When there’s good, there’s bad

For as good as the HD input is, it's not without any imperfections. For one, all HDTV images must be scaled down to a lower resolution by the Slingbox before they can be streamed to your SlingPlayer. For the most part, the Slingbox does an adequate job of this, but it tends to leave a fair amount of jaggies and other picture anomalies on images with fine details.

The other downside is that the Slingbox doesn’t take the change from analog to HDTV scanning rates very smoothly. When the input timing changes, the Slingbox image will go all “garbly” (technical term) for about 5 seconds, and then restart the stream entirely. Most HDTVs don’t like this change either, but they typically recover a lot faster.

This may or may not be a problem for some users depending on the set-top box you’re using. If your device upconverts all analog signals to HDTV scanning rates, you’ll never see this.

Neither issue is a deal breaker, nor is Sling going to sit around and do nothing about them. I’m sure Sling will continue to improve the HD performance with future software and firmware updates as we get closer to the adapter's availability.

More tools for viewing digital TV

Adding support for digital TV meant it was time to add more options to overcome some of the formatting problems associated with it. Right clicking the image and highlighting “Video Size” will bring up a wealth of new viewing options. Support for regular 4:3 and 16:9 images remains from previous builds, but now there’s options for letterbox, pillarbox, and window box viewing. Not everyone may know what all these modes are for, but once you start throwing HDTV images at your Slingbox, you’ll get to know them in a hurry.

For example, broadcasters often transmit older 4:3 shows on their digital stations as widescreen images by adding blank space to the left and right of the image (known as “pillarboxing”).

Before pillarbox mode

After pillarbox mode

Selecting the pillarbox viewing mode will eliminate the blank space to the left and right of the image. The uses for all these modes will be addressed in an upcoming SlingCommunity article.

Do I Need it?

Not every PRO owner needs the HD adapter, especially if you don’t own any HD equipment… probably why it’s packaged separately. If you do, adding the HD adapter will yeild substantial image quality improvements. If you’re dying for the best image quality possible from your HD equipment, or if you have one of those finicky HD devices as described above, don’t even think twice.

More Slingbox Family Articles

The Slingbox Family - Slingbox Tuner, Slingbox AV, & Slingbox PRO - The new Slingboxes are here, and SlingCommunity's got them all! Join SlingCommunity Editor, Matt Whitlock, as he takes an in-depth look at Sling Media's newest line of Slingbox products.

The Slingbox Tuner Review - An in-depth look at Sling Media's newest little Slingbox for those who have the most "basic" needs.

The Slingbox AV Review - It's small, fast, controls just about any external source, and will get you Slinging in no time.

The Slingbox PRO Review - The kitchen sink of Slingboxes. Accepts HD sources, multiple inputs, pass-thru for everything... the PRO has it all.

Slingbox PRO, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox Tuner Performance Review - Just exactly how does the new family of Slingboxes stack up to the original. Are they really better? Find out here.

Which Slingbox is Right For Me? - In days past, picking out a Slingbox was easy. Did you want the Slingbox behind door number 1, door number 1, or door number 1? Now there's choice... come see which Slingbox is right for you!

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