One of the most anticipated new features on the Slingbox PRO is its HDTV capable input. Though they use a standard HDMI port on the back of the Slingbox, you can’t actually connect a HDMI device directly to it. This port is designed for use with Sling Media’s HD dongle accessory, which is packaged and sold separately at an MSRP of $49. This adapter allows you to connect component video cables from your device to the Slingbox, and includes a pass-thru so you can still connect the component cables to your HDTV. Though a production model adapter wasn’t available at the time of this writing, Sling Media was kind enough to send me a prototype unit to test out the HD performance of the Slingbox PRO.

Benefits of Owning the HD Adapter

It’s important to note the Slingbox PRO will only accept HDTV resolutions when coupled with the HD dongle, it doesn't stream them. It still streams them at 640 x 480 maximum, which begs the question, “How does that improve the picture?” HD set-top owners will experience three significant benefits from the HD dongle:

1. Most HD set-top boxes that output both analog and HDTV images simultaneously will reformat the analog out for a typical 4:3 display by adding blank space at the top and bottom of the screen. This reduces the amount of actual picture information since some of the resolution is devoted to these blank areas. Widescreen HD signals are sent to the component adapter in their anamorphic form (meaning no blank space), thus all resolution is devoted to the actual image.
   
2. Some set-top boxes are quirky in how they handle HDTV outputs. For example, my Motorola DCT-6412 will not output on-screen graphics through the analog outputs when the cable box is tuned to an HDTV channel. In the past, I’ve always had to switch to an analog station in order to call up the program guide or any on-screen menu. Another benefit is for those who own certain DVRs and set-tops that will only use the HDTV capable outputs when set up for use with a high-definition television, forcing the user to reconfigure the DVR every time they wanted to use the Slingbox. Having a high-definition capable component input and output solves all of these headaches.
   
3. It adds a fourth input to the Slingbox, freeing up other inputs for additional devices.

You can easily see an image quality difference when a high-definition source is played back through the component video and S-video inputs. Below are stills of a high-definition signal captured from the S-video input, the other the component input.

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Though the S-video capture from the Slingbox looks good, the component video input shows more detail, and ends up larger because of widescreen support. Below is a comparison between the component input on the Slingbox PRO and the S-video input on the original Slingbox.

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