AWTV Magazine – Retro Tech, TV Repair, Photography & Cultural History

 If you already have solar panels, that's great! But if you don't have batteries, you are loosing out. To benefit fully from the energy generated by your panels, you would need to be at home all day using the power as it is being produced, but in most cases, that is not practical as we have to work and do other things away from the home during the day. It is safe to say we will be away from home at the time when the solar panels are producing most of the power. So where does that power go? All is not lost as the panels will be powering the refrigerator and other things that are plugged in such as Wi Fi routers and chargers as well as other devices left on standby. These will only draw a few hundred watts at most, where's the rest going? Grid tied Inverter If you've got solar panels, then you will almost certainly have a grid tied inverter. This converts the DC voltage produced by the panels to the AC voltage coming into your home from the grid. This also has to synchron...

  Home Energy & Tech explores the fast‑moving world of modern home technology — from solar battery storage and smart meters to energy‑saving gadgets and practical upgrades that cut your bills. This section breaks down complex systems into clear, real‑world advice, helping you understand costs, benefits, reliability, and long‑term savings. Whether you’re curious about solar batteries, planning a home energy upgrade, or just looking for ways to make your home more efficient, this category gives you straightforward guidance backed by hands‑on experience and practical testing.

 I’ve had Sky TV since the early 1990s, back when satellite dishes were new and the idea of hundreds of channels felt exciting. Over the years I stuck with Sky through the switch from analogue to digital, through new boxes, new features and—unfortunately—ever‑increasing monthly bills. A year ago I finally decided enough was enough. I cancelled Sky, switched to Freesat, and to my surprise I’ve saved hundreds of pounds without losing the TV I actually watch. My Journey With Sky TV Since the Early 1990s As I was repairing TVs and Video recorders, it wasn't long before I was asked if I could repair satellite boxes. I soon got my hands dirty repairing the analogue boxes of the day such as Amstrad and Pace. To test them, of course, I needed a satellite dish which I had installed. This opened up the world of Sky TV with many free channels such as sky news, cartoon network etc that you couldn't get on terrestrial TV. There were many occasions when I had a box in for repair that had the...