Somewhat OT. Anyone use a Slingbox with their Tivo?

[TideJoe]

The newest Slingbox looks pretty nice (4 inputs including 1 HD input). Has anyone used one with their Tivo as an input and how do you like it?

[Arcady]

I have a Slingbox Pro connected to my TiVo HD and I love it. I also used it with my Series3 previously and it worked great there as well.

[TideJoe]

Did you use it mostly inside your home i.e. watching TV or streaming a recording to your PC, or are you using it outside your home over the internet? Is the quality decent?

[shady]

I've used mine:
1) To watch TV on my laptop while I'm working in the Garage.
2) To watch sports events on my phone
3) To watch shows while in a hotel

All three were very successful

[Resist]

Why get a Slingbox Pro over the Slingbox Solo?

The Pro uses HDMI for High Definition so you also need to buy the Slingbox HD connect cable for component inputs, should your TV not have HDMI.

The Slingbox Solo has component inputs and cost less than the Pro version.

So isn't the Pro overkill for component High Definition TV watchers?

[TideJoe]

Why get a Slingbox Pro over the Slingbox Solo?

The Pro uses HDMI for High Definition so you also need to buy the Slingbox HD connect cable for component inputs, should your TV not have HDMI.

The Slingbox Solo has component inputs and cost less than the Pro version.

So isn't the Pro overkill for component High Definition TV watchers?

Well, the Pro will allow up to 4 inputs when the Solo is a single input box. For just $50 more it would be nice to have multiple inputs.

[Arcady]

Why get a Slingbox Pro over the Slingbox Solo?

The Pro uses HDMI for High Definition so you also need to buy the Slingbox HD connect cable for component inputs, should your TV not have HDMI.

The Slingbox Solo has component inputs and cost less than the Pro version.

So isn't the Pro overkill for component High Definition TV watchers?

The pro does not have HDMI, as has been pointed out several times on this forum.

I use the s-video input and RF tuner on mine. The solo did not exist when I bought the pro.

[Resist]

Okay, so the Pro uses an HD port. Sure looks like HDMI. http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox-pro-connections

The problem with the Pro as I see it, is you can't view HD content through it unless you purchase the HD connect. Seems to me the HD connect should be included with the Pro, since the Pro is their flagship product.

Maybe I still just don't understand why I would need the Pro over the Solo. All I want to do is watch HD TV with the Slingbox.

[mattack]

Maybe I still just don't understand why I would need the Pro over the Solo. All I want to do is watch HD TV with the Slingbox.

If you don't have multiple inputs, then maybe you don't. I personally would want to see any of my Tivos + xs32 on slingbox.

[Laserfan]

The problem with the Pro as I see it, is you can't view HD content through it unless you purchase the HD connect. You should consider also the Hava Platinum HD. When I bought it from buy.com it was $113 shipped, and included Component cables.

I have my S3's Component-Outs connected to the Hava, and its 720x480 MPEG2 is better than the Sling's 640x480 WMV IMO.

[Resist]

But does the Hava work with Apple computers?

[Laserfan]

But does the Hava work with Apple computers?Dunno--didn't see "Apple" anywhere in this thread...

[Resist]

I am just asking if it works with an Apple computer. I know the Slingbox does.

[terpfan1980]

Okay, so the Pro uses an HD port. Sure looks like HDMI. http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox-pro-connections

The problem with the Pro as I see it, is you can't view HD content through it unless you purchase the HD connect. Seems to me the HD connect should be included with the Pro, since the Pro is their flagship product.

Maybe I still just don't understand why I would need the Pro over the Solo. All I want to do is watch HD TV with the Slingbox.Excellent questions really and just what you should be asking yourself.

I just purchased a Pro --because I wasn't aware of the Solo, and because the vendor I wanted to purchase from didn't carry the Solo--

I like the Pro a lot, but adding the nearly $50 cable onto the price didn't amuse me and in reality I don't really *need* the extra inputs that the Pro offers. In addition, with analog broadcasts going away over the next few years, I have to question the usefulness of some of the inputs on the Pro anyway.

The Solo is a great device and offers what I would have needed -- the ability to move/clone the output from my HR20 over to another location while still getting hi-def (or higher-def) output from the Sling. I had (still have, going to be eBaying soon) a Sling Classic and it worked fine but the resolution wasn't as good as I wanted, even given a fair amount of standard def programming that I'm still watching.

The Pro definitely duplicates a lot of feature set with the Solo and vice versa. Sling is muddying the market with two options that do the same basic thing and I'm not sure that is a good thing. On the other hand, if they are able to offer choices and cheaper options for those that don't need all of the bells and whistles that the Pro offers, then good for them.

[macmanmk]

I have the Pro and it's great. It streams from both my TiVo and a separate analog cable connection. I access the Sling stream on my laptop when I'm travelling and on my daily train commute. I also can access the stream from my Treo, although the TiVo controls on the Treo leaves a bit to be desired. The only negative is that I had to pay for an Internet package through Comcast with higher upload speeds. The 384K upstream on their basic Internet service caused too much stuttering and buffering.

[mappler]

I am assuming (but figured I should ask) that it is ok to connect the slingbox to TiVo outputs that I am not using? In my case, I am using HDMI to the TV. Can I use the component outputs from the TiVo into the Slingbox and leave the slingbox outputs empty? I intend to use it mostly for remote watching.

Thanks,
-Matt

[Laserfan]

I am using HDMI to the TV. Can I use the component outputs from the TiVo This is how my S3 works (tho I'm using a Hava not a Sling).

What's cool about this is that there is no impact whatever to the Tivo operation--it's just like you're slumped-back on the sofa in front of it! :cool:

[rodalpho]

Note that there's no benefit to getting the slingbox pro or solo over the slingbox AV for tivo HD/S3 as both output anamorphically correct 480i over s-video. So you can save some money there.

Only buy the pro if you need the additional inputs, and, well, don't buy the solo at all for a S3 or HD.

[ken8th]

I love the slingbox. It wouldn't be worth the money unless you could control your tivo. :)

[jebbbz]

This is how my S3 works (tho I'm using a Hava not a Sling).

What's cool about this is that there is no impact whatever to the Tivo operation--it's just like you're slumped-back on the sofa in front of it! :cool:

From what I have read, the Hava, but not the Slingbox, will record to a PC hard drive. Have you tried this? If so, have you ever done a comparison using S-Video instead of component inputs to the Hava? I am assuming the component input gives a higher quality analog signal to the Hava and wondered if the MPEG that resulted would be of higher quality than one resulting from S-Video as the source signal.

[Resist]

don't buy the solo at all for a S3 or HD.Not sure I understand that statement. The Solo uses component inputs for HD so why not buy the solo for a S3 or HD?

[FatesWebb]

I have a sling AV it has 2 inputs if you do it right... (you can use 1 input in stereo, or 2 with mono...)

I use it at home at full quality, it looks awesome, and at (ehem) work or elsewhere...

It is pretty fun, you can program your tivo with the actual interface, rather than a web one......

[Laserfan]

From what I have read, the Hava, but not the Slingbox, will record to a PC hard drive. Have you tried this? If so, have you ever done a comparison using S-Video instead of component inputs to the Hava? I am assuming the component input gives a higher quality analog signal ...Yes, the Hava throws 720x480i MPEG2 across the Ethernet to a PC, and their Player software has a Record feature which allows capture of the program (you can use the Tivo's 'Record to VCR' for this). So anything on the S3 can be saved to DVD with minimal muss/fuss, except of course that the recording has to be made in real time.

No, I have not compared the S-Video Out from Tivo to S-Video In of Hava, just the Component connection, so I dunno, but frankly would not expect a noticeable degradation.

[TonyTheTiger]

I have a Slingbox Classic I found in BB for $70. It's hooked to an HR10-250 (DircTV receiver with TiVo service) and it works really well. I use it around the house to watch TV on my PC or laptop if I want to move around and also on the road.

I have full control of the receiver wherever I am as long as I have an internet connection. My only complaint is that if, for some reason, I have to reboot my DSL modem, I have to log in to the home PC (using Logmein) and run the install wizard again to get an outside connection. Also, a poor net connection like the one in the hotel I stayed in this week makes it virtually unwatchable. Luckily I carry some programming on my laptop or I'd really get bored!

[jebbbz]

...No, I have not compared the S-Video Out from Tivo to S-Video In of Hava, just the Component connection, so I dunno, but frankly would not expect a noticeable degradation.

One last question, if I may. Have you ever checked the bitrate of the resulting files you have recorded?

(As a non-techie I don't have a good feel for what happens during conversions between digital and analog, between bitrate and hertz. Havas and Slingboxes take an analog input, either S-Video or component, and digitize and compress them and the outputs are described by the companies by resolution but not by bitrate yet it seems to me that bitrate is important in evaluating image quality.)

Thanks.

[megazone]

But does the Hava work with Apple computers?No. Hava works with Windows only - Windows on the PC and Windows Mobile on devices. No Mac OS, Palm OS, or Symbian OS support.

Stick with Sling.

[Laserfan]

Have you ever checked the bitrate of the resulting files you have recorded?Yes, the "local files" recorded by Hava in 720x480 MPEG2 average 6Mbps, which is good, virtually the same as my Tivo S1's Best mode. Dunno what my S3 does with analog--I never record analog TV with it.

[Laserfan]

No Mac OS, Palm OS, or Symbian OS support. Stick with Sling.If you give a rip about those other OSes, which of course I do not! :down:

And what about Sling's WMV obsession? :confused:

[jebbbz]

... So anything on the S3 can be saved to DVD with minimal muss/fuss, except of course that the recording has to be made in real time.


I Lied. I have another question after my "one last question." Have you ever encountered any sort of copy protected program that the Hava would not record? I was reading a older review of the Hava and noted a reference to their need to work out recording capability that would be acceptable to Hollywood, et al. I am not sure what analog copy protections might interfere with such recordings -- it probably depends on what Tivo does with flags regarding analog output.

(I have been playing with transcoding HD mpegs to 720x480 6000bps and they do look pretty good. One big concern of mine about depending on a Tivo HD is that a single drive failure can wipe out all your recordings. Using a Hava to back up HD to DVD quality mpegs would be slow but better than nothing.)

[bmgoodman]

Has anybody gotten the Slingbox player software to install on any type of "Live CD", such as Bart PE? I'd like to use Slingbox, but I cannot install software on my business laptop. Unless it will run from a Live CD or a USB drive, I'm out of luck.

[Georgia Guy]

I like the extra inputs on the Pro. While I'm traveling I can watch my Tivo and also check on a camera that watches my house.

[Mover480]

Has anybody gotten the Slingbox player software to install on any type of "Live CD", such as Bart PE? I'd like to use Slingbox, but I cannot install software on my business laptop. Unless it will run from a Live CD or a USB drive, I'm out of luck.

It will run from a USB thumb drive just fine. That's the way I use my business laptop without loading the Slingplayer software on it. Just copy the entire Slingplayer directory from your desktop to the thumb drive and run the slingplayer from there.

[Laserfan]

Have you ever encountered any sort of copy protected program that the Hava would not record?AFAIK there is nothing about the Tivo's output of analog that includes copy-protection but I suppose there might be Macrovision? I dunno, I wouldn't ever see this as I Tivo OTA and have no cable/premiums.

One big concern of mine about depending on a Tivo HD is that a single drive failure can wipe out all your recordings. Using a Hava to back up HD to DVD quality mpegs would be slow but better than nothing.I suppose again you are talking about the copy-protected programs which apparently don't work with Tivo Desktop--if not that's certainly the way to go now w/favorite shows (off-load them to PC).

I need to point-out something I discovered recently w/Hava--in fact you'd asked about this: I learned that it is actually a better quality picture from the Hava-to-PC (displayed or recorded) when the connection is via the Tivo's S-Video-Out vs. Component-Out. In the latter case the Tivo is outputting (for me anyway) 1080i which the Hava must then down-res to 720x480i. In the former case it's instead the *Tivo* that down-reses the HD to 720x480i/Svid. The Tivo does a noticeably better job of this than the Hava.

Heck, just buy one (http://www.buy.com/prod/monsoon-hava-platinum-hd-timeshift-pvr-timeshift-hava/q/loc/101/205073920.html) and see for yourself. I doubt that I will use the Recording capability much, but I do find that it is priceless to be able to see-and-watch what's on the Tivo, even WITH the new Tivo Desktop--no transferring of files, and complete access to Tivo's Now Playing/Find Programs/Settings et. al.

[bmgoodman]

It will run from a USB thumb drive just fine. That's the way I use my business laptop without loading the Slingplayer software on it. Just copy the entire Slingplayer directory from your desktop to the thumb drive and run the slingplayer from there.

This is great news! It's a shame that Sling's tech support answer was SO incorrect that they nearly turned me away from their product!

Thanks for the information.

[FatesWebb]

Has anybody gotten the Slingbox player software to install on any type of "Live CD", such as Bart PE? I'd like to use Slingbox, but I cannot install software on my business laptop. Unless it will run from a Live CD or a USB drive, I'm out of luck.

what I would do is buy an extra hdd caddy, and a hdd, and put it in your work laptop, load up windows.... and use it like a personal laptop, and when you go to work, take that hdd out and put back in the work one...

hahaha.....

usually laptops these days are very easy to swap out hdds.....

MUAHAHAHA Im so evil...