDTV owners do not have HD service of any kind.

Perhaps people are fine with just having a bigger — though not necessarily better — picture? Maybe it's a money issue, though often times adding an HD package onto your existing TV service isn't much more than a few extra dollars a month. I think the largest contributing factor, though, is that most people don't realize that for HDTVs, the "batteries" are not included, and there's no information to let them know about this in the retail stores. After all, they just want you to get the TV. Why would they bother to educate people about what else is needed to enjoy it and fully utilize your entertainment investment?

So, I've decided to put together a few pieces of information that might prove helpful. Tips on where to find the "batteries" for your HDTV, so to speak. Listed below is what you need in order to start watching high definition programming. Hit the jump to read on!

How to Move Your House Plants

Are you getting ready to move to a new home but not sure what to do with your prized petunias? Well don't fret, it's not that difficult to pack up your house plants and move them to your new digs.

Below are a few tips to move your plants to their new home with ease.

• Start the plant moving process about 2-3 weeks prior to your move.
• If you're moving across state lines, check with the local U.S. Department of Agriculture to see if your types of plants are allowed into the new state.
• Make sure all your plants are in non-breakable plastic pots.
• If you're using a moving company, ask if they will move plants. Some moving companies won't.
• Rid your plants of any bugs, mildew and disease.
• Prune large plants to make them easier to transport.
• Avoid extreme temperatures when moving your plants. Lack of air or extreme heat can kill them.
• Wrap large plants with sheets to avoid the branches from breaking.
• Pack your plants in boxes to make them easier to load. Poke holes in the boxes so your plants can breath.
• If your move lasts longer than three days, make sure to let your plants have a little water and sun light.
• Upon arrival, unpack your plants as soon as possible.

Understanding High-Speed Internet: How to Decide Which Download Speed is Best For You

Picture this - it's late and you realize as you're falling asleep that you forgot to send an important presentation to your boss, the kind of important that is supposed to be on their desk by 8:00 a.m. Ever been there? I know I have, and there is nothing more frustrating than being in absolute dire need to use your high-speed internet, and receiving a painful lesson in the life of a dial-up user. Just as important is knowing that your high-speed connection can be upgraded at a reasonable cost to you and your family.

It can be confusing when faced with several options for high-speed service, and not being sure what exactly the differences are between the 1.5 Mbps, 3.0 Mbps and 6.0 Mbps speeds common with many Internet services. If you are in our system, upon entering your address, you may be unsure of which speed is most appropriate for your specific needs. You may be a serious online gamer, online-business owner or a very protective parent looking to provide safe and secure Internet for you children. Regardless of your Internet requirements, there are a few distinct differences between each speed, so I've listed a few below to help you decide which is best.

768 Kbps

• Price: Basic high-speed service for those on a strict budget.


• If you are simply looking for a connection that provides reliable Internet for basic searching, school projects, e-mail and browsing common sites, this speed will deliver reasonable download times that are still much faster than dial up.


• Not ideal for downloading large picture, video or music files

1.5 Mbps

• Price: Ideal for those on a tight budget who want to download a bit more aggressively than a basic high-speed customer.


• Ample download speeds for searching sites, receiving e-mails and downloading songs, though I wouldn't recommend trying multiple media downloads with this connection. A single four minute song will generally download in less than a minute.


• Upload speeds for sending files and e-mails are a bit tight, so if you are an aspiring YouTube videographer, upgrading would be a wise choice.

3.0 Mbps

• Price: Reasonable prices are available, as Internet providers often offer special deals and incentives with 3.0 Mbps packages and above.


• Ideal for all of the above listed downloading, as well as watching streaming video and television.


• Provides a solid online gaming experience


• Faster upload speeds for posting pictures and video on sites like Myspace and YouTube, as well as the ability to check your email and multi-task while still surfing other sites. Having multiple windows open with basic high-speed can really bog down your Internet experience.

6.0 Mbps

• Generally the most expensive option, though as previously mentioned, many companies offer special incentives like cash back for the 3.0 Mbps packages and above. The reason for the higher pricing is simple: You are certainly paying for the advantages of download speed up to four times faster than 1.5 mbps, giving you the ability to watch, surf, download and multi-task to your heart's desire.


• Better gaming experience with faster uploads for hosting online matches.


• Download, watch movies online, download entire albums and so much more. While the price may turn some away, the combination of download speeds and special deals for upgrading to the top-of-the-line speeds make this an ideal option for just about any Internet customer.

WhiteFence in the Blogosphere

WhiteFence has been featured on some consumer blogs lately and I've noticed that there are a few questions and concerns that a lot of people have when learning about us for the first time. I thought I would take a few minutes to address some of those questions here in case any of our regular readers (Hi, Mom and Dad!) have the same type of questions.

Why do you need my address?
The prices and services that we offer from our providers vary depending on where you live. Sometimes, they even vary within the same zip code! We want to make sure you get the most accurate information possible before you order services. Your address helps us do that.

What happens to my address information once I enter it? Do you sell it to other companies?
When you enter your address to find information about services available through WhiteFence, your information stays private. We do not sell, rent or give your information away. The only time your information is shared with a service provider is when you complete an order with them. They have to know where you live to set up your service!

Why can I only see certain providers for my area?
We are committed to creating new business and technology partnerships with the best home service providers to make sure you have the most choices available in your area. When you enter your address, our proprietary transaction engine shows you all of the providers and pricing plans available to you through WhiteFence. However, there are areas where we do not have partnerships with certain providers. In those cases, we are not able to connect you to their services.

Why should I use WhiteFence?
Use WhiteFence if you want to save time when moving to a new house or apartment. Instead of calling around to set up or transfer your electricity, phone, cable, Internet, natural gas, newspapers, renters insurance, etc., you can connect them all in one place in just a few minutes. Or use WhiteFence to save money! Take advantage of our comparison shopping if you are adding a new service or unhappy with a provider you are currently using. We want to make it easier for you to get connected to the services you want and need for your home. It really is that simple.

I hope these answer some of your important questions about what we do here at WhiteFence. For more information, see our About Us section. If you still have questions, check out the FAQ section of the Home Services Guide or contact us. You can even comment to this post with your questions. Stephanie and I will do everything we can to answer them. We love to hear from our customers! 

If I have a problem, can I call the service provider I ordered through WhiteFence directly?

Yes, you can call your service provider directly. You can also contact WhiteFence customer service at 1-866-839-5838.

When will I find out the deposit amount on a provider I ordered through WhiteFence?

You will find out your deposit amount once your order has been accepted. When the order is accepted and there is a deposit, the provider will indicate this information in the deposit field of your "My Orders" page. Remember, a deposit is different from an initial charge. Although the initial charge may include the deposit amount, this is not always the case.

Can I order from WhiteFence if I do not have an e-mail account?

To order services through WhiteFence, you will need an e-mail address. Fortunately, signing up for a free e-mail address is easy. Popular free e-mail account providers are Yahoo! Mail and MSN Hotmail. Several other e-mail providers are availble as well. Once you obtain an e-mail address that you can access, you can order the services that you need from WhiteFence.

Can I apply for more than one service provider through WhiteFence at the same time?

Definitely! You can order all the services you need for your home at the same time. However, you should only order service from one provider in each category as ordering from several providers in one category may cause delays. For example, if you request service from multiple electricity providers, it could cause a delay in your service being turned on while the electricity providers sort out which provider should service your address.

How long will it take my WhiteFence orders to process?

Order processing time varies per provider. Some orders may be processed in as short as 24 hours, while others may take up to two weeks. You can always check the status of your order by logging back into WhiteFence with your user name and password and viewing the "My Orders" page. If you are worried that your order is taking too long to process, feel free to call WhiteFence customer service at 1-866-839-5838.

What is a V-chip?

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the V-chip is a technology that lets parents block television programming they do not want their children to watch. Most television shows now include a rating, as established by the broadcasting industry. This rating is encoded into the programs,  and the V-chip technology reads the encoded information and blocks shows accordingly.

Using your remote control, parents can program the V-chip to block certain shows based on their ratings. If you lose your remote or need help programming the V-chip, contact the manufacturer of your television for a replacement or operating instructions.