Setting Up Network Streaming

The best part about the .57 update is the addition of network streaming from any Windows XP, Vista, or Mac OS X 10.5.x shared folder or other SMB capable network device. This allows you to play back audio and video files from a network share rather than a directly attached FAT32 USB flash or hard disk drive.

Shares you add to your SlingCatcher appear in the My Media area along with any other directly attached storage devices you have.

To add a new share, navigate to Settings --> Storage --> Add Network Drive

Unfortunately, the Catcher can't scan for shares on your network, so you need to manually enter them using the Catcher's remote control. Here's hoping your share name isn't 50 characters long.

In my test, I added the network location of the Drobo attached to my DroboShare. 

After you add the URL of your network drive, you'll be prompted to add a Username and Password (necessary for password protected shared folders) as well as a name for share to help you identify it in the SlingCatcher.

Once your Share has been successfully added, head back to the main menu and look for for it in the My Media area.

The SlingCatcher will scan for new files the first time you connect to your Share, which looks for audio and video files.

To play back media, navigate to the audio or video file you wish to play and select it. Click the play button and playback will begin.

Impressions

The addition of network streaming, frankly, makes the My Media portion of SlingCatcher actually useful. As with any network attached DMR, there will be hiccups with certain file formats.  For example, even though they've added support for MPEG-1 files in this update, the one I tried to play back didn't work. Playback of other formats is also hit or miss, but thankfully the SlingSync App in the SlingCatcher Desktop Suite really helps make it easy.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with their first stab at this feature. It's quick to navigate shares, file playback is fast, and while basic compared to other DMRs I've used, works pretty well so far. 

  Page 3: HD Streaming from the Slingbox PRO-HD >>

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