Slingbox Review - Take your tv or satellite with you anywhere in the world !
Have you ever wished you could take your tv or satellite system with you so you could watch your tv while you were on the move anywhere in the world?
Well.. you are in luck. Introducing a great gadget by the name of Slingbox. It will do exactly that.
The slingbox is a little black box that you connect to your tv or satellite system and also to your home network. You can do this either by using network cable or you can get yourself a wireless bridge so that your slingbox connects to your home wireless internet without any wires. Once this is done you are able to view your satellite system literally from anywhere in your house by installing an application called Slingplayer on your windows/mac desktop or laptop. The slingplayer allows you to view your television programs and even open up a virtual remote control so that you can actually switch channel and navigate as if you were in front of the tv. And it doesnt stop there!!
The slingbox can be setup so you can connect to it from anywhere on the internet so you can watch tv while you are on the move. You can connect using your laptop in an internet cafe, in a hotel abroad, from work. View your tv as if you were still at home on your sofa. And as well as this you can download an application compatible with PDA’s and mobile phones that will allow you to access your TV from anywhere that you can connect to your mobile phone network.
Watch the game while you are on the bus to work. Catch up on the news on your lunch break. Dont miss any episodes of your favourite tv program when you are on holiday in the bahamas. Log in to your slingbox from work to set your satellite to record a movie for you before you get home. The limits are endless.
The slingbox comes in three different flames.
Slingbox AV
This version has a single input that allows you to connects one standard definition device such as your DVR, digital cable set top box or satellite receiver. Buy one here
Slingbox Solo
This version has a single input that allows you to connects one standard definition device such as your DVR, digital cable set top box or satellite receiver. This version is HD compatible so you can hook up your high definition devices. Buy one here
Slingbox Pro
This version allows you to connect and control up to four video sources, including your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, and DVD player. This version is also HD compatible so you can hook up your high definition devices.Features an integrated analog tuner for access to your basic cable line-up without changing your set-top box channel on your home TV. Buy one here.
I have the Slingbox Solo as I only required one input in HD. My satellite unit also has a PVR so I can access everything including my saved movies via one input.
Ive got my Slingbox Solo hooked up now and working a treat and the quality is great both in the house and when connecting remotely. Well done slingbox another gadget to my collection 
A slingbox slung behind the television allowing me to watch tv remotely 24 by 7.
The back of the slingbox showing an RJ45 network cable connected and cables connected from satellite system via RCA cables. The USB slot is something that is installed for possible future upgrades/usage.
If you want to make your slingbox connect to a wireless network then the cheapest way is to get a wireless gaming/bridge. This is cheaper than the solution provided by slingbox which you can buy as an extra. Their option makes use of your household electric sockets to create a network.
Sling Player running on an XP box with virtual remote showing
Sling Player running on XP with remote hidden. Picture can be maximised to full screen with click of a button.
SlingPlayer application
So to sum it up here are my summary pro’s and con’s
Pro’s
Watch your tv or satellite from anywhere in the world on your PC
Stream your TV/Satellite to any PC in your house. Watch tv in the bath with a wireless laptop on the window sill
Watch tv or satellite from anywhere with your mobile phone or PDA
Take control of your satellite from anywhere with a virtual remote control so you can do anything that you could do at home. For example with my satellite system I have saved video files and image photo slideshows that I can view anywhere in the world
Con’s
When you connect to your satellite remotely you take control so if you change a channel (the wife or girlfriend at home will also see you switching the channel). So you may not be in her good books :-).
No integrated wireless included however I fixed this by purchasing a Belkin Wireless G Ethernet Bridge/Gaming adaptor to give me wireless connectivity to my home LAN.
No ability to log on to the box directly out of the box via a web browser to set a static IP for example. Although not a major problem this would be a nice to have. The box cant be setup until it pulls an IP address from DHCP running on your router or a DHCP server. I found you can use tiny DHCP running on a laptop to do the same job
Technical Specifications
Computer Requirements
Minimum PC Requirements:
* Microsoft Windows® Vista™ or Windows® XP with Service Pack 2
* Intel® Pentium IV 1.3 GHz processor
* 1 GB RAM for Windows® Vista™ and 512 MB for Windows® XP
* 150 MB available disk space for installation
* Graphics card (24-bit color)
* Sound card (16-bit)
* Network connectivity
Minimum Mac Requirements:
* PowerPC® G4/G5 800 MHz or Intel® processor
* Mac® OS X v.10.3.9 (or higher recommended)
* 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
* 150 MB available disk space for installation
* Network connectivity
Supported Audio & Video Sources
Connects to standard or high definition (HD) component, S-video or composite video source such as:
* DVB-T Freeview Set-top Box
* Digital Cable Set-top Box
* Digital Video Recorder (DVR) such as Sky®, Virgin Media® or one provided by your cable/satellite provider
* DVD Player/Recorder
* HD component support with resolution up to 1080i
* Satellite Receiver such as Sky ®
* Video/Security Camera
* Apple TV
* Windows Media Center
To purchase a slingbox you can get them at the below links:
UK
USA
