One of the advantages of truly being too old to play is that you have the income to try out interesting new technology. The Slingbox is something I didn’t think would either work well or be a technology that I would use on a regular basis. Much to my delight, I am wrong on both counts.
Just what is the Slingbox?
Slingmedia (www.slingmedia.com) describes it: “Slingbox enables you to watch your TV programming from wherever you are by turning virtually any Internet-connected PC into your personal TV. Whether you’re in another room or in another country, you’ll always have access to your television.” For the technology minded, the Slingbox connects to your TV or DVR and converts the signals into streaming media which is transmitted via broadband locally, or wide area to any pc running the SlingPlayer Software.
Connecting the Slingbox.
The Slingbox comes with everything you need to connect to your video systems. This includes S-video, coaxial, composite, and Ethernet cables. I plugged the composite cables into the video out of my Tivo Series 2 and into the Slingbox. Next you place the IR emitters near the infrared sensors on your DVR or Television and plug them into the Slingbox. Lastly connect the Slingbox to your router via the Ethernet cable. In my case I have a wireless network so I used my old Microsoft Wireless Game Adaptor. Next you connect the power adapter and give it about 30 seconds to link up and get an IP address. When both LEDs on the front of Slingbox are lit, you know you have a valid network connection.
Installing the SlingPlayer Software.
The Slingbox comes with a cd that has the SlingPlayer software on it but the easiest way to go to the support section at www.slingmedia.com and download the latest version. Run the install and follow the setup instructions. The SlingPlayer software will locate the Slingbox on the local area network and allow you to name, password protect and configure it. From there you run the SlingPlayer software to connect to your Slingbox and start watching your TV or DVR.
How does it look?
I was disappointed that the full screen mode is blocky although comparable to TV cards I have used in the past. The smaller “normal size” video is sharp and looks great. Depending on your monitors resolution the size of display in normal mode will vary. On my 19in flat screen the display is about 4in by 4in. This is a great size to lock the window to the side and continue to work. In “full screen” mode the display doubles in size and distorts accordingly. The best picture I was able to get was on my daughter’s computer with an old 14 in dell monitor. I am unable to tell a difference between watching the Slingbox on LAN or across the internet at my office. I suppose that has to do with buffering.
Controlling your DVR or TV from your computer.
My TIVO series 2 remote is duplicated exactly. All buttons are functional. When you click on a button on your virtual remote expect about a 2-3 second delay before the actual changes happen on your TIVO. I am able to program, record, watch live TV or recorded video, just like at home. It’s fun to be able to see what the kids are watching and if you’re in the mood change channels on them.
Connecting from work.
To do a remote access you need to open your router with port forwarding. If you are comfortable with reprogramming your router, it is simple and well documented in the installation program. When you get to the remote computer, download and run the install program. Next you enter the password you set up along with the finder ID number that the original installation program gives you. From there you hit connect and start watching. I see no noticeable degradation in viewing quality from the local network to the remote one.
Great ways to use your Slingbox.
The obvious use is to watch TV while you work or play on your PC. In fact while writing this review I have had X-Play running from home in the SlingPlayer window. If you want to watch something from your DVR but it’s in another room or in another state – just run it on your laptop. You can find out what the kids are watching at home while you slave away at work. My daughter has a PC in her room and uses it to watch TV from time to time. I have copies of the SlingPlayer software on all my PC’s so it’s like having 4 more TVs in the house. I can catch up on Lost or Battlestar Gallactica here at work if I have the time or record a show from a remote location. Tivo has a new feature where you can listen to podcasts. Today, I was able to listen to Diggnation today at work through the TIVO - Slingbox connection.
Things that don’t work well.
As I mentioned earlier, a full screen display isn’t possible. Also with the delay between clicking on a button on your virtual remote and it happening on the DVR makes complicated programming and searching are quite slow. Only one person can be connected to the Slingbox at a time.
Final thoughts.
I paid $199.99 for it at Best Buy. I took me only 15 minutes to get it up and running. To access your Slingbox from a remote location you have to do some port forwarding. The documentation is excellent to walk you through this but anytime you program your router you better know what you are doing. I give the sling box 4.5 out of 5 stars. My only complaint is that I would have liked a clearer, larger, full screen mode. I doubt that is possible with current broadband limitations.
Derf @ 2old2play
Slingmedia (www.slingmedia.com) describes it: “Slingbox enables you to watch your TV programming from wherever you are by turning virtually any Internet-connected PC into your personal TV. Whether you’re in another room or in another country, you’ll always have access to your television.” For the technology minded, the Slingbox connects to your TV or DVR and converts the signals into streaming media which is transmitted via broadband locally, or wide area to any pc running the SlingPlayer Software.
Connecting the Slingbox.
The Slingbox comes with everything you need to connect to your video systems. This includes S-video, coaxial, composite, and Ethernet cables. I plugged the composite cables into the video out of my Tivo Series 2 and into the Slingbox. Next you place the IR emitters near the infrared sensors on your DVR or Television and plug them into the Slingbox. Lastly connect the Slingbox to your router via the Ethernet cable. In my case I have a wireless network so I used my old Microsoft Wireless Game Adaptor. Next you connect the power adapter and give it about 30 seconds to link up and get an IP address. When both LEDs on the front of Slingbox are lit, you know you have a valid network connection.
Installing the SlingPlayer Software.
The Slingbox comes with a cd that has the SlingPlayer software on it but the easiest way to go to the support section at www.slingmedia.com and download the latest version. Run the install and follow the setup instructions. The SlingPlayer software will locate the Slingbox on the local area network and allow you to name, password protect and configure it. From there you run the SlingPlayer software to connect to your Slingbox and start watching your TV or DVR.
How does it look?
I was disappointed that the full screen mode is blocky although comparable to TV cards I have used in the past. The smaller “normal size” video is sharp and looks great. Depending on your monitors resolution the size of display in normal mode will vary. On my 19in flat screen the display is about 4in by 4in. This is a great size to lock the window to the side and continue to work. In “full screen” mode the display doubles in size and distorts accordingly. The best picture I was able to get was on my daughter’s computer with an old 14 in dell monitor. I am unable to tell a difference between watching the Slingbox on LAN or across the internet at my office. I suppose that has to do with buffering.
Controlling your DVR or TV from your computer.
My TIVO series 2 remote is duplicated exactly. All buttons are functional. When you click on a button on your virtual remote expect about a 2-3 second delay before the actual changes happen on your TIVO. I am able to program, record, watch live TV or recorded video, just like at home. It’s fun to be able to see what the kids are watching and if you’re in the mood change channels on them.
Connecting from work.
To do a remote access you need to open your router with port forwarding. If you are comfortable with reprogramming your router, it is simple and well documented in the installation program. When you get to the remote computer, download and run the install program. Next you enter the password you set up along with the finder ID number that the original installation program gives you. From there you hit connect and start watching. I see no noticeable degradation in viewing quality from the local network to the remote one.
Great ways to use your Slingbox.
The obvious use is to watch TV while you work or play on your PC. In fact while writing this review I have had X-Play running from home in the SlingPlayer window. If you want to watch something from your DVR but it’s in another room or in another state – just run it on your laptop. You can find out what the kids are watching at home while you slave away at work. My daughter has a PC in her room and uses it to watch TV from time to time. I have copies of the SlingPlayer software on all my PC’s so it’s like having 4 more TVs in the house. I can catch up on Lost or Battlestar Gallactica here at work if I have the time or record a show from a remote location. Tivo has a new feature where you can listen to podcasts. Today, I was able to listen to Diggnation today at work through the TIVO - Slingbox connection.
Things that don’t work well.
As I mentioned earlier, a full screen display isn’t possible. Also with the delay between clicking on a button on your virtual remote and it happening on the DVR makes complicated programming and searching are quite slow. Only one person can be connected to the Slingbox at a time.
Final thoughts.
I paid $199.99 for it at Best Buy. I took me only 15 minutes to get it up and running. To access your Slingbox from a remote location you have to do some port forwarding. The documentation is excellent to walk you through this but anytime you program your router you better know what you are doing. I give the sling box 4.5 out of 5 stars. My only complaint is that I would have liked a clearer, larger, full screen mode. I doubt that is possible with current broadband limitations.
Derf @ 2old2play
