Entered CNET Catalog: 09/25/2006
SKU: 852619001158
Manufacturer: Sling Media
Manufacturer description
The Slingbox AV is the perfect companion for your DVR, digital cable, or satellite receiver. With the ability to watch and control your favorite TV source, the Slingbox AV ensures that you can enjoy your TV entertainment anywhere you go. Using an Internet connected computer or compatible mobile phone, you can watch and control your home TV, DVR, digital cable box, or satellite receiver anywhere around your home or around the globe. With a Slingbox AV you will never be separated from your favorite TV shows, sports broadcasts, breaking news stories, digital video recordings, or video on demand.Product summary
The good: Streams home A/V sources to any broadband-connected Mac, Windows PC, Windows Mobile, or Palm Treo 700p device in the world; no host PC or monthly charges required; simple, straightforward setup; excellent, easy-to-use software; controls almost all cable and satellite boxes and DVRs; excellent video quality over LAN, decent video quality over the Internet.
The bad: Cellphone/PDA viewing software costs extra; no built-in wireless networking support; monopolizes the attached device during viewing; lack of pass-through outputs may require cable splitters or dual-output A/V sources.
The bottom line: The Slingbox A/V is the best way to stream your home TV programming to an increasingly wide variety of broadband-connected computers and smart phones.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: Yes
- Reviewed on: 09/27/2006
Editors' note: The Slingbox AV reviewed here is no longer produced. It has been replaced by the Slingbox Solo.
The Slingbox lets you watch your TV anywhere--anywhere, that is, where you can access a broadband Internet connection with a device that runs the company's SlingPlayer software. When it first hit the market in 2005, the SlingPlayer software could run on only one platform: Windows XP computers. Windows 2000 compatibility was added soon after, and Windows Mobile devices--handhelds and smart phones--followed later. A long-promised Mac client debuted in the fall of 2006, and now Palm OS devotees can finally join the Sling party (if they've got a Treo 700p smart phone). The Palm software provides yet another venue for users all of three Slingbox models--the Slingbox Tuner, the Slingbox A/V, and the Slingbox Pro--to watch their home TV programming. But it's the midrange Slingbox A/V that remains the best choice for most TV viewers, hitting the sweet spot between affordability and functionality.
Slingbox and SlingPlayer: several choices
The original Slingbox (model SB100-100) may not have been the first placeshifting device to hit the market, but it quickly became a favorite way for gadget fans to watch their favorite TV shows regardless of their location. The company followed up in the fall of 2006 with a trio of second-generation models: the Slingbox Tuner ($180), the Slingbox A/V ($180), and the Slingbox Pro ($250). Each of the three models is targeted at TV viewers with different needs. The Slingbox Tuner accepts only analog cable TV signals and has just a single screw-type RF input. The Slingbox A/V, like the original model, can control any cable or satellite box and gets its video signals via composite or S-Video. And the Slingbox Pro does it all: It can accept as many as four A/V sources, including (with an adapter) HD video.
Before we look at the Slingbox A/V in detail, however, it's worth focusing on the basic concept of the device. The Slingbox enables you to watch your home TV programming anywhere so long as you have access to a broadband Internet connection. It takes your home TV source, digitizes it, streams it onto your home network, and--if you'd like--onto the outside Internet as well. You receive the resulting video stream on a computer, handheld, or cell phone that's equipped with the SlingPlayer software. Both the Slingbox (source) and the device running the SlingPlayer software (receiver) need to be connected to high-speed broadband networks--a cable or DSL line or a 3G wireless network--but the distance between the two isn't a factor. As long as you're getting normal broadband access speeds, you can watch your Slingbox playback anywhere--be it in another room of the house or halfway around the world--literally.
SlingPlayer software for Windows PCs (2000, XP, or Vista) is included on a CD that comes with the products, but you're always better off getting the latest build from Sling Media's Web site. A beta version of the long-awaited Mac OS X version is available for download as well. Windows or Mac, laptop or desktop, just be sure the computer has access to a high-speed connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)--dial-up won't cut it.
If you'd prefer to watch your TV on a smaller device, Sling has you covered. SlingPlayer Mobile software is available for Pocket PC (touch-screen devices running Windows Mobile 2003 or 5.0, such as recent Dell Axim and HP iPaq handhelds, as well as phones such as the Palm Treo 700w, the Audiovox 6700, and the Samsung i730), Windows Smartphone (non-touch-screen phones running Windows Mobile 5.0, such as the Motorola Q, the Samsung Blackjack, and the T-Mobile SDA), and the Palm Treo 700p. Each mobile software package needs to be purchased on Sling's Web site for a one-time fee of $30, but you can try before you buy--just download the 30-day trial software. Just like the PCs, the mobile devices need to have access to a broadband connection, be it Wi-Fi or a 3G high-speed cellular network--EVDO on Verizon or Sprint, or UMTS/HSDPA on Cingular, for instance.
Don't have a Windows Mobile device or a Treo 700p? Sling's Web site mentions that the company is evaluating the feasibility of creating SlingPlayer software for other platforms, such as RIM BlackBerry, J2ME, and BREW, but such plans remain entirely theoretical. (A Symbian version is preinstalled on some phones sold through British wireless provider 3, but it's unclear when or if it'll be made available for purchase to existing Symbian phone owners and those elsewhere in the world.
Handhelds and computers are great, but what about getting your Slingbox to send images to another TV? Sling has announced a product that will do just that: the SlingCatcher. Due in the second half of 2007, the SlingCatcher will be able to stream content from any Slingbox (so you can access your living room DVR recordings in the bedroom, for instance). It will also offer a function called "SlingProjector" that will mirror what appears on the screen of any networked PC.
Slingbox A/V: Design and setup
Before you can watch your TV shows from 2,000 miles away, of course, you have to get your Slingbox up and running. The Slingbox A/V is about two-thirds the size of the original 2005 model: 1.5 inches high by 7.5 wide by 4.5 deep. It's a stylish black, so despite the red accents, it'll more or less disappear into your home entertainment system. In fact, once you connect the Slingbox to your home A/V system, you never have to see it again; the always-on device can be tucked away in the depths of your TV stand--or even in an enclosed cabinet--where it will toil away indefinitely.
The rear of the Slingbox A/V is fairly uncluttered: just a single A/V input (red and white RCA audio inputs, yellow composite video) with S-Video. The physical setup is quick and logical. Simply connect the video source, be it a cable box, a satellite box, a DVR, a DVD player, or the like, to the input. There's also an included two-headed IR blaster that you can use to control the attached device remotely (change channels, pause, play, fast-forward, rewind, and so forth). A complete list of Slingbox-compatible products--the ones it can control remotely--can be found on Sling's Web site.
The Slingbox A/V can toggle between both the composite and video input, but because they share a single set of audio jacks, you'll need to purchase Y-cable adapters. Likewise, you'll need to have the second device powered off (or muted), or you'll get a mash-up of both audio streams. Alternately, you might use the second input as a video-only security camera feed--just plug in your camcorder. Bottom line, the Slingbox A/V is best considered a single-input device. That's fine: most people just want something to attach to their cable or satellite box or DVR. And if you do happen to need more inputs, you can step up to the Slingbox Pro model, which can toggle among four of them.
Another little setup disclaimer: unlike the Slingbox Pro--and the original 2005 Slingbox--the Slingbox A/V doesn't offer pass-through outputs. That essentially means that your video source needs at least one free composite (or, preferably, S-Video) output. Thankfully, most modern cable and satellite boxes and DVRs do. But you may have to make some adjustments to your setup--losing a connection to a VCR or DVR recorder, for instance, or leaving those devices powered up and using their pass-through outputs as the Slingbox source.
The final step in connecting the Slingbox A/V is to get it on your home network. Your only option to do so is via a wired Ethernet cable. If you don't have a network connection nearby, you'll need to opt for a bridging solution: power-line Ethernet extenders or a wireless-to-Ethernet bridge. Sling offers its own set of power-line adapters, the SlingLink Turbo, available in single and multi-port versions (the latter for connecting other networked entertainment devices, such as a game console, Apple TV, or TiVo). We used a pair of older, significantly less expensive Netgear XE102 adapters with no problem.
Once you have the Slingbox base station wired up and ready to go, you'll need to install the viewing software on a PC (Windows or Mac); the initial setup must be done within your home's local network. The software follows a bulletproof, wizard-style install path; if you have a plug-and-play (UPnP) router, the whole process should take just a few minutes. The latest iteration of the SlingPlayer software setup includes a great video-optimization wizard, which automatically optimizes the software settings to your PC's CPU and graphics card capabilities. Once it's up and running, the software gives you a video window not unlike that of QuickTime or Windows Media Player, just with channel-changing controls. If you've connected the Slingbox to a TiVo, a cable or satellite box with a built-in DVR, or even a DVD recorder, you'll also get video-transport controls: pause, rewind, fast-forward, and so on.
Streaming performance
Right off the bat, the Slingbox's basic functions worked as advertised. We were watching our living room TV on the bedroom PC, able to flip channels at will. The recent improvements in the SlingPlayer software were notable as well: there are now several "skins" from which to choose, and you can easily create favorite channels using the familiar channel logos for one-touch access. But where the interface of SlingPlayer really triumphs is the onscreen remote control. Essentially, you're getting a nearly identical version of the handheld remote of whatever set-top box the Slingbox is connected to. During testing, we were able to toggle between the DirecTV HR20, the DirecTV HD TiVo, the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD, the Dish ViP622, and the Dish DVR-942, each of which had their corresponding remotes available on the screen. The obvious upside is that there's no learning curve--if you can use your home remote, you can use the SlingPlayer software as well.
The SlingPlayer software automatically optimizes viewing quality to available bandwidth via an algorithm called SlingStream. The Slingbox Pro and its second-gen siblings all utilize the same chip, a new Texas Instruments DSP that offers the potential for much better video quality than that of the original Slingbox model. Of course, the quality is largely dependent on the available network bandwidth; you'll want at least 300Kbps on both upstream and downstream connections, with 400Kbps to 500Kbps--and beyond--offering a noticeably better picture.
Of course, the viewing on a home network offers the potential for much greater speeds, and that's where the improved video quality of the Slingbox A/V was most evident. We were able to watch a Monday Night Football game and fully enjoy all the action. It looked great with the window filling half the screen and was still very good when we blew it up to full-screen mode. To be sure, some softness was apparent--the diagonal lines on the field were choppy, and the long overhead shot of the Superdome looked dull in details, but close-up objects looked sharp enough, and action was relatively smooth and well-rendered. If not the fabled near-DVD quality, it was certainly competitive with--if not better than--the movies and TV shows available on the iTunes Store.
When broadcasting to the outside world, the Slingbox is limited by the upstream bandwidth of your home's broadband connection, which is often significantly less than your downstream speed. For instance, our cable modem seemed to max out at a decent 500Kbps--not bad at all, but far below the 3,000 to 6,000Kbps that we were getting on the home network. The result is some "down-rezzing" to accommodate the lower bandwidth, which naturally results in a softer picture with more artifacts. (The SlingPlayer has a helpful meter in the window that shows throughput and frames per second.) You can still expand the SlingPlayer window to fill the screen, but you'll get significantly less sharpness and detail than you would via LAN streaming. Still, as long as you're getting a decent stream, you can get a very watchable video window that delivers 24fps to 30fps. The quality was much better than you'd get with most YouTube videos, for instance, and looked at least as good as CNET's own First Look videos (see above).
When watching on a cell phone or handheld device, the same bandwidth concerns apply. But because those devices have such small screens (compared to a computer's monitor), the resulting image looked even better. We tested the SlingPlayer Mobile software several devices, including an old HP iPaq (via Wi-Fi), a Palm Treo 700w (Verizon EV-DO), a Samsung BlackJack (Cingular/AT&T HSDPA/UMTS), and a Palm Treo 700p (Sprint EVDO), and it worked equally well in all instances. The mobile version is a faithful recreation of the same solid performance we've gotten on a PC. What's better, of course, is that you can use the handheld or cell phone service much more often and in many more locations than you could from a desktop or laptop PC. Just be sure you have an unlimited-usage data plan on that smart phone, or you'll have a nasty surprise at the end of the month when the bill arrives.
Competition and caveats
The Slingbox is far from the only game in town when it comes to streaming your home TV to a remote location. Sony offers two LocationFree TV products that deliver similar functionality. The $250 LF-B20 includes built-in wireless and the ability to stream TV programming to PSP gaming handhelds. Sony also offers third-party software for streaming to Macs, Windows Mobile, and Symbian devices, and even has plans for a SlingCatcher-style client called the LF-BOX1 LocationFree TV Box (originally scheduled to debut in 2006, it's since been delayed until later in 2007). Meanwhile, the Pinnacle PCTV To Go HD Wireless (essentially the same product sold under different names) also deliver Sling-like streaming but include built-in wireless networking, HD support, the ability to stream to multiple clients on a LAN concurrently, and better integration with Windows Media Center/Vista than Slingbox.
Moving beyond hardware, there are a growing number of options for copying and syncing video media from your PC to a handheld--the most notable being Apple's video-enabled iPod and TiVo To Go. But that's just transferring previously recorded media to a portable playback device. If you want live, real-time video, your options are limited. Those with newer mobile phones can opt for live 3G streaming subscriptions such as MobiTV and V Cast but will be restricted to the few channels offered by each provider. And anyone with a Media Center PC should check out Orb Network; it's a free service that offers remote access to virtually any PC-based media--photos, music, and so forth--but unlike Slingbox, it requires a host PC with a TV tuner card to stream live or recorded television programs.
That's not to say the Slingbox is perfect. Among our gripes is the fact that it lacks any wireless networking component, so you'll need to connect a wireless bridge or a pair of power-line adapters. Furthermore, the Slingbox is only as good as its device support. And while its catalog of supported devices has grown considerably since the product's debut, you'll be out of luck if it's missing the remote codes for your primary video device. We'd love it if the Slingbox software could learn codes or allow modification of its virtual-remote template, much as a PC-programmable remote can. We'd also like the option to program hot keys ourselves into the software, which would enable easier control via multimedia-friendly keyboards, for instance. Meanwhile, the mobile client is hampered by some of the obvious limitations of the small screen: the miniaturized versions of your EPG; channel labels; or onscreen text such as sports scores, news crawls, and stock quotes may just be flat-out unreadable on many devices; as will the finer details of some quick-moving videos; for example, hockey pucks and baseballs will be hard to discern.
Conclusion
Nitpicks aside, however, the Slingbox is one of the few gadgets that adds value to all of your other tech investments--including your cable/satellite service, your DVR, your home network, your laptop PC, and your handheld device. The second-generation models are an evolutionary improvement over the original model, with improved video quality--especially via a home network--and wider device support (Palm, Mac) being the primary step ups. If you're a hard-core video junkie with the need to access multiple video sources and an appreciation for better video quality on a home network, it's worth stepping up to the Slingbox Pro. But if you just want to have access to the programming on your cable or set-top box--or DVR--the Slingbox A/V is the pick of the litter--and the CNET Editors' Choice.
Senior Editor David Katzmaier contributed to this review.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33out of 33 user reviews
Purchased a year ago. No longer supported by Sling
Pros: This box made me learn about sending TV to other computers and mobile devices. Will be purchasing one of the competition's boxes when its time to upgrade.
Cons: Sling does not support their earlier hardware for a fair amount of time.
out of 33 user reviews
Wireless setup is a pain, but then it works well
Pros: Lets you watch your dvr programs from anywhere, even the pc, ipod as long as you are connected to the internet. As long as you have a dvr why pay for digital programs like itunes? It maximizes your dvr/tivo investment.
Cons: Set up is not that easy, at least not for me. I have cable tv so another service may be easier to setup.
out of 33 user reviews
Fantastic product!
Pros: Watch your tv or dvr anywhere on your desktop, laptop or mobile phone
Easy and seamless setup, great support if you need it
Cons: A little lag in remote. that's it!
out of 33 user reviews
Nice if you can keep it working
Pros: watch tv remotely!
Cons: freezes up, need really fast internet connection
out of 33 user reviews
Watch Anywhere
Pros: Cost, Remote Viewing
Cons: Limited Input Options
out of 33 user reviews
Excellent Product, Easy to Set Up
Pros: Simple set up, great video over home network
Cons: Remote viewing (not on home network) quality is average.
My reasons for buying were two-fold. One, I ran out of available hook-ups on my DirecTV multi-switch and this was a cheap way to put tv in my teenage son's room without buying new 150 multi switch and 70 on a receiver...and he can access the receiver in my bedroom that isn't used that much.
Two, during baseball season i can see the Red Sox at work or on the road, as well as access my Tivo from anywhere to schedule recordings.
out of 33 user reviews
HDMI problems
Pros: A must have for TV junkies and no monthly fees
Cons: Does not support the use of HDMI cable
I have upgraded my cable box, to the newer version of SA8300. Now I get, "Your TV does not allow display of this program through the DVI input source. Please choose another TV input source".
I have surf through internet forums for a solutions but to no avail. Seems like the only way to remote view, is if you use component cables. So much for my 1080P TV and my wallet.
Does anyone know if the SOLO allows HDMI copy right law to allow me to stream?
Is there a way to change the Sling Box remote control and allow the "Sytem on / off" button to show...as found on the remote. This button allows you to turn you TV and cable box on, with the press of one button...ergo...remote viewing with your home TV on.
Does anyone have a solutions to this problem...and I mean not changing my HDMI cable.
out of 33 user reviews
Slingbox AV needs to be seen to be believed.
Pros: Ease of use, streaming, physical set up
Cons: Software set up
Anytime you have a signal over 256kbps, you will have seamless streaming of your TV and TiVo with TV quality picture and very good sound. If you have less than 256, the picture degrades in favor of seamless streaming until eventually the connection and stream suffers.
Setting up the Slingbox physically is simple, as there are only a few wires, the real fun begins when trying to configure the IP address and let your laptop access the slingbox from outside of your firewall. If you have DSL, you have the added bonus that DSL modems are in reality routers, which will also need to be configured.
After 4 hours on the phone with tech support, my slingbox works great and since there is no monthly fee, I would highly recommend this breakthrough product.
out of 33 user reviews
Exceeded my expectations
Pros: Simple setup, great picture quality
Cons: Mobile software is extra cost
out of 33 user reviews
Awesome! Read this if you have Wifi.
Pros: Easy setup. Works with my Smartphone! Works as advertised.
Cons: None so far.
Okay, if you only have Wifi and NO direct ethernet connection close to your cable box, here is what you need. Buy the Slingbox Turbo powerline ethernet adapter. It is $80 at Best Buy. You get 2 units in the box. Hook one up to your router and hook the second one up to the back of your Slingbox ethernet port. Both need to be plugged into a REGULAR power outlet (no extension cords or power surge cords). Thats it. No configuration needed. It just works. If you need, hold the reset button down (on the back of the Slingbox) until it starts blinking, release and make sure the both the power and network lights remain lit (the network light will blink for about 30 - 60 seconds). Install the client software on your PC's and you're done!
This is a great product. I strongly recommend it.
out of 33 user reviews
This thing rocks
Pros: Mac client, Palm client
Cons: None come to mind
I upgraded my Comcast cable service to a 768kbps up product and this has significantly improved the performance of my Slingbox.
out of 33 user reviews
Great idea, terrible tech support
Pros: can watch your home tv anywhere
Cons: terrible tech support (foreign), terrible Mac documentation
I ended up spending over 8 hours trying to get this all to work. I called SlingMedia and the first rep I got (clearly not in the US) just didn't have a clue. Called again a few hours later and got a guy I could barely understand, but he was able to walk me through hard wiring it all together so that I could at least set up the sling box. Hung up from him, disconnected the wires (to work wirelessly) and it wouldn't work. Called again and got a third guy who ended up having me change so many settings on my computer, I could no longer access the internet, and all my IP addresses were screwed up (I know little about networking so I wasn't able to tell if what he was saying was right or not). I finally figured out that the Linksys router was not going to work with my mac as it would only recognize one router. Did a little more research on the SlingMedia website and found that they offer a "bridge" of their own and it looked as though the Airport Express might even work. Funny, no one in my 8 hours of talking to the company ever recommended that!
So I called again to see if indeed an Airport Express would work and spent 35 minutes on the phone with another guy I could barely understand who had me opening windows, checking settings, when all I asked was if I could use the Airport Express with the slingbox. When I finally confronted him on that, he said, "sorry, yes the express will work."
So I went out and purchased the airport express, hooked it up, but still had problems getting the remote viewing to work. I wasn't about to call tech help again as my ear was burning from holding the phone for so long. So I just messed around and within about an hour, I had it working. I still wasn't sure if I was seeing the TV feed on my laptop through my in-home network or through the internet so I drove to a wifi cafe and indeed was able to watch my home tv.
I will update this further if my partner has any trouble viewing tv while in China.
out of 33 user reviews
sling media
Pros: excellent pros
Cons: highly recomended
Easy to login,very good picture quality, I have a palm 700p it works excellent i can watch T.V and control my DVR anywhere i go...even my brother can watch and control the cable box from Mexico City...How cool is that?
I think this slingbox AV is very cheap...
victor E.c
out of 33 user reviews
Its almost perfect!
Pros: Hardware installation, ease of use
Cons: No wireless built in, router forwarding in instructions
out of 33 user reviews
Great Device for Watching You're Cable on the go!
Pros: Easy set up lots of fun!
Cons: Only one Viewer at a time!
out of 33 user reviews
Nothing news to me as Deaf person...
Pros: great for sports while working and travelling
Cons: NO CLOSED CAPTION for Deaf people
out of 33 user reviews
Fantastic Product - Delivers as promised!
Pros: easy to use, makes coworkers jealous, never miss a show while on the road
Cons: occasionally hangs up
With today's widescreen hi-rez monitors there's plenty of room to watch news / stocks during the day, or catch your favorite show while on the road.
A couple of tips:
A staggered double click on the viewing screen and the control box disappears (showing just the program). Click again and the control box reappears.
A single click on the tv program and you can use your keyboard to change channels (meaning you don't need to pull up the remote control image if you already know the channel number).
There's no subscription fees, no monthly fees. There's even a windows mobile version you can add to your cell phone so you can watch TV on your phone!
The viewing window is easily resized to fit your desktop or laptop. The software also allows you to tailor the settings to your connection.
One other tip: While on the road, make sure that when you use a hotel's connection that there aren't bandwidth throughput restrictions. While once on the road in Europe, I burned through a "week's" internet pass that I paid for because I was streaming video and hit the hidden-in-the-fine-print throughput limit.
Great product - highly recommend - I use mine all the time.
out of 33 user reviews
No closed-captioning
Pros: great idea
Cons: missed the boat on captioning
out of 33 user reviews
Great product! Great support.
Pros: No montly fees, reasonalbly priced, very easy setup, 10/10 for support.
Cons: Mobile is $30 extra, no wireless, high speed connection required
My only problem with setup that tech support wasn't able to help me with was getting it all connected to the network. I live in a apartment with a dish dvr in one room, and my cable modem/wireless router in the other room. Took me some moving around of stuff, and about a hour of tinkering around to get it just right. But it was worth it. You do have the option of spending around 100 for a networking connector that goes through the AC power outlets in your home <-- A little pricey for me. I just opted to move the router and modem.
All in all it is worth the money, great streaming speed, looks good on the pda, no problems at all now.
out of 33 user reviews
TV anywhere? You bet!
Pros: Ability to watch/control TV/STB remotely, acceptable video quality, ease of use, no monthly fees
Cons: few inputs, some lag time in remote control
So, enough about me...this is about the Slingbox. The unit is about the size of a Lean Cuisine TV dinner. It's an attractive box with a clean exterior and inputs on the rear. Once you have everything set, you can truly hide it away, but I actually like having it out. It's certainly no eye-sore.
Set up is a breeze. Connect the composite or S-video input from your source unit to the player, the power cord, the ethernet cable, and the IR sensors over your box -- this is what gives the Slingbox control of your STB. After that, you're ready to install the software on your computer and watch TV in a few minutes.
Setting up the box for remote viewing gave me a few hangups. The weird part is that it kept telling me that the router couldn't be configured, leaving me frustrated as I went back to the office, but worked when I tried it out! I'm far from the most computer savvy person in the world; so, I can't exactly account for the discrepancy in what my computer was telling me vs receiving a signal at the office. Hey, as long as it works!
But the video quality is surprisingly good. I have a pretty fast cable connection at home with upload speeds ~300 kb/s, and video comes through pretty smoothly. It's definitely not perfect, but for what it does and what you pay, it's pretty darn impressive. I personally found that turning the optimizer and smoother off and "lowering" the video quality to "High Quality Mode" (2nd to last setting) resulted in minimal buffering freezes with no discernable degradation in video quality outside of full screen.
As video compression continues to improve, I'm sure that the slingbox can and will get better, but even as is, this is a MUST HAVE for anyone who travels frequently. The only reason I don't give it a 10 is that nothing's perfect. I'd give it a 9 with this breakdown:
Aesthetics: 8
Packaging: 10
Ergonomics: 10
Video Quality: 7
out of 33 user reviews
Easy and works great
Pros: Can watch anything my cable box broadcasts from anywhere. Great to follow your sports teams when you are a road warrior.
Cons: None that I see
out of 33 user reviews
Revolutionary Device!
Pros: Super easy setup; Crystal clear streaming over my network; Works seamlessly with Tivo; Extremely easy to use; With S-Video, the picture is actually pretty clear; No Monthly Fees; Great Value
Cons: Have to buy Pro model for HD
out of 33 user reviews
Fun but not polished
Pros: adaptive streaming
Cons: no wireless, sports dont stream well
all in all not a bad product, the adaptive streaming is really cool and once you get past the hardware setup (i eventually bought the bridge to get network connectivity because my cable box was in a different room than my router), setup is very easy.
out of 33 user reviews
Excellent Remote TV Conneciton using the same look and feel of your own remote
Pros: Easy to setup, very good quality image on any PC even in a WiFi Hot Spot, Uses the same look and feel remote as your own equipment at home.
Cons: None so far
For the money and easy of use this is a great deal of fun and a good investment. The support of Sling Media is excellent as I had some trouble with the firewall at work and they fixed the problem in 30 seconds. Great invention and it will be a big hit. By the way, I tried this with a DVD and it worked great.
Get one, you will love it!
out of 33 user reviews
should be called N/A connection box
Pros: can be used w/s-video, and composite outputs
Cons: only cablebox, satelite, dvdplayers w/2outputs can work with it
out of 33 user reviews
The best thing since TiVo
Pros: Ease of use. Just like using TiVo on your computer.
Cons: Needed help with set-up - but help was easily found.
out of 33 user reviews
Good luck if you like your computer secure
Pros: Didn't work, so I have no idea
Cons: Requests that you don't have a firewall
out of 33 user reviews
Does just what it promises - even with Mac
Pros: Live tv anywhere on your laptop, no monthly fees
Cons: Tricky set up for viewing outside of home network
I used a netgear ethernet system ("bridge") to get back to my router via the electrical outlets.
Can control my tivo from the slingbox. Overall an absolute winner. BUY IT.
out of 33 user reviews
Perfect for TV Junkies
Pros: Now i can watch my satellite tv wherever i want
Cons: Could look a litttle better
I also installed it on my imac, and works great also.
out of 33 user reviews
Slingbox is broken (for good??)
Pros: size, setup, price
Cons: You cannot record any longer!
This seems to be the first time I've known a supplier to downgrade a customers service and product capability after the device was purchased. That they did it in such a sneaky manner says much about the companies committment to the customer.
I'd advise you look at the Monsoon HAVA instead!
ASTROBUF
out of 33 user reviews
Might be the cooliest gadget ever!
Pros: Watching live broadcasts on my Treo 700w
Cons: Only supports one connected user
No longer is anyone bound by watching TV at home or even on a TV. The Sling box(s) are the future of TV and the evolution of this technology will severly cut into TV sales. It is realistic to see this technolgy extended directly into a cable or satellite box.
out of 33 user reviews
Even though they take your money, the Mac version is Vaporware
Pros: Nicely packaged, shipped and delivered promptly.
Cons: No Mac software, even though slingmedia advertises othwrwise.
I am really disappointed. Not only have they not produced the Mac version they have been promiising since last February, they are taking money for products that they can't provide.
I can't really rate this product, since I can't run it. But my review won't post without a rating number. I give it 4 for nice packaging. I can rate the company, though: Zero.
out of 33 user reviews
Great For Watching The Yankees At Work or When Traveling
Pros: Can completely control my home TV setup including replay TV and cable box. Works well and has good picture quality. People flock into my office to sneak a peak during working hours.
Cons: You must install and use Slingbox software on every computer you choose to watch this on. Would be nice if they had some sort of viewing that works through your browser.
Does what is meant to do and does it well. Whenever I travel I watch my home Replay TV and it works great. A must for the traveling gadget guy.
