Choose a FAQ

Welcome to the General Questions FAQ!

This FAQ is intended to answer many of the common questions about the Slingbox, Sling Media, and SlingPlayer software. Please check here, and in other articles and threads on the site to see if your question has been answered before posting in the SlingCommunity Forums.

General Questions

• What is a Slingbox?
• What are the Slingbox requirements?
• Where can I purchase a Sling Media Products?
• Does the Slingbox have a monthly fee?
• How many people can connect to the Slingbox at the same time?
• Can the Slingbox be connected to PAL or SECAM devices?
• Does the Slingbox work with wireless networks?
• Will the Slingbox work with my cable box or satellite box?
• Can the Slingbox record shows to my computer's hard drive for playback at a later time?
• What upload/download speed do I need to use Slingbox?
• Can there be more than one Slingbox on the network?
• Is my Slingbox secure?
• My Slingbox will not receive a signal from my HD device unless the TV is on? What's the deal?
• Can I watch a Slingbox on the iPhone?
  

What is a Slingbox?

A Slingbox is a television/video placeshifting device designed and manufactured by Sling Media, Inc. It's intended to allow a consumer to watch and control their home television sources from any broadband Internet location worldwide. The Slingbox is sold in a variety of models, and many different countries throughout the world. To learn more about the US models, follow the links below:

Slingbox Classic | Slingbox Tuner | Slingbox A/V | Slingbox PRO | Slingbox SOLO

---

What are the Slingbox requirements?

The Slingbox minimum and recommended requirements can be viewed here.

---

Where can I purchase a Sling Media Products?

Sling Media products can be purchased from many national retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, and PC World. It can also be purchased through many popular online retailers like Amazon.com, NewEgg.com, and Target.com, or direct through Sling Media's Website. US customers can support SlingCommunity by purchasing Sling Media products here.

---

Does the Slingbox have a monthly fee?

No. The Slingbox does not have any recurring monthly fees.

---

How many people can connect to the Slingbox at the same time?

Only one user can be connected to the Slingbox at any given time.

---

Can the Slingbox be connected to PAL or SECAM devices?

Yes and No. The Slingbox can be purchased in different versions based on the television system in your local area. A Slingbox purchased in one country is not guaranteed to work with the television system in another country.

---

Does the Slingbox work with wireless networks?

The Slingbox itself does not have wireless networking technology built in, but can be connected wirelessly to a router through a Wi-Fi to Ethernet bridge or Powerline adapter like the SlingLink.

---

Will the Slingbox work with my cable box or satellite box?

The Slingbox is compatible with many different cable and satellite boxes, and support for additional products is being added through updates to the SlingPlayer software. In the event Slingbox does not have support for your device, be sure to check the Remote Controls area here at SlingCommunity. We have a variety of member-contributed remote files for devices the Slingbox currently does not support.

---

Can the Slingbox record shows to my computer's hard drive for playback at a later time?

The Slingbox is currently used to view the video stream from your home device. It will not record the video stream for offline viewing. When using SlingPlayer version 2.0 or greater, the Slingbox stream can be buffered to the hard drive for up to 60 minutes using the pause and play buttons in the SlingPlayer software.

---

What upload/download speed do I need to use Slingbox?

All Slingbox streaming requires a broadband Internet connection capable of 256 kbps or greater for standard definition viewing. Connections of 384 kbps or greater is recommended for better remote streaming performance. To stream in high-definition using the Slingbox PRO-HD, Sling Media recommends an upload speed 1.5 Mbps or greater.

---

Can there be more than one Slingbox on the network?

Yes, provided each is Slingbox is assigned a different IP address and port number on your home network.

---

Is my Slingbox secure?

The Slingbox has two levels of password protection. You should never reveal your Slingbox Finder ID, admin password, or guest password to anyone. Changing your passwords from time to time will enhance security. Read "Setting/Changing the password of your Slingbox" for instructions. For viewing privacy, the Slingbox establishes an encrypted channel between the Slingbox and the SlingPlayer application.

---

My Slingbox will not receive a signal from my HD device unless the TV is on? What's the deal?

Some HD cable boxes and satellite receivers will not output signals through the composite, S-video, or component connections if the box is also connected to a television with an HDMI cable due to HDCP copy protection. Click here to search our fourms for more information about HDCP.

---

Can I watch my Slingbox on the iPhone?

Yes. SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone is $29.99, allows you to connect to your Slingbox when connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot (no 3G), and is available now through the App Store.

---

Back to Top | Return to FAQ Index