Considering getting Slingbox AV for my Series 3

[mishafp]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? From what i have read, this will allow me to watch my TIVO when I go home to my family (who do not even have cable TV!!!) or my girlfriend's house (who doesnt have TIVO). Is there any benefit to getting the Slingbox Pro instead (I do not need the multiple device capabality). I cannot imagine that my simple laptop will be able to view HD-quality recordings anyway, so will the Slingbox AV be good enough? Is there anything else I should know about how Slingbox AV interacts with the S3 or TIVOs in general?

[mishafp]

also, I am unsure as to how this sling box thing works. For example, say I am at work and someone from my family back in another state wants to watch something off of my S3, could they log in and just do it (I assume my slingbox would be sitting nex to my tv, right?)? Or is there a way that they will limit it to only me?

[tivoknucklehead]

I have 2 slingboxes, I love them. Works great with a S3. You would have to give the other person your password and info for them to use your Slingbox, but it can be done. The regular model should be fine for you. I recommend connecting wirelessly to your home network with an ethernet wireless game adapter unless your TV is right next to your PC

[mishafp]

I have 2 slingboxes, I love them. Works great with a S3. You would have to give the other person your password and info for them to use your Slingbox, but it can be done. The regular model should be fine for you. I recommend connecting wirelessly to your home network with an ethernet wireless game adapter unless your TV is right next to your PC

thanks! Three questions:

1. My Series 3 is connected through my router with a wire, would the SlingBox work the same way? Is there any difference between how SlingBox and TIVO are connected to the router?

2. Say I give the password to my mom, and she is watching something back in Massachusetts, and I come home from work here in DC- and want to watch my S3 TIVO. Will it just kick her off as soon as I turn it on? Will it not allow me to change channels?

3. Why do you have two sling boxes? Are they for different TVs?

[tivoknucklehead]

thanks! Three questions:

1. My Series 3 is connected through my router with a wire, would the SlingBox work the same way? Is there any difference between how SlingBox and TIVO are connected to the router?

2. Say I give the password to my mom, and she is watching something back in Massachusetts, and I come home from work here in DC- and want to watch my S3 TIVO. Will it just kick her off as soon as I turn it on? Will it not allow me to change channels?

3. Why do you have two sling boxes? Are they for different TVs?

1) works the same ,simple ethernet works
2) she could change channels on you at any time
3) one for my S3 and one for my Cable DVR, same TV

[rodalpho]

One caveat is that if you connect your tivo via HDMI, you won't be able to watch many shows with the copy protection bit set on the slingbox with the TV turned off or (on some TVs) tuned to a different input. The only real way around this is to not use HDMI at all. This may not hit you at all; some cable companies don't set the CCI bit at all, and some (like mine) put it on everything but HD and PBS.

The slingbox pro will indeed offer better quality with the $50 "HD" dongle. It doesn't place-shift true HD, but it does downconvert it to a true anamorphic 640x480 signal so none of the space is wasted with letterboxing, which gives more usable resolution. But the pro is a lot more money.

[TexasGrillChef]

Thats not true rodalpho.

I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.

I can watch my s3 using the slingbox either on my PDA phone, or Laptop computer without any problem. Doesn't matter if the Pioneer or TV are on or off.. IT works just fine for me.

However, I haven't tried watching any shows that have the copy protection bit set to on either. I do know that I have been able to watch HBO & other Premium channels without any problem. Including the HD channels. Although obviously not in HD since the slingbox connection is useing the SVIDEO.

My TV is still viewing everything in HD.

TexasGrillChef

[yunlin12]

Thats not true rodalpho.

I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.

I can watch my s3 using the slingbox either on my PDA phone, or Laptop computer without any problem. Doesn't matter if the Pioneer or TV are on or off.. IT works just fine for me.


What screen aspect ratio setting are you using for HD? and what do you get through your slingbox? My S3 is using 1080ifixed, so it's outputing a horizontally squeezed picture on S-video (think squeezing a 16:9 picture to fit in 4:3). Anyway on the slingbox to counter that?

[rodalpho]

Yep like I said, some cable companies don't set the CCI bit. You're just lucky.

The newest slingplayer software handles 16:9 aspect ratio just fine, it looks great over s-video. You still lose some resolution to the letterboxing, but it gets the proportions correct.

[strongbadd]

What screen aspect ratio setting are you using for HD? and what do you get through your slingbox? My S3 is using 1080ifixed, so it's outputing a horizontally squeezed picture on S-video (think squeezing a 16:9 picture to fit in 4:3). Anyway on the slingbox to counter that?

The SlingPlayer has an option to change the viewing aspect to widescreen. This should present it at a 16:9 ratio when watching on your computer.

[lemketron]

The SlingPlayer has an option to change the viewing aspect to widescreen. This should present it at a 16:9 ratio when watching on your computer.
Agreed, this has been my experience as well using an original SlingPlayer connected to the composite output of my S3, where my HD set is connected with HDMI and always running at 1080i.

The resulting picture works fine for my needs whether away from home or watching on a remote computer in the house. In the house the picture quality looks fine. I understand the newer Slingboxes have even better compression so the PQ may be even better for a given size pipe (especially when viewing remotely, away from home).

[normychas]

I have a slingbox av that i am just setting up on my tivoHD. I use component output on my hdtv and i have no receiver and thus no digital input on my tv. As of right now I am using the audio pass through from the tv (regular old red and white rca) to run sound to the slingbox. The problem with this is that the tv must be on for me to process the sound. My question is do i have to run hdmi to free up the ports and if so isnt there a likelyhood of having to have the tv on anyhow. Is this problem inevitable for me and is there a way to set my slingbox remote to turn the tv on and of. Also does anybody know how to split red and white rca sound cables?

[pl1]

My question is do i have to run hdmi to free up the ports and if so isnt there a likelyhood of having to have the tv on anyhow.There are four types of output. HDMI, Component, RCA and S-Video. Your Slingbox can only use RCA and S-Video. So, you use HDMI or Component for HD, and either RCA or S-Video for your slingbox. (And, even if you have an HD adpater on your slingbox, it is converting down to SD anyway.) You should not need the TV on. The TiVo is ALWAYS transmitting video whether or not the TV is on or off. There are some reports of TV's that do not operate correctly in stand-by mode, but those TV's are at fault. Those TV's will block all output to all video sources when the TV is turned off (in standby mode) with HDMI cables.Also does anybody know how to split red and white rca sound cables?Radio Shack. Of course, there are plenty of analog audio outputs on the back of the TiVo. But, a "Y" is just as good.

[normychas]

yeah i know the signal is down converted which is why i didnt get a slingbox pro.
My issue is in deciding what cord to run from the tivo to my tv for best use with the slingbox. If i use an hdmi it frees up the rca inputs for the slinbox. However i have heard reports that hdmi encounters issues with copyright flags and that you have to have the tv on to avoid them.

If on the other hand i choose to use the component cables to bypass this issue i run into the problem of only having one audio out on the tivo hd (the optical out on the tivo is not an option for me). My TV has an rca output but this would require me to have the tv on every time i want to use the slingbox.

I guess im wondering what to people suggest i do. Should i just deal with the copyright issues with hdmi or try to split the red and white rca cords as they leave the tivo (via some radio shack solution) which is what id really like to do if possible.

[pl1]

yeah i know the signal is down converted which is why i didnt get a slingbox pro.
My issue is in deciding what cord to run from the tivo to my tv for best use with the slingbox. If i use an hdmi it frees up the rca inputs for the slinbox. However i have heard reports that hdmi encounters issues with copyright flags and that you have to have the tv on to avoid them.

If on the other hand i choose to use the component cables to bypass this issue i run into the problem of only having one audio out on the tivo hd (the optical out on the tivo is not an option for me). My TV has an rca output but this would require me to have the tv on every time i want to use the slingbox.

I guess im wondering what to people suggest i do. Should i just deal with the copyright issues with hdmi or try to split the red and white rca cords as they leave the tivo (via some radio shack solution) which is what id really like to do if possible.OK, how about this? I will tell you how mine is set up. I have a Series 3 and a Slinbox AV. I have an HDMI cable sent to my Panasonic Plasma TV. I have S-Video and RCA audio sent to my Slingbox AV. Works fine at home or remotely. No TV is on. I also have Component cables sent to my remote TV's in three bedrooms.

[normychas]

good to hear that you have no issues with hdmi. I think that is what i will have to do.

With regard to the audio though for us tivo hd users, the component shares the same audio output. So you can either use that audio in conjunction with an RCA or Component but not both. Thanks for the input i wish i didnt have to mess with another HDMI cord as it makes a rather loud popping noise on my samsung dlp.

[bigbridge]

OK, how about this? I will tell you how mine is set up. I have a Series 3 and a Slinbox AV. I have an HDMI cable sent to my Panasonic Plasma TV. I have S-Video and RCA audio sent to my Slingbox AV. Works fine at home or remotely. No TV is on. I also have Component cables sent to my remote TV's in three bedrooms.

Let me ask you another question regarding use of a Slingbox, as it sounds like you have a very similar setup to mine -- my daughter wants me to set up a Series 3 TIVO and some model Slingbox, here in Portland, OR, with the Series 3 recording over-the-air HDTV shows from my rooftop antenna, and have the Slingbox send the recorded HD shows to her in Germany, via the Internet, so she can watch them there at her own chosen time.

I have little knowledge of Slingbox, but after checking the web, it seems to me that what she wants to do is feasible, but with 2 provisos: first, the quality of signal she will receive will vary, with Slingbox doing its best, and it will never be true HD but well may be better than analog USA TV quality. Second, the received signal in Germany, probably has to be watched on the PC she has on the Internet running the Slingbox software on that end. I would like your comments on these two assumptions I have made.

Also, in regard to that second assumption of mine, could you comment on whether or not you think there is a chance she could take the received video signal, after the Slingbox software in her PC has processed it at her end, and send it out to her plasma's PC input, as she can for normal PC video on her laptop computer, via a VGA cable, so she could watch the "slung" TV shows on her plasma TV instead of her PC screen? Many thanks for your comments!

[pl1]

Let me ask you another question regarding use of a Slingbox, as it sounds like you have a very similar setup to mine -- my daughter wants me to set up a Series 3 TIVO and some model Slingbox, here in Portland, OR, with the Series 3 recording over-the-air HDTV shows from my rooftop antenna, and have the Slingbox send the recorded HD shows to her in Germany, via the Internet, so she can watch them there at her own chosen time.

I have little knowledge of Slingbox, but after checking the web, it seems to me that what she wants to do is feasible, but with 2 provisos: first, the quality of signal she will receive will vary, with Slingbox doing its best, and it will never be true HD but well may be better than analog USA TV quality. Second, the received signal in Germany, probably has to be watched on the PC she has on the Internet running the Slingbox software on that end. I would like your comments on these two assumptions I have made.

Also, in regard to that second assumption of mine, could you comment on whether or not you think there is a chance she could take the received video signal, after the Slingbox software in her PC has processed it at her end, and send it out to her plasma's PC input, as she can for normal PC video on her laptop computer, via a VGA cable, so she could watch the "slung" TV shows on her plasma TV instead of her PC screen? Many thanks for your comments!Everything you said is doable, but, you will never get HD quality. You either send S-Video SD or if you use Slingbox's HD adapter, it is converted to SD before it is transmitted. I watch it on a PC from work and it is not a great picture. The quality is reduced quite a bit over the Internet as opposed to within your own home network. It is the only way that much data can be transmitted. The bottleneck in most cases is the upload speed from the Internet connection at your house.

For more info regarding this, you should check out their forum. You might get answers to all of your questions without even having to ask. http://www.slingcommunity.com/home (Hmm, I just noticed that these are the same people that run these tivocommunity forums.)

[normychas]

i would suggest she bitt torrent. Even a 300mb divx file would be far superior to anything you would sling. Also you should know that only one show can be displayed at a time. So you cant watch one thing while she watches something else which might not be an issue if she is in Germany. If you dont like downloading tv than slingbox might be your only bet.

[bigbridge]

Everything you said is doable, but, you will never get HD quality. You either send S-Video SD or if you use Slingbox's HD adapter, it is converted to SD before it is transmitted. I watch it on a PC from work and it is not a great picture. The quality is reduced quite a bit over the Internet as opposed to within your own home network. It is the only way that much data can be transmitted. The bottleneck in most cases is the upload speed from the Internet connection at your house.

For more info regarding this, you should check out their forum. You might get answers to all of your questions without even having to ask. http://www.slingcommunity.com/home (Hmm, I just noticed that these are the same people that run these tivocommunity forums.)

Thanks for your info - sounds like end result will be fairly poor picture at the other end, as my Comcast upload speed is 300-350kbs. I will see what I can find out on the sling community site, also. I found a review of the Slingbox SOLO from PC Mag that also mentioned the "forthcoming" SlingCatcher device, which is designed to take the slung signal and send it to a TV, without having to go through a PC first, but still no release date.

[bigbridge]

i would suggest she bitt torrent. Even a 300mb divx file would be far superior to anything you would sling. Also you should know that only one show can be displayed at a time. So you cant watch one thing while she watches something else which might not be an issue if she is in Germany. If you dont like downloading tv than slingbox might be your only bet.


I will look into bit torrent; know nothing about it. -- The one show at a time issue is NA in that her TIVO would only be used for this "slinging", but you are right in that the 9 hour time difference also negates most chance for conflicts even if I were to use her S3 myself. Thanks for the input.

[pl1]

Thanks for your info - sounds like end result will be fairly poor picture at the other end, as my Comcast upload speed is 300-350kbs. I will see what I can find out on the sling community site, also. I found a review of the Slingbox SOLO from PC Mag that also mentioned the "forthcoming" SlingCatcher device, which is designed to take the slung signal and send it to a TV, without having to go through a PC first, but still no release date.Within the same house, though, AFAIK. It transmits HDTV from one room to another wirelessly, correct?

[bigbridge]

Within the same house, though, AFAIK. It transmits HDTV from one room to another wirelessly, correct?


The way I read it (actually found 3 'same day' announcements about this, of 6 & 8 Jan 07), where the slung signal comes from does not matter - with same signal quality proviso as always.

There is a "SlingProjector" feature sofware app mentioned that comes with it that allows "... anything that can be viewed or played on my PC can now be slung to my TV via the SlingCatcher's SlingProjector feature." There is also another app "built into the SlingCatcher" called "SlingPlayer for TV" that "... allows customers to move TV content around the home or access content from the home remotely via a TV, without the need for a PC or Mac in the process." This info came from a SlingMedia announcement of 1-8-07 at CES (URL us.slingmedia.com/object/io_1168286861787.html).

Also other insight on http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070108-8569.html and http://gigaom.com/2007/01/06/sling-to-debut-pc-to-tv-box-at0-ces/ (that's all my printer had of the last URL).

Wireless xmission to the TV is mentioned, as you say, but I could not tell just how it was supposed to work.

[pl1]

The way I read it (actually found 3 'same day' announcements about this, of 6 & 8 Jan 07), where the slung signal comes from does not matter - with same signal quality proviso as always.

There is a "SlingProjector" feature sofware app mentioned that comes with it that allows "... anything that can be viewed or played on my PC can now be slung to my TV via the Sling Catcher's SlingProjector feature." There is also another app "built into the Sling Catcher" called "Sling Player for TV" that "... allows customers to move TV content around the home or access content from the home remotely via a TV, without the need for a PC or Mac in the process." This info came from a Sling Media announcement of 1-8-07 at CES (URL us.slingmedia.com/object/io_1168286861787.html).

Also other insight on http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070108-8569.html and http://gigaom.com/2007/01/06/sling-to-debut-pc-to-tv-box-at0-ces/ (that's all my printer had of the last URL).

Wireless xmission to the TV is mentioned, as you say, but I could not tell just how it was supposed to work.Interesting if what you say is true. But, if it is true, wouldn't it still be limited to what the upload speed to the remote PC would be? GIGO. It would show a lousy picture on the TV in another country, no?

OTOH, I understood it to be a wireless transmission of HD from room to room.

Another option, without the Sling Catcher (if you don't mind watching SD on your PC), is to set up a wireless network and watch from a laptop anywhere in or around your house. Or even a PC in another room.

Personally, I have my house wired with component cabling and I use a remote control extender. I do still have occasional use for the Sling box if I'm doing a project in the cellar or if I'm outdoors.

[bigbridge]

Interesting if what you say is true. But, if it is true, wouldn't it still be limited to what the upload speed to the remote PC would be? GIGO. It would show a lousy picture on the TV in another country, no?

OTOH, I understood it to be a wireless transmission of HD from room to room.

Another option, without the Sling Catcher (if you don't mind watching SD on your PC), is to set up a wireless network and watch from a laptop anywhere in or around your house. Or even a PC in another room.

Personally, I have my house wired with component cabling and I use a remote control extender. I do still have occasional use for the Sling box if I'm doing a project in the cellar or if I'm outdoors.

Agree re limited by upload speed - looks to me as if the Catcher's function is to alter the received video stream to display on (larger different resolution) TV screen, vice on laptop/desktop screen, so same picture quality limitations would apply - can only work with the received video stream, regardless of how received, so probably great picture as long as don't receive it via the Net.

I'm not up on the "same house" use of Sling, as just got into it to check on feasibility of slinging S3 recordings to daughter in Germany, which I am now recommending against to her.

I also am a believer in always using hard wiring over wireless unless just not feasible for whatever reason - still have no wireless in my house, as have always figured some way to run ethernet.

[miller890]

I just added a Slingbox AV to a S3 to view and control my S3 remotely over the Internet from a laptop. I went with the AV over the PRO because it was cheap and my ISP’s limited upload rate; assuming lower quality video requires less bandwidth. I am running a Slingbox AV connected via S-video to a S3. The S3 is also connected directly to a Samsung LCD via HDMI running 720P fixed w/out a receiver. The included software installation first upgraded the firmware then the Slingplayer with the latest code and proceeded to walk you though a very simple tuning process. Tuning played a video in two windows side by side and asked you select which one looked better and repeated a few times. First impressions, the interface & remote (S2) are sharp. HD and SD playback looked fine on an older 1.66GHz Dell Insperion 600 laptop w/ ATI Radeon9000 in full screen 1024x768. I am not talking HD quality but watch-able in full screen mode, even HD ocean/reef underwater looked good. Playback is switch-able between 16:9 and 4:3 on the fly; no complaints on the aspects. A few times Slingplayer suggest not running High quality mode probably due to network latency, but most of the time it’s fine. I measured the upload rate at a consistent 1Mbps at the router during playback using the standard 10Mbps/1Mbps TWC RR service. The Slingplayer has either control mode where you see the TiVo menu real-time. Menu response is not immediate, but tolerable. With installed Slingplayer's Control mode off, it slightly slows playback from 29fps to approx 26fps and builds a buffer and video quality improves. Playback of various (/) protected HD content from MoJo and Discovery played fine. Playback quality obviously depends on your ISP’s upload limit where Slingbox is connected, Internet traffic, and download/PC performance at the remote.

[bigbridge]

I just added a Slingbox AV to a S3 to view and control my S3 remotely over the Internet from a laptop. I went with the AV over the PRO because it was cheap and my ISP’s limited upload rate; assuming lower quality video requires less bandwidth. I am running a Slingbox AV connected via S-video to a S3. The S3 is also connected directly to a Samsung LCD via HDMI running 720P fixed w/out a receiver. The included software installation first upgraded the firmware then the Slingplayer with the latest code and proceeded to walk you though a very simple tuning process. Tuning played a video in two windows side by side and asked you select which one looked better and repeated a few times. First impressions, the interface & remote (S2) are sharp. HD and SD playback looked fine on an older 1.66GHz Dell Insperion 600 laptop w/ ATI Radeon9000 in full screen 1024x768. I am not talking HD quality but watch-able in full screen mode, even HD ocean/reef underwater looked good. Playback is switch-able between 16:9 and 4:3 on the fly; no complaints on the aspects. A few times Slingplayer suggest not running High quality mode probably due to network latency, but most of the time it’s fine. I measured the upload rate at a consistent 1Mbps at the router during playback using the standard 10Mbps/1Mbps TWC RR service. The Slingplayer has either control mode where you see the TiVo menu real-time. Menu response is not immediate, but tolerable. With installed Slingplayer's Control mode off, it slightly slows playback from 29fps to approx 26fps and builds a buffer and video quality improves. Playback of various (/) protected HD content from MoJo and Discovery played fine. Playback quality obviously depends on your ISP’s upload limit where Slingbox is connected, Internet traffic, and download/PC performance at the remote.

This is great info/feedback - thanks very much.

For your laptop reception over the Net, from home, I assume you were in the same city?? And you say your ISP has a slow upload speed - any idea what it was during this test - mine is about 350kbs w/Comcast, and I noted on Sling's site they say 250kbs is about minimum they recommend - they have a picture of something from off the net and the screen shows the incoming speed as about 350kbs, as I recall. Was that 1 Mbs speed at your router the speed on your home network, or the incoming speed where you had your laptop?

Thanks again for all the good info, and glad to know the Sling setup works for you.

[greg_burns]

http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/17844/SlingCatcher---Sling-Media-Brings-Place-Shifting-and-More-to-TVs/
According to Sling Media, integrating the SlingPlayer application directly into the SlingCatcher will allow you to setup the SlingCatcher to any television and broadband internet connection to stream shows from your Slingbox without the need for a computer.


http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-01/slingcatcher-is-real/
The Slingbox PRO is designed to project your home television content while the SlingCathcer (due early next year) is designed to receive content to the television… from a variety of sources.

Look for additional and new info out of CES in Vegas in about a week and a half.

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-12/2007-a-look-back/
The SlingCatcher has most definitely not been abandoned, though it’s obviously taking us longer than anticipated to ship. While the Catcher in my living room does you no good, the product details, photos, and video coming out of CES next week should be of interest.

[bigbridge]

http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/17844/SlingCatcher---Sling-Media-Brings-Place-Shifting-and-More-to-TVs/



http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-01/slingcatcher-is-real/


http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-12/2007-a-look-back/

Was I glad to see this! After a year, it appears Sling is really coming out with the Catcher, so no point in setting up to view on a laptop when can view on the big screen, if just slinging around the house.

[pl1]

http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/17844/SlingCatcher---Sling-Media-Brings-Place-Shifting-and-More-to-TVs/This Press Release implies that you can view your TV remotely with no computer, but only within the house. It appears to me that it can only take web data and display it on a local TV. I do not think it will simply show a TV in the US over the Internet to Germany on another TV. Does someone know differently?

EDIT: What I mean is, that it seems that they use the term remotely for both in the house and away from the house, So I guess I find it confusing. So, I guess I answered my own question. This does say in a remote location.

http://www.slingmedia.com/get/io_1168286861787.html

SlingPlayer for TV application: Your TV on another TV

While the current Slingbox enables consumers to placeshift their favorite TV programming to a PC, Mac or mobile phone, one of the most requested features from the Sling Community has been to provide the ability to sling that same programming to another TV located in the home or to a TV in a remote location.

The SlingPlayer for TV application built into the SlingCatcher delivers an easy, familiar way for customers to move TV content around the home or access content from the home remotely via a TV, without the need for a PC or Mac in the process.

“From the very beginning our customers have asked why we didn’t offer a product that allows them to watch their home TV via the Slingbox on another TV,” continued Krikorian. “For instance, Slingbox customers have shown a desire to access their living room DVR on every TV in the home. The SlingCatcher enables them to do just that.”

[tannebil]

Another approach would be to transfer shows from the Tivo to a PC/Mac, compress them to more compact, lower quality format , copy them over the Internet, and watch the local copy. Lots of different ways to do it.

I switched from streaming to a replication because my streaming experience was poor in many countries. Works great unless I want to watch something live.

[miller890]

For your laptop reception over the Net, from home, I assume you were in the same city?? And you say your ISP has a slow upload speed - any idea what it was during this test - mine is about 350kbs w/Comcast, and I noted on Sling's site they say 250kbs is about minimum they recommend - they have a picture of something from off the net and the screen shows the incoming speed as about 350kbs, as I recall. Was that 1 Mbs speed at your router the speed on your home network, or the incoming speed where you had your laptop?
Different cities and different providers; TWC to Comcast actually. My WAN interface on my router was running just under 1Mbps (my upload limit) at the Slingbox end and the Slingplayer was showing about 820kbps. The WAN port on the router at the remote (slingplayer) end, it was reporting about the same consistant 1Mbps. If the rate value on the Slingplayer dipped into the low 700's I noticed the video image started to get slightly blocky in full screen (1024x768) and the Slingplayer buffer would kick in. Last night for the first time I tried playback just across the LAN (BayNetworks 10/100 switch) runs about 5-6 Mbps according to the SlingPlayer. HD playback on a local PC (older 3.2Ghz w/ ATI Radeon 256 8600XT video) with a 20" flat panel wide looks great in full-screen with Slingplayer's control mode off.

[bigbridge]

This Press Release implies that you can view your TV remotely with no computer, but only within the house. It appears to me that it can only take web data and display it on a local TV. I do not think it will simply show a TV in the US over the Internet to Germany on another TV. Does someone know differently?

EDIT: What I mean is, that it seems that they use the term remotely for both in the house and away from the house, So I guess I find it confusing. So, I guess I answered my own question. This does say in a remote location.

http://www.slingmedia.com/get/io_1168286861787.html

What I read into this release is that one will use an existing SlingPlayer at the original TV program source end (S3, etc.), and sling programming via LAN or Internet, to a "remote" location, where it is received by a SlingCatcher (it says the SlingPlayer app is built in to the Catcher), processed and sent out directly to a connected TV. Appears the signal quality issue is unaffected, or at least the release did not mention it that I remember.

[bigbridge]

I envy you your upload speed; I cannot get anywhere near that now. Can see why you are so upbeat about remote slinging (slinging away from the home or LAN).

[bigbridge]

This Press Release implies that you can view your TV remotely with no computer, but only within the house. It appears to me that it can only take web data and display it on a local TV. I do not think it will simply show a TV in the US over the Internet to Germany on another TV. Does someone know differently?

EDIT: What I mean is, that it seems that they use the term remotely for both in the house and away from the house, So I guess I find it confusing. So, I guess I answered my own question. This does say in a remote location.

http://www.slingmedia.com/get/io_1168286861787.html

Different cities and different providers; TWC to Comcast actually. My WAN interface on my router was running just under 1Mbps (my upload limit) at the Slingbox end and the Slingplayer was showing about 820kbps. The WAN port on the router at the remote (slingplayer) end, it was reporting about the same consistant 1Mbps. If the rate value on the Slingplayer dipped into the low 700's I noticed the video image started to get slightly blocky in full screen (1024x768) and the Slingplayer buffer would kick in. Last night for the first time I tried playback just across the LAN (BayNetworks 10/100 switch) runs about 5-6 Mbps according to the SlingPlayer. HD playback on a local PC (older 3.2Ghz w/ ATI Radeon 256 8600XT video) with a 20" flat panel wide looks great in full-screen with Slingplayer's control mode off.


I envy you your upload speed - I can see why you are bullish on slinging outside the home.

[gamo62]

One caveat is that if you connect your tivo via HDMI, you won't be able to watch many shows with the copy protection bit set on the slingbox with the TV turned off or (on some TVs) tuned to a different input.


I would have thought that on the newer TV's, when they are in standby mode, the HDMI should still be usable.

[pl1]

I would have thought that on the newer TV's, when they are in standby mode, the HDMI should still be usable.Works fine with my Panasonic. Both with the TV off or switched to any input. The TiVo is still sending to all three devices I have hooked up at the same time, HDMI, Component and S-Video.

[vlastahasta]

Hi - Thanks for all of the great info. Was hoping someone would confirm a few things...I've read through each of these posts, just want to make sure I understand what's possible before I buy a slingbox Pro. (I was on the phone with Sling this morning, and they confused me even more, as they contradicted themselves during the call).

I have 2 devices I want to connect to my Sling. Tivo S3 and DVD player. I'll buy a wireless game network adapter to connect my Sling to my wi-fi DSL network.

Here's my situation/question:

Both my Tivo S3 and Oppo DVD Player are connected HDMI-out to my Pioneer Elite receiver. (My Pioneer Receiver is then connected via HDMI to my 1080p TV).

I don't want to use my sling as a passthrough device, where I go TIVO>Sling>Pioneer>TV. Because TIVO>Sling will not be high-def (and not HDMI), and therefore would downgrade my picture quality to my TV.

When I was on the phone with Sling this morning, they told me conflicting info: 1) that Sling is a pass through device, like an old VCR, and 2) that it is not a pass through device, that it just has to be connected to your sources, and doesn't have anything to do with video output.

So, what I want to do is

TIVO S3 HDMI > Pioneer HDMI > TV
AND separately
TIVO S3 Component > Sling Pro (no further connection to anything - not to Pioneer Receiver, not to TV)
DVD Component > Sling Pro (I can use s-video or something if there aren't enough component inputs on the Sling)

In essence, I'm trying to figure out if I can attach a sling to my Tivo without messing up my connections to and through my Pioneer Receiver.

Question: Does the S3 power all of its outputs simultaneously, or will the fact the I have HDMI-out active disable the component or s-video out, so that my TIVO>Sling won't work? (When I asked this of sling, they said that I'd have to disconnect my HDMI out on my Tivo to get the other outputs to work, but I've read something that says that's not true).

Sorry if this is confusing - trying to write it so that it makes sense...would be a lot easier if I could draw a picture.

Thanks for any insights from someone who's got a similar setup.

p.s. Over a year ago, TexasGrillChef said (above) "I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.". Just trying to confirm some of that before I buy.

[pl1]

p.s. Over a year ago, TexasGrillChef said (above) "I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.". Just trying to confirm some of that before I buy.I have no experience with the Slingbox Pro. It has more inputs and more options. I have the Slinbox AV hooked up exactly like TexasGrillChef.

S3-> Panasonic TV via HDMI
S3-> remote TV(s) in bedroom(s) via Component
S3-> Slingbox AV via S-Video

All outputs work simultaneously. The only caveat would be your TV. Some TV's don't behave properly in stand-by.

[A J Ricaud]

Question: Does the S3 power all of its outputs simultaneously, or will the fact the I have HDMI-out active disable the component or s-video out, so that my TIVO>Sling won't work?

p.s. Over a year ago, TexasGrillChef said (above) "I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.". Just trying to confirm some of that before I buy.

All of the S3's outputs are hot at all times and do not interfere with one another (i.e. using S-video out will not cause the resolution on HDMI or component to be reduced).

TexasGrillChief is right. I am feeding 2 S3s and a set-top box to a SlingboxPro and to my TV via HDMI without any problems.

[vlastahasta]

Wow, you guys rock! Perfect, exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you, Pl1 and AJ! Just ordered my slingbox from amazon - will get it tomorrow.

I have a 3 year old airport (mac) base station for my wifi. Any pros/cons (outside of the obvious things like cost) on going with a game/network wireless adapter versus Slinglink Turbo?

[mappler]

My Samsung DLP doesn't work with HDMI and the Slingbox if the TV is off or changed to another input. I want to be understanding of industry's need to have copy protection. However, the HDMI standard is a piece of junk. Forcing devices to disable all OTHER outputs when that output isn't satisfied is bogus. This is a very poorly written standard.

Why should I be prevented from using my equipment how I please to enforce someone else's copyrights when the system doesn't even work? Should I be upset at FIOS, Samsung, TiVo, or the Media companies who insist on this junk? Maybe I would be more understanding if these "restrictions" actually protected HD content from being copied. As far as I'm aware, TV shows and movies are still posted online regularly. And, as far as I'm aware, these restrictions provide no benefit to me, the consumer.

So, it appears that me, the consumer, is the loser here. I've been forced to switch to Component outputs from my TiVo so I can use my Slingbox properly.
I do hope the product manufacturers (TiVo, Samsung, etc.), when asked to participate in the next "HDMI" spec, demand these types of restrictions be removed. I am willing to pay LESS for devices that restrict me for no benefit to me.

-Matt

P.S. They could stop restricting my ability to fast forward on DVDs too....:)

[kas25]

Great info. If I have a S3 in my family room, connected to my home network and I have a tv in my bedroom, with an ethernet connection as well, can I watch what is on the S3 in my bedroom or is that what is coming out soon?

[TexasGrillChef]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? From what i have read, this will allow me to watch my TIVO when I go home to my family (who do not even have cable TV!!!) or my girlfriend's house (who doesnt have TIVO). Is there any benefit to getting the Slingbox Pro instead (I do not need the multiple device capabality). I cannot imagine that my simple laptop will be able to view HD-quality recordings anyway, so will the Slingbox AV be good enough? Is there anything else I should know about how Slingbox AV interacts with the S3 or TIVOs in general?

IF HI-DEF is important to you WAIT.

Slingmedia.com will soon release (Q3) their Slingbox PRO-HD (Different then regular Slingbox Pro).

The Slingbox PRO-HD will Sling true 1080i picture AND 5.1 DDSS. It will also have OTA ATSC tuner as well as QAM Cable ready (In HD) capability too.

It will be the ONLY Slingbox that is fully capable of "Slinging" TRUE HD Television WITH 5.1 DDSS.

So if you want FULL and TRUE HD... WAIT till Q3.

TGC

[TexasGrillChef]

p.s. Over a year ago, TexasGrillChef said (above) "I have the slingbox. I am using the S-Video out of my S3 to the slingbox. I have HDMI connected to my pioneer 84 receiver which is connected to the TV using HDMI.". Just trying to confirm some of that before I buy.

I did infact say that.

I am going to soon be replacing that unit with the new Slingbox PRO-HD.

However currently I have both the slingbox classic & Slingbox Pro (No HD connect box for the pro).

I have my TiVo S3 HDMI hooked up to my Pioneer 84 receiver, HDMI to my Plasma. I have S-Video out of the TiVo to my Slingbox Pro. With everything off, it will still sling out of hte S-Video connection with no problems.

WHEN I have the TiVo HDMI connected directly to my Plasma, & S-Video to the Slingbox Pro. If the TV is OFF, it won't work correctly. The TV has to be on for it to sling.

Therefore... I run the HDMI through my Pioneer 84 receiver. Another alternative is to do what I do for my slingbox classic. That is I use a "POWERED" HDMI splitter that HDCP certified out of TiVo. One connection goes to one TV, the other goes to another TV in another room. S-Video is then connected out of the TiVo HD unit and to the Slingbox Classic. Works just fine when those 2 LCD flat panels are in the off position. (Powered HDMI splitter is always on, no power switch).

I do not know however, how the NEW Slingbox Pro-HD will handle this issue in the future. I do know this. That the new slingbox, does have HDMI IN & HDMI OUT. So it could solve this issue and not matter if the TV &/or Receiver are on or off.

TGC

[TexasGrillChef]

Slingbox 2.0 software will be out in Q3 as well with many improvements.

The BLACKBERRY version of Sling mobile is coming soon too!

TGC

Check out all the new stuff at slingmedia.com

[rainwater]

IF HI-DEF is important to you WAIT.

Slingmedia.com will soon release (Q3) their Slingbox PRO-HD (Different then regular Slingbox Pro).

The Slingbox PRO-HD will Sling true 1080i picture AND 5.1 DDSS. It will also have OTA ATSC tuner as well as QAM Cable ready (In HD) capability too.

It will be the ONLY Slingbox that is fully capable of "Slinging" TRUE HD Television WITH 5.1 DDSS.

So if you want FULL and TRUE HD... WAIT till Q3.

TGC

Considering the SlingCatcher is still a year late and hasn't been released yet, I wouldn't hold my breath on the Slingbox Pro HD coming out in Q3.

[rainwater]

Slingbox 2.0 software will be out in Q3 as well with many improvements.

The BLACKBERRY version of Sling mobile is coming soon too!

TGC

Check out all the new stuff at slingmedia.com

A public preview of the SlingPlayer 2.0 software for Windows will be available in a few months. However, it isn't going to provide a great improvement in picture quality.

[TexasGrillChef]

Considering the SlingCatcher is still a year late and hasn't been released yet, I wouldn't hold my breath on the Slingbox Pro HD coming out in Q3.

Good point... but they have stopped production of the Slingbox Tuner, & Slingbox AV. Selling out current inventory only.

Which would leave the slingbox Solo, & Slingbox pro as their only two units currently still in production.

TGC

[vlastahasta]

Just a quick update. I ended up buying the Slingbox Solo, since it already had the component/HD connection (I'm going to return the Slingbox Pro, since it 1) costs more, 2) requires a $50 HD connect cable, and 3) I decided I'd probably never watch a dvd on my laptop remotely - just need tivo hooked up to sling).

I can run the SlingPlayer no problem (except, after 2 hours with Sling and Qwest tech help, found out I need a newer DSL modem so that I can allow port forwarding).

I don't need the TV on, and you guys were all correct in that I can have TIVO-Component Out go to my Sling-Component In without any connection to the TV or my Pioneer Receiver, and everything works fine. To confirm, all outputs on the back of the Tivo appear "hot" (and having my HDMI-out from Tivo to my Receiver and TV doesn't impact picture quality or Slinging).

Thanks again!

p.s. For those Apple Base Station users out there...I have an Apple Airport Extreme base station that runs my wi-fi. And an airport express base station that - turns out - can function just like an ethernet bridge/wireless game adapter. I put the airport express right next to my Slingbox, ran an ethernet cable out of the airport express to the sling, and - presto - it's up and running.

[rainwater]

JI can run the SlingPlayer no problem (except, after 2 hours with Sling and Qwest tech help, found out I need a newer DSL modem so that I can allow port forwarding).


Do you not have a router? Maybe your DSL modem acts as a modem and router combo? If so, I would get a router and do the port forwarding with it. DSL modems can be configured to work with a router and a router will give you better performance and configurability than a dsl modem/router. Of course if you are getting a new dsl modem for free, then there's nothing wrong with that either.

[bizzy]

Do you not have a router? Maybe your DSL modem acts as a modem and router combo? If so, I would get a router and do the port forwarding with it. DSL modems can be configured to work with a router and a router will give you better performance and configurability than a dsl modem/router. Of course if you are getting a new dsl modem for free, then there's nothing wrong with that either.

If his 'modem' does port forwarding then it is undoubtedly also a router. Also there's no reason why a discrete modem/router combo would be faster than an integrated unit.

[JTYoung1]

One caveat is that if you connect your tivo via HDMI, you won't be able to watch many shows with the copy protection bit set on the slingbox with the TV turned off or (on some TVs) tuned to a different input. The only real way around this is to not use HDMI at all. This may not hit you at all; some cable companies don't set the CCI bit at all, and some (like mine) put it on everything but HD and PBS.

The slingbox pro will indeed offer better quality with the $50 "HD" dongle. It doesn't place-shift true HD, but it does downconvert it to a true anamorphic 640x480 signal so none of the space is wasted with letterboxing, which gives more usable resolution. But the pro is a lot more money.

As long as the TV or receiver that is connected to the TiVo over the HDMI cable can "handshake" with the TiVo while turned off you should have no problem watching the Slingbox fed by component.

[rainwater]

If his 'modem' does port forwarding then it is undoubtedly also a router. Also there's no reason why a discrete modem/router combo would be faster than an integrated unit.

I doubt you will find a good QoS engine on a integrated modem/router. Personally, it makes more sense to get a separate router. Then if you ever change your ISP, it will not require any changes other than configuring your router with the new ISP. From my experience, it just isn't worth it to not have a dedicated router.

[bizzy]

I agree that discrete devices can be more convenient.

There is no reason why they'd be any faster, though. And I can guarantee that the OP isn't configuring any QoS, given the technical level of his questions.

[rainwater]

I agree that discrete devices can be more convenient.

There is no reason why they'd be any faster, though. And I can guarantee that the OP isn't configuring any QoS, given the technical level of his questions.

It can be faster depending on the QoS engine. For instance, my D-Link 655 router can improve performance of voip services with its QoS engine. Where it may make a difference is if you have multiple devices on the LAN. If we are talking about just a PC and a Slingbox than its doubtful you would see any difference. But if you have a wireless router and lots of devices, it certainly is beneficial to have a router.

[vlastahasta]

I can run the SlingPlayer no problem (except, after 2 hours with Sling and Qwest tech help, found out I need a newer DSL modem so that I can allow port forwarding).

p.s. For those Apple Base Station users out there...I have an Apple Airport Extreme base station that runs my wi-fi. And an airport express base station that - turns out - can function just like an ethernet bridge/wireless game adapter. I put the airport express right next to my Slingbox, ran an ethernet cable out of the airport express to the sling, and - presto - it's up and running.

FYI - I'm finally all connected for remote viewing. I bought a new configurable DSL model from Qwest (it's a 2Wire, by the way). I went into its settings, setup port forwarding in the firewall settings, and we're all set.

So, for those of you with macs, here's the setup:

DSL > 2Wire wireless modem/router
2Wire ethernet out to Apple Extreme Base Station ethernet in
Apple Base talks to Apple Remote Base near Tivo upstairs
Apple Remote Base has ethernet out to Sling

Thanks!

[tivoknucklehead]

I'm considering buying an HD slingbox SOLO to replace my original slingbox but noticed the S3 only has one set of component vid jacks on the back (which I am already using). How can I hook this baby up,? my TV does not have HDMI

[TexasGrillChef]

I'm considering buying an HD slingbox SOLO to replace my original slingbox but noticed the S3 only has one set of component vid jacks on the back (which I am already using). How can I hook this baby up,? my TV does not have HDMI


The Slingbox Solo has component IN & Component OUT.

So connect cables FROM your TiVO TO the Slingbox Solo & then cables FROM the slingbox solo TO your TV.

It won't have any effect on your picture quality or usage.

TGC