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I justed Picked up SlingMedia's Slingbox.

post #1 of 36
5/25/06 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 
I just picked up the slingbox at best buy last night. So far in works ok. It's not as clear as other users in here mentioned. They said it looks near or better than some TV Tuners. I think it's no way near the clarity of a TV Tuner, about VCD quality with some dropped frames. And I was on the LAN. I haven't tried WAN yet, I had my laptop all packed up and ready to go to work with me today so I can test it on WAN but I forgot it. Don't you just hate that? Maybe i'll go home for lunch and get it.

The quality is just like a downloaded episode of the Family Guy/South Park/Friends/Or whatever you guys watch, with a few drops in frames.

Set up was a breeze for me. I also bought the SLing Link that makes your home electrical wiring a network. So hooked up that to my Slingbox(other end to router). Hooked up slingbox to my Motorola(Comcast) box. Powered on Slingbox, it got an IP. Installed the software from CD, Checked for updates and installed those as well(New firmware, new cable box and new remotes supported). Ran the First time Configure Slingbox Wizard. I was able to find my cable box, configured the IR blaster to control cable box (that worked right away too). Last thing is to configure the router. The Slingbox was also able to automatically configure my router to setup port fowarding as well.

Overall it does what it's supposed to. Quality is not that great but watchable. Do I think it's worth $250(Slingbox) plus $100(SlingLink) no I do not. I just wanted to test it then will return to Best Buy after the 14 days and make up some excuse that it didn't work. Now if I can get them both for under $200 than I think it's worth it. At a retail price at $250 I really think they should include wireless.

I've seen them on ebay ~$150(Slingbox) and ~$50(Wireless Game Adapter or Wall-Oulet Electrical Network). So if your home has CAT 5 or your cable box is near your router than I would definately consider picking up a sling box. Plus you get to freak out anyone at home by changing channels when your not at home. It's like Magic
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post #2 of 36
5/25/06 at 12:40pm
Well I'm using mine while I work so my window is only like 3 inches or so... Having a small window shows a better image IMO. I think for sports it works well, plus I plan on hooking the Sling Box at a friends house, and using his Cable. HE has like a bunch of channels and movie channels and all the extra's, plus he doesn't use his internet for anything but to read emails and chat. So he doesn't mind the uploading.

So in my situation it's more of a benefit then a loss.
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post #3 of 36
5/25/06 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
OK...I went home to get my laptop and was able to try it at work. I got it to work fine on our DSL line. But not thru the corporate network. The quality degraded a little compared from home. A little only probably because I have a 2MB Upload with a Verizon FIOS Internet Connection and was streaming ~1000KB. I think I may have maxed the DSL Line.

Overall IMHO, I think it works, easy to setup, Quality is not Great(Like cramming a 30min Video in ~75megs, I think it's cool you can control your cable box from a remote location, Do not think it's worth $250+. Hope this helps
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post #4 of 36
5/25/06 at 5:45pm
What do you do if you don't have a cable box? I have just regular cable (no digital or anything).
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post #5 of 36
5/25/06 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
It has a built in Tuner with a coaxial connector. You can use an antenna if you wanted to
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post #6 of 36
5/25/06 at 5:52pm
You can still use it. There's manual for it online I think. It all drops down to streaming quality though. I'm currently using S-video(I think that's the one I'm using atleast-I just chose best quality thingy from manual) output from cablebox to slingmedia, and the difference in using what cable/connection is quite noticeable.
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post #7 of 36
5/25/06 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thaddyusmaximus
OK...I went home to get my laptop and was able to try it at work. I got it to work fine on our DSL line. But not thru the corporate network. The quality degraded a little compared from home. A little only probably because I have a 2MB Upload with a Verizon FIOS Internet Connection and was streaming ~1000KB. I think I may have maxed the DSL Line.

Overall IMHO, I think it works, easy to setup, Quality is not Great(Like cramming a 30min Video in ~75megs, I think it's cool you can control your cable box from a remote location, Do not think it's worth $250+. Hope this helps

Using my slingbox at home to watch comedy central from work is sweet!

Just try forwarding ports 80 or 443 to get through the corporate firewall and don't forget to include the corp proxy server info in the slingplayer app settings if used.
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post #8 of 36
5/25/06 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 
Hey...that looks pretty damn good. Maybe I should try S-Video. Are you talking about forwarding ports 80/443 with my Home's Router? I also do not see any settings for the Slingplayer to put in my proxy server settings.
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post #9 of 36
5/25/06 at 7:38pm
The best $199 I ever spent!

I just love watching TV while I'm at work
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post #10 of 36
5/25/06 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thaddyusmaximus
Hey...that looks pretty damn good. Maybe I should try S-Video. Are you talking about forwarding ports 80/443 with my Home's Router? I also do not see any settings for the Slingplayer to put in my proxy server settings.


Yeah, I can only access my slingbox from work using ports 80 or 443 forwarded on my router at home. Seems like the default port used by the slingbox is blocked by the corporate firewall.

http://www.slingcommunity.com/forum/0

You can read the sling forums for tips on how to bypass firewalls and proxy servers and the like.


BTW: Check out my article write-up on configuring the front panel notebook media buttons to control the SlingPlayer app: http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/11863/
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post #11 of 36
5/25/06 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 
I don't see that window. I updated to the latest firmware and software as of last night. When I click those buttons it takes me thru a wizard.
LL
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post #12 of 36
5/25/06 at 8:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thaddyusmaximus
I don't see that window. I updated to the latest firmware and software as of last night. When I click those buttons it takes me thru a wizard.

In the SlingPlayer app, look under 'Player' then "SlingPlayer Options' and 'Connection'...
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post #13 of 36
5/25/06 at 8:11pm
what is a slingbox exactly?
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post #14 of 36
5/25/06 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by codek
what is a slingbox exactly?

The slingbox gives you the ability to watch tv on your pc from anywhere
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post #15 of 36
5/25/06 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
Ok I got to see those settings now. I just had to click watch 1st duh!!!
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post #16 of 36
5/25/06 at 9:19pm
I just bought a slingbox as well and I am not all that impressed. I am traveling and have been accessing using via hotels broadband while traveling so there are some limitations in bandwidth. Picture is fine when streaming between 250 and 350, but below that there is serious picture degradation.
Sound is pretty good, but imho it isn't worth the $199 I paid plus the price of bridge or gaming adapter.
I will probably return mine.
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post #17 of 36
5/25/06 at 10:20pm
250-350 is your upstream@home though, if you have better upload, you will have better quality.
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post #18 of 36
5/26/06 at 12:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACHlLLES
250-350 is your upstream@home though, if you have better upload, you will have better quality.



If you have comcast cable, that's about all you're going to get.
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post #19 of 36
5/26/06 at 3:02pm
I bought mine a few months ago, it been worth every cent, I travel all around the world, and now I don't have to miss my Sports Shows
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post #20 of 36
5/26/06 at 3:16pm
http://www.dailywireless.org/modules...ticle&sid=5479

Available today is the SlingPlayer Mobile Beta for Windows Mobile Smartphones.

Still think the picture quality/performance is better on my notebook but having the option of watching TV on your cell phone as an alternative rules!
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