Sling Community - Latest Articles

Slingbox 101: SlingCatcher Minimum Requirements and Specs

theSource — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:18:51 GMT

Don't know what you need to use the SlingCatcher? This article covers the basic requirements needed to use the SlingCatcher, SlingProjector, and SlingSync.

Slingbox 101: Slingbox Minimum Requirements and Specs

theSource — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:42:00 GMT

Don't know what you need to use the Slingbox? This article covers the basic requirements needed to use the Slingbox SOLO and PRO-HD for both your network and computer.

Slingbox 101: Getting to Know Your Slingbox and SlingCatcher's Connections

Matt Whitlock — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:15:00 GMT

Remember the days when everything in your home theater was hooked up with a basic coax cable? Today, the common AV device for your home theater will typically sport anywhere from two to seven different audio and video connections. Which ones are you supposed to use? What does the Slingbox support? Whether you're planning ahead or actually hooking up a Slingbox right now, you'll need to know how to fit it in with your current gear if you want to free yourself from the confines of your living room. Let's take a look at the back side of the Slingbox, and learn a little more about the cables and connections you'll use to get your Slingbox and SlingCatcher up and running. NOTE: You can view the back of your Slingbox at any time by clicking your Slingbox model at the bottom of each section. Network, Power, and Peripheral Connections NOTE: You can view the back of your Slingbox at any time by clicking your Slingbox model at the bottom of each section. Power "I'm sorry, captain. We just don't have the power!" Electronics don't work without a power source, so if you want to actually use your Slingbox or SlingCatcher...

How To Use Your Slingbox With HDMI Video Sources and Avoid HDCP Issues

rkalish — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:21:43 GMT

For some time now, using a Slingbox with an HDMI compatible video source such as the SA-8300HD DVR, did not allow you to use the HDMI output, which is usually the preferred A/V hookup to your HD Plasma or LCD. Due to HDCP restrictions, if the device on the other end of the HDMI cable is not turned on, the DVR will shut down its other video outputs and therefore send no video to the Slingbox. The only way to use the Slingbox and HDMI is to leave the TV turned on, hardly a practical solution. What is HDCP for? HDCP was put in place to prevent copying of protected shows, but the implementation on devices such as the SA-8300HD and TiVo DVRs is to shut down all video outputs unless the HDCP handshake is present. To solve this problem, there needs to be a way to return a correct HDCP handshake to the DVR, even if the TV is not powered on. The solution which I've tested consists of two components - a 1X2 HDMI splitter and an HDFury, which is a module that can convert HDMI to other video formats. The HDFury is the key as it is...

Slingbox 101: Choosing Between the Slingbox PRO-HD and Slingbox SOLO - Which One is Right For Me?

Matt Whitlock — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:42:00 GMT

Today, consumers are faced with the task of choosing between two different Slingbox models, the Slingbox SOLO and Slingbox PRO-HD, with each uniquely tailored to a specific kind of user. With choice comes confusion, so it's time to get an answer to the question that will be asked by nearly all newcomers to the Sling experience, "Which Slingbox is right for me?

Slingbox 101: Set-Top Boxes, Tuners, and the Family Battle for Control

Matt Whitlock — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:30:05 GMT

One of the most common questions I've seen asked in the SlingCommunity Forums goes a little something like this... "I have a [insert brand] cable/satellite box [insert model] and we just bought a Slingbox. How do we hook it up so we can both watch a different dish/cable channel at the same time? Or "How do I connect the Slingbox to my cable/satellite box's second tuner?" There's clearly a great deal of confusion when it comes to Slingbox and set-top boxes , and it's high time it was clearly addressed. Let's clearly identify the issue here... set-top boxes. Satellite and cable customers with digital packages need them to watch TV, while others rely on TiVo or some other third-party device to make TV watching convenient. Toss a Slingbox into the mix, and you end up battling family members for control. You want to watch the local news over the Slingbox, but your spouse wants to watch a movie on HBO. Just imagine you and your spouse (or your roommate, kid, parent, or whatever) sitting on the couch in front of the TV, and each of you have a remote to the cable box. How frustrating (or dangerous depending on who...

No Ethernet? No Problem! Powerline, MoCA, and Wireless-N Kits Compared

Matt Whitlock — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:03:14 GMT

Despite the ever increasing proliferation of devices and services that require a broadband connection to the Internet, the average home has one major flaw: no Ethernet. Even modern day new-construction often lacks the magic eight conductor cable strung to every room, meaning getting that connection to things like Slingbox, Xbox Live, and other web based devices can be a real challenge. Ethernet is the backbone of the network, and easily the fastest, most reliable way to network your devices. However, because most homes lack structural Ethernet wiring (and oftentimes adding it after the walls are buttoned up can be too difficult and/or expensive) a significant amount of effort has been put into creating devices that help you get network connections in other rooms using other means. Some rely on wireless technologies, while others rely on structured cabling common to homes. If you're stuck with a Slingbox or SlingCatcher in a room without Ethernet and you need to use an Ethernet bridge of some sort, you'll have to choose between one of three major technologies to get the job done: powerline, wireless, and coax. Here are three different plug-and-play Ethernet adapter kits (based on these different technologies I personally use) and...

Getting to Know the Web Based SlingPlayer for Mac Public Beta

NA9D — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:00:29 GMT

Sling Media has officially released a beta version of their web based SlingPlayer software for Mac OS X ! This player can be found by logging on to beta.sling.com and choosing the "Live TV" option (or go to: http://beta.sling.com/sling_player ). Both Safari 3 and Firefox 3 are currently supported. If you're a Mac owner, you'll want to take a little time to get to know this new web based SlingPlayer. Below I'll give a brief overview of the player, as well as give you a few configuration tweaks you might need. No Support for Legacy Slingboxes As is the case with the iPhone software, the 'Legacy Slingboxes' (meaning Slingbox models Classic, AV, and Tuner) are not supported on the Mac version of the web based SlingPlayer. It's important to note that unlike the iPhone SlingPlayer, they will not work at all in the new web SlingPlayer for Mac. As I write this, I have not determined a way to modify the plug-in to allow it. I've been told that the firmware on the legacy boxes is not compatible. These boxes will show up in your list of Slingboxes with a yellow dot next to them, but you will not be...