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Slingbox worth it?

tivoboy said:
yes and no.

the tv can be watched locally, but depending on what DVR, or DVD or TV box you are using with the slingbox, one would have to watch what is on THAT device OR swtich to another device.

Example. YOU are streaming ABC from your DVR to your remote location with the slingbox. Someone at the HOME would then SEE ABC when they turned on the TV (most likely, depends on if you are using multiple inputs on the TV or Receiver, etc.)

If they change the channel on the DVR, then boom, THAT is what YOU are now watching.

So, it STREAMS from the inline feed, NOT directly from the appliance that you are streaming from.

I have two DVR's and TWO slingboxes (don't actually NEED two for this) and so can usually watch whatever I want remotely, since well, it isn't too often that the two DVR's at home are BOTH being used at the same time.
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Perfect explanation!

Thanks!

Looks like all I need is the Solo because for what I need it for, the person in front of the TV will be watching the same thing for sure.
 
bmms8 said:
i was thinking of getting a slingbox. i just wanted to confirm that i can connect this to my tv directly, and to my router? my tv is just a regular 27 inch sanyo. also, if i am using it on my iphone... will the TV turn on at home? thanks in advance.
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can someone please shed some light on this? tia!
 
maybe no

So, if you only have a TV and like rabbit ears, it won't GET a signal FROM the TV. You COULD put the rabbit ears on something like the proHD and then send the signal from the slingbox to the TV (you would actually get a MUCH better tuner than the TV and overcome the digital limitations that your TV might have)

Or, if you have a cable box or something, then the slingbox goes BETWEEN the cablebox and the TV, or in addition to the TV and you could watch stuff from the cable box possibly seperately.

No, the TV won't go on if the slingbox is used. BUT, if you connect the slingbox to something like a cable box or DVR or anything else like that, then THAT device will have to be ON, but can be turned on remotely with the slingbox mobile software and such.
 
tivoboy said:
So, if you only have a TV and like rabbit ears, it won't GET a signal FROM the TV. You COULD put the rabbit ears on something like the proHD and then send the signal from the slingbox to the TV (you would actually get a MUCH better tuner than the TV and overcome the digital limitations that your TV might have)

Or, if you have a cable box or something, then the slingbox goes BETWEEN the cablebox and the TV, or in addition to the TV and you could watch stuff from the cable box possibly seperately.

No, the TV won't go on if the slingbox is used. BUT, if you connect the slingbox to something like a cable box or DVR or anything else like that, then THAT device will have to be ON, but can be turned on remotely with the slingbox mobile software and such.
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hey thanks for your quick reply. its a digital TV with cable, but i do not have a cable box. the cable wire connects from the wall to my TV directly. i hope i am being clear, tia.
 
yes

yes, so you can put the slingbox between the cablebox and the TV, that will provide an equally good signal (there is no degradation) and then with the slingbox remotely, you will be able to control the cablebox and see everything the cablebox can show.

Alternatively, you could run a splitter of the cable, one to the cable box, and one to the slingbox (the proHD slingbox and others actually have a digital tuner in them for this purpose), then, you COULD watch alternative content from the slingbox and tv/cablebox, BUT you most likely wouldn't be able to watch the premium stuff that is usually restricted to the cable box decoding.

Personally, I would just put the SB between the cablebox and the tV, this works best.
 
Yes, you can do kinda like you plug in a vcr.
You plug in the cable line to the slingbox. And then you run a cable out out from the slingbox to your TV.
The input would be the cable wire signal and output will go straight to your TV.


bmms8 said:
hey thanks for your quick reply. its a digital TV with cable, but i do not have a cable box. the cable wire connects from the wall to my TV directly. i hope i am being clear, tia.
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So with SB you have to buy the player to view content on a laptop as well? The sling app is pricey.
 
vivithemage said:
My DISH DVR ViP722 has a slinbox online app now, works great.

I haven't tried the iphone app though.
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That's just the remote control function. The 722 cannot stream video to a remote device like the Slingbox can. I think the upcoming 922 will be the first Dish DVR with a full Slingbox built in, and that DVR is gonna be $$$.
 
Applejuiced said:
I was using Verizon DSL for over a year and now have Verizon FIOS for 6 months and my Sling works fine and connects to any client outside of the home network.
I dont think you're setting it up right. Theres settings to enable internet viewing outside your local Lan etc....
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AJ'd,
Thank yo for the response. when I had Earthlink DSL, they were incredibly open to me running simple servers. I had a Web server and could SSH in as well. It was a fun time.

bozzykid said:
Comcast will not shutdown your service for using a Slingbox. Perhaps you were using port 80 and they thought you were running a http server from your location.

Also, Verizon doesn't block all incoming ports. My guess is you just didn't setup your router correctly. Most people get great results with Fios because they provide excellent upstream speed.
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BK,
Thank you as well. IIRC, I was using a non-obvious port to try to keep hackers away. (Hacking slingboxes??) I did actually get to view remote TV before they shut be down so I'm sure I had it set up okay. Their words were like "a server in violation of the TOS" or something. An http server would probably be a lot less load on their network! ;)


WRT Verizon, I have gotten varying reports from different support people and finally got one who said "in your area all the ports are blocked." I've tried many times to get to the SB or my web server from outside. I can port forward and get to either internally (e.g using my outside facing IP address:port from the local network) but not from outside.

Maybe this thread will motivate me to dust it off and try again.

Thank you,
Frank
 
..-. said:
AJ'd,
Thank yo for the response. when I had Earthlink DSL, they were incredibly open to me running simple servers. I had a Web server and could SSH in as well. It was a fun time.



BK,
Thank you as well. IIRC, I was using a non-obvious port to try to keep hackers away. (Hacking slingboxes??) I did actually get to view remote TV before they shut be down so I'm sure I had it set up okay. Their words were like "a server in violation of the TOS" or something. An http server would probably be a lot less load on their network! ;)


WRT Verizon, I have gotten varying reports from different support people and finally got one who said "in your area all the ports are blocked." I've tried many times to get to the SB or my web server from outside. I can port forward and get to either internally (e.g using my outside facing IP address:port from the local network) but not from outside.

Maybe this thread will motivate me to dust it off and try again.

Thank you,
Frank
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Frank, there are some more sites you can try for information on what Verizon is doing, the main site is http://www.dslreports.com and the Verizon specific site is http://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzfiostv. You can also go to the slingbox community forum at http://www.slingcommunity.com/.
 
can someone please clarify how i can connect the slingbox directly to my TV? i am not to sure how this would work if i use the IR receiver. One side would have to go on top of my TV, while the other on the bottom. Is this how its supposed to work? Thanks.
 
I have been thinking about getting a Slingbox for years but have a few questions.

Lets say I go out of town and am watching my local TV stuff or Tivo recordings. Then lets say someone at home starts watching stuff on the TV or Tivo and changes the channel. Will they end up controlling what I watch?

Will I be able to access media from several Tivo's in my house?
 
bmms8 said:
can someone please clarify how i can connect the slingbox directly to my TV? i am not to sure how this would work if i use the IR receiver. One side would have to go on top of my TV, while the other on the bottom. Is this how its supposed to work? Thanks.
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You just hook up your system through the Slingbox. It's very simple. The Slingbox has its own IR transmitter that sends the request to your own box to make your selection/change the channel.


Resist said:
I have been thinking about getting a Slingbox for years but have a few questions.

Lets say I go out of town and am watching my local TV stuff or Tivo recordings. Then lets say someone at home starts watching stuff on the TV or Tivo and changes the channel. Will they end up controlling what I watch?
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Yes they will. You can purchase an extra box from your cable/satellite company to work around this.


Guys... seriously... why not just go to their website and forum?

http://www.slingmedia.com/

http://www.slingcommunity.com/
 
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