I've got my sling box configured and when I'm home on the same network I can find it easily. When I'm remote, I cannot access it. I get an error message. How can I set up my local sling box for remote viewing? Can I set it up remotely?
How To Find Your Slingbox Remotely
Categories: SlingPlayer Computers / Laptops / Netbooks Mobile Phones / Portable Devices
The Slingbox allows the user to watch TV from anywhere in the world. That's no small feat, especially when you consider the sheer number of factors involved with locating 1 particular device in the vast ocean of the Internet. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Read on to learn how to find your Slingbox from wherever you want to watch your TV.
The IP Problem
To understand how your Slingbox is found, you have to know what an IP address is. An IP address is a unique number assigned to your computer or router that allows websites to send data to you. Without it, it would be like giving the post office a blank envelope... they would have no idea who it's supposed to go to.
One of the complications to finding your Slingbox is that the average user does not have a static IP address. Your home address is a great example of a static address. You can leave your home to go to work, or on vacation, but your address doesn't change. Most users have a dynamic IP address, so each time you restart your router or have a power outage, you'll be assigned a different IP address. Most people don't know what their IP address is, but even if you do know it, it will eventually change.
Slingbox ID
To solve the problem of constantly changing IP address (and make using a Slingbox much easier), Sling Media developed the Sling Finder Service. Every Slingbox has a unique ID number that never changes. When the Slingbox hardware is connected to the Internet, it routinely communicates to a central server at Sling Media that logs your Slingbox ID, port number, and IP address. If your IP address or port number changes, the Sling Finder Service will update to reflect the changes.
In the properties screen, you'll need to enter your Slingbox alias and Slingbox ID into the boxes. When you're trying to connect to your Slingbox remotely, the Sling Player software connects to the Sling Finder server and acquires your current IP address by using your Slingbox ID. It then knows where online to look for your Slingbox and connect to it.
Direct Connection
Advanced users can configure the Sling Player software to find their Slingbox by entering a specific IP address or domain name. Manual configuration allows users to bypass the Sling Finder Service and connect without the intermediary.
There are few benefits to manual configuration. It really only helps those that have a static IP address, because they always know their IP or domain name (dynamic users would have to lookup and change the IP in the configuration menu anytime it changes). If you configure manually you do not have to rely on the Sling Finder Service. This means that you can connect to your Slingbox if the Sling Finder Service is not working properly.
September 2, 2008 6:44 AM
updated: September 2, 2008 6:44 AM
What is the error message? What port are you using? Try a direct connection using port 443.
March 19, 2009 2:27 AM
Hi guys, I just got a slingbox pro and I have a huge problem. My box is connected and I can see channels thru my computer but when I need to make a test for distant connection, it says that the box i not connected to the internet!!! I have a zyxel router connected to the ISP and from the Zyxel router I have connected a Linksys WRTP54G. On the linksys I have Obtain automatically IP and it seems that the Sling has a fixes IP, could that be the problem that I have to put my wireless Linksys on static IP? What about the Zyxel?? I may say I am total lost.... I have forwarded 5001 on Zyxel and Linksys.
Regards,
Henrik
March 19, 2009 6:38 AM
updated: March 19, 2009 6:41 AM
Zyxel Router and a Linksys WRTP54G which is also a router?
I see that the WRTP54G is for a vonage phone .. is the phone working working? If so .. connect the slingbox to it.
March 19, 2009 6:47 AM
Hi,
Actually, the Zyxel is provided by my ISP and this a Prestige 2602HW-61C. On the LAN I have added a Linksys WRTP54G. I believe that the Zyxel is used as the router but don't know if Linksys is used as well as a router. I am using it for the wireless connection and the SIP.
March 19, 2009 7:30 AM
updated: March 19, 2009 7:35 AM
so is this is how it's all connected?
.. internet <> Prestige 2602HW-61C <> Linksys WRTP54G <> Slingbox ?
And also .. if you are using vonage ... the phone is working?
You might want to Disable DHCP on WRTP54G
-- you don't want 2 routers on your home network unless you want to sub net --
March 19, 2009 7:36 AM
Yes exactly, but I can see TV on my laptop but from distant can't see any tv. I am not using vonage but voipbuster.
March 19, 2009 7:41 AM
Krusasse said: Yes exactly, but I can see TV on my laptop but from distant can't see any tv. I am not using vonage but voipbuster.
Is your Laptopn and Slongbox on the same subnet when at home .. in other words .. both connected to the wireless or both connected to the zyxel router? That us why it works at home.
When you are connecting from the internet .. you are coming in through the zyxel which doesn't speak to device on the subnetted devices .. connected to the linksys.
March 19, 2009 7:47 AM
Yes, my laptop is connected wireless and the slingbox is connected to the LAN on the wireless. I beliver that is why it works at home. What do you think the problem is when I connect I would like to test it away from away. It says slingbox ot connected to internet but it is. I think it is something about IP, dynamic or automatic IP??
March 19, 2009 2:00 PM
updated: March 19, 2009 2:03 PM
Krusasse said: Yes, my laptop is connected wireless and the slingbox is connected to the LAN on the wireless. I beliver that is why it works at home. What do you think the problem is when I connect I would like to test it away from away. It says slingbox ot connected to internet but it is. I think it is something about IP, dynamic or automatic IP??
From all that you have told me and from what your symptoms are i very much suspect that you have DHCP servers running on both the LINKSYS and your zyxel. That would explain the inability to connect from the internet (outside).
So .. you need to turn OFF DHCP on your Linksys ..
1) on your laptop bring up your browser and goto
192.168.15.1
And enter admin and the password
2) On the SETUP TAB .. DISABLE DHCP .. than SAVE Settings ...
3) Reboot the Linksys ... UNPLUG .. when a few seconds ... than power back up
4) REBOOT SLINGBOX and your PC ... now you should get your IPs from the zyxel router ...
At this point you should be good to go
Richard
ps if this works .. I'll explain what was happening
March 19, 2009 4:38 PM
Hi Rich,
On the linksys set up I only have local DHCP server. I have tried to disable it and closed my computer. Next morning I could connect to the linksys via Wireless so I tried to connect via LAN and that didn't work too. The funny thing is that I turned on my Macbook and with that one I could connect on the wireless even if DHCP was disabled but couldn't with my other Windows Vista computer, I was really worried. Then I enabled it again and it worked. Do you think I should change some settings on the computer maybe??
Thx a lot man, sweet of you for ur help so far.
Cheeers
Henrik
March 19, 2009 5:03 PM
updated: March 19, 2009 5:07 PM
ON your computer .... open a command window ..
and type this
c:>ipconfig /renew
I'm assuming that you were able to disable DHCP on your linksys
I'm not sure how the macbook works ... lease may have expired on the DHCP
Just to let you know ... calling Slingbox folks may be your next step .. they are great on getting these things resolved.
FYI ... only have one router running withing you home .. makes life alot better ...routers rely on being a DHCP servers ... so by disabling DHCP on your linksys .. you ultimately ended up with one SUBNET .. all reporting to your ISP MODEM
Richard
View unverified member's comment - posted by Tore from norway
View unverified member's comment - posted by Tore from norway
November 7, 2009 2:04 PM
I have a slingbox connected through a WRTP54G Linksys router to comcast internet. Initially everything worked well. Now when I try to log in, there is an error indicating the slingbox can not connect to my network. Everything else connected through my router works fine. Any tips?
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View unverified member's comment - posted by dskia