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Can a Slingbox 500 replace both a Tivo Stream and Tivo Mini Vox?

Discussion in 'TiVo Stream' started by nuraman00, Sep 5, 2018.

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  1. Jan 24, 2020 #101 of 107
    Series3Sub

    Series3Sub Well-Known Member

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    Mar 14, 2010
    Although this is a belated post, I also had the very same problem at the same time as you did (September 2019) for about a week and it was driving me crazy. then after a week the problem mysteriously disappeared never to return. I have no idea what happened but it was real and I'm glad it only lasted about a week. Everything has been fine since then.
     
  2. Jan 24, 2020 #102 of 107
    nuraman00

    nuraman00 Member

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    Dec 28, 2012
    I forgot to post how I resolved it.

    I unplugged my Slingbox for 1 minute, then plugged it back in.

    It didn't have any more issues with restarting after that.

    1 week is a long time with this problem! When it happened 6x in 1.5 hours, it was pretty much impossible to watch any TV during that time. Because of the restarts. When it restarted, the DVR was unusable for those 2-4 minutes.

    I had my HDMI cables set up so that my Tivo went to my Slingbox via the powered HDMI splitter, then the Slingbox to the TV.

    I could have used the 2nd port on the splitter to output it to another HDMI port on my TV, but I didn't want to use two HDMI ports on my TV.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2020
  3. Jan 24, 2020 #103 of 107
    nuraman00

    nuraman00 Member

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    Dec 28, 2012
    Also, one bit of sad news to report.

    Sometime last year, a Roku stopped supporting the Slingbox app. When I try to launch it, I get a message saying that it's not supported anymore.



    But it's not all bad. When I'm away remote at this place, I can still at least watch via a laptop or phone (I prefer laptop for the larger screen).

    I am trying to post a link to the article, but this site keeps wanting to embed the link into a video.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2020
  4. Jan 24, 2020 #104 of 107
    Series3Sub

    Series3Sub Well-Known Member

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    Well I'm beginning to wonder if it was really a full week or more like 3 or 4 days, but it sure as heck felt like a week. yeah I tried all the known tricks like rebooting the Slingbox, disconnecting it, blah blah blah, and I think I even went through a full reconfiguration to fix it, and nothing worked. and then the problem vanished, thankfully.

    however I am glad that you found however I am glad that you found the fix up disconnecting from Power which causes a reboot. that can clear up strange occasional glitches. I'll also add that while I can stream for several hours, sometimes after many hours of streaming the audio video will freeze but if I just choose "disconnect" command from from the Fire TV and then select "connect," the problem goes away and it continues to stream just fine. I suppose that is essentially a soft restart or refresh for the Slingbox, and I can always go back to view what I may have missed during the remote disconnect and reconnect commands at the Fire TV because the DVR continued to operate. I don't know if that's a glitch at the Slingbox or a glitch at the Fire TV Slingplayer app.

    glad to glad to hear Slingbox is still working. Both of mine are still working after years of use.
     
    nuraman00 likes this.
  5. Jan 24, 2020 #105 of 107
    Series3Sub

    Series3Sub Well-Known Member

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    Mar 14, 2010
    Well then you can get an Amazon Fire TV whether it is the cheaper stick or the more capable larger fire TVs such as the cube. then download the SlingPlayer app onto your Fire TV. this is a great way to watch your sling content on a large HDTV. the SlingPlayer app for Fire TV does have the traditional SlingPlayer app menus Etc and it does take some time to get used to them but once you do you'll find it likely a superior experience.
     
  6. Jan 24, 2020 #106 of 107
    nuraman00

    nuraman00 Member

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    Dec 28, 2012
    Thanks.

    It's my sister's place though. That's where I stream from my Slingbox, as I've been spending an extended amount of time there the past few years, whenever I go there.

    I can't get a Fire TV just for her TV. Well I guess I could, and just take it with me every time, but that's a little weird. Good to know there's an option though, as yes, the experience on the HDTV would be superior. Maybe at some point I'll come to this.

    Maybe I can also just use a HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV. Oh no, but then I won't have any of the controls easily available, I'll have to be near the laptop.

    The Fire TV, as you suggested, would work like it did with the Roku, where I can use my phone as the remote.
     
  7. Feb 13, 2020 #107 of 107
    Series3Sub

    Series3Sub Well-Known Member

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    Well, the Fire TV Stick is exactly the sort of thing that is designed to plug into whatever display, watch, and then disconnect the Fire TV Stick and put it in your pocket, and walk away. Lots of Slingbox users LOVE the Fire TV Stick for just this purpose. Many other users take the Fire TV Stick with them whereever they go or when they travel, and they just plug it in and then watch whaever and then pull it out of the HDMI and then move on.

    I encourage you to consider the Fire TV Stick (it is about the size of a USB thumb drive) for its portability and ease of plug into HDMI and pull out when done. Go to the Amazon website and read the reviews to be familiar with it. OH, and it is Cheap compared to the full size Fire TV or any other connected device for what it does.

    Interesting that Roku is no longer supported because I sometimes use my aunt's Roku to connect to my Slingbox to watch. Now I probably gotta get a Fire Stick, too. :(

    Good Luck!
     
    nuraman00 likes this.
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