Well, I figured that, but with a cable box, will you still be able to change the channel while you are away, since obviously that's one of the major features that I want a Slingbox for?

I didn't think with most cable boxes that you could remotely control them like that, but I've only really been in contact with old cable boxes.

Oh wow, I completely misunderstood how the Slingbox actually communicates with the box.

I'm here thinking that it controls it somehow with the cable line or it has to be a special type of box.

I never thought it would be able to do it through remote codes. That's just insanely awesome.

I really have to read more about the Slingbox because I really do believe I want to get one, because it's so simple and will not die after a few years and even though Orb.com is nice, you need a fast machine and I swear TV tuner cards can be annoying as heck when using them with Orb or just using them in general.

geoff101 said: i have the slingbox Tuner....i talked to the cable company, they said i would be fine with it after the conversion next year, without the need for a box...basically the tuner is no different than a tv, and the tv will work running the cable from the wall straight to the set, no need for a cable box. so the slingbox tuner should function in the same way....I have charter expanded basic, no premium or HD channels....are you saying they arent telling the truth? That my tuner will become obsolete and unusable without a cable box? I made sure to clarify my setup....i have 4 tv's, one cable box. all tv's are older cable ready tv's but not digital ready. The tv with the box currently gets about 130 channels..the other's without boxes only get channels 2-99. My slingbox tuner only gets 2-99 (analog stations). However Charter told me that the transition will not have any affect on anything...now, being that the tv's without digital boxes, and the slingbox Tuner falling into that category, if the analog cable ready tv's will work being plugged directly into the wall will work, it would only be wise to consider the Slingbox Tuner to work as well. I dont know if Charter installed a Digital-to-Analog converter outside when they hooked up my cable earlier this year...but they are saying my setup will work...i guess time will tell.

Well Cable will be analog until 2011 but eventually when it becomes digital you will need a convertor of some sort.