OK.  I think one of the goals of this Community is to relate to people who don't own a SB or, perhaps, folks who haven't actually put theirs to the test remotely.  Until yesterday, I was the latter.

As of this moment, I am sitting on my fat rear in the US Virgin Islands, some 1500 miles or so from my home in the Northeast where my Directv HD Tivo and regular resolution Sony Directv box reside -- connected, of course, to my SB Pro (Christmas present from my beautiful daughters).  By the way, it's 82.8 degrees here -- I digress.  Anyway, we have cable IP at home and some sort of broadband here in the USVI.  Before I got here, believe me, I had my doubts.  No question the picture and sound are better on the LAN at home, but not much better.

 I am astonished how good the picture and sound are remotely.  I'm streaming mid-500's to mid-900's Kbps, with, probably, 700's being the average.

Could it be better, sure.  But is it watchable, absolutely.  In fact, it's so good I'm thinking about routing it all to my 36 inch Panasoinc direct view TV and my stereo receiver.

But not now.  I'm going to the beach.

Agree entirely -  the picture quality is important, but it's of secondary importance to the content. Hell, five years ago, I watched something on a live feed of Portuguese TV using a dialup connection. Sure, it wasn't TV quality, but it was something I wanted to see, and that was the most convenient way to see it.  For most people, it's a big enough breakthrough just to be able to watch TV from back home at all. 

Given the choice, I'd rather spend US$5k on a TV2Me than a HDTV set, but I don't have that to spend, and would be happy with a SlingBox and SlingCatcher. (Incidentally, TV2Me doesn't have an equivalent to the SlingCatcher, so there.)   

jessijohnson said:
Not only does TV2Me control "a myriad of video sources" (check the TV2Me website) but it does it at DVD quality. I'm talking full screen on a 62-inch plasma screen.

 Ill just pack my 62 inch plasma screen in my carry on along with my Nieman-Marcus Jet Pack and personal submersable water craft.

jessijohnson said:

I'd like to see someone (magazine/reporter) test both and give some feedback. TV2Me has already beaten out Sony's LocationFree (NY Times article), I doubt Slingbox will be any different.

 Because US media such an great source for unbiased information.

"id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." Tom Waits

The key to this whole discussion is that they're not even realistically competing products...

Slinging Tivo HD, Tivo S2, and OTA from a Pro HD, Tivo HD from a Pro, Tivo HD from a Solo, and Humax DRT800 from a Classic to iPhone, Dell Inspiron 1520 with Sprint EVDO, and a SlingCatcher over Mi-Connection cable with 2Mbps upload.

Well I have one customer who has 3 slings each with 1mb speed.

He also has a TV2me system that he is very unhappy with. The TV2ME would not stream at higher speeds even though the server it was attached to had a lot of bandwidth. Then TV2ME wanted US$450 to make a software adjustment as their own software limited the device to a lousy 350kpbs.. TV2me wants to change from firefox to explorer for device functions too.

 It has taken TV2me over one month and this unit the customer sent me is still not opertaional.... what a F... up.

Ok now it's up to 640kpbs and the MPEG4 is better than the slings Mpeg2.

But at 20 times the cost the customer is very unhappy.

So unhappy he's ready to try my own MPEG4 system based on linux. So far in testing things have gone well with writing our own IR codes and getting the Mpeg4 sorted and the ensuring that there is no frame rate problems.

One other advantage with Pentium based linux is that it can record programming to the hard drive and also needs less bandwidth to get good picture quality.

The Slings do a great service for the low end $$$ user

If Evolution Works, Why So Many Idiots?

I bought a SB Pro today with an intention to watch Asia TV show in my home in Canada. I sucessfully configure the setting that can watch the canadian soruce TV from my home in Canada. Then I browed the Slingcommunnity to see some comment from other users, I started to worry that the slingbox may not work as my intention-I saw this post "Slingbox doesn't go the distance"

 I can't wait! I asked my friend in Asia (10267 Km from my home in Canada) to help me test my new slingbox. The result is "great". The TV show is smooth. Although the video quality is a little bit worst than if the computer  plug in directly from the TV source, it is highly acceptable. My friend said she gives 95% out of 100% for the video quality, but what can you expect, it is 10267KM away! (I have a 1M upload speed).

I didn't know what's TV4ME but from this discussion I knew it cost $5000 for the same function of SB, who will try TV4ME? For those who complain the video quality, I would say it may becuase of your low upload speed. But technology is changing everyday, 1M upload speed is now more affordable. 2M upload speed will be affordable soon too. SB is the best choice.

By the way, I didn't know there is a product call Slingbox until yesterday I browe the Besybuy website. After some research, I decided to buy a SB Pro to try. If it was not function as my intention, I will return the SB to Bestbuy. If you suspect SB doesn't go the distance, why don't you buy one to try and refund it if it does not work?

 I cetainly will keep the SB!

$5K, is a sin and unarmed robbery. Just kidding, but I can't afford it nor justify it, is not of value.

Hi Hawks:

I appreciate the information.I am not interested in my son back in California being able to the TV programs from Spain,but what I really want is for me to be able to watch the stateside programs by connecting to his TV (he is on cable) and has a cable box that he goes through,and he does not have a sling box.My computer is new,and has a PCI express G force 6200 (512MB) HIPERMEMORY (256MB) Grafica card.( on my components list it has a CD/TV CARD listed).I am on broadband cable (100.0 Mbps connecting speed),but I assume I have enough upload speed.In essence,I have to go thru my computer to use the sling box,is that correct?I have read some of the postings where people are saying they are connecting directly to their TV without even a mention of their computer,and I did find that rather odd.I know that Spain is light years ahead of some of the countries that people claim to be using their sling box from and to.Sure would be nice to be able to watch some of the sporting events from the States.Again,I appreciate the info you have given me,and would appreciate any other ideas you may have. Thanks!

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If you have got 5 grand to but the TV2ME unit why would you buy it surely you can afford of be in a location where you don't require TV from home.

I use my slingbox as I work on a boat in Angola I am sure if I had 5 grand to buy one of these

I sure F.... would not be working.....