#1: Sling Media Slingbox Pro
You no longer have to be stuck to the sofa to watch TV. The Slingbox™ PRO allows you to watch and control up to four video sources — including your HD content (when used with the included HD Connect cable) — from anywhere in the world on your laptop or mobile phone. That means you can virtually take your entire home cinema with you, including your favourite programmes from the built-in digital TV tuner (Freeview), digital cable set-top box, satellite receiver, digital video recorder (DVR), and DVD player. With the Slingbox PRO, you’ll be at home wherever you are. Slingbox PRO is compatible with over 5000 devices meaning you can choose to watch your set-top box (Freeview, cable or satellite receiver), DVR, or even your DVD player. There are no monthly fees, just connect up to four devices, plug it in, download the software, and you are ready to go.
The Slingbox PRO is designed to make it as easy as possible to set-up and enjoy. Simply connect the devices you wish to control, plug in your ethernet cable (from your broadband router) and turn it on. Then all you need to do is download the SlingPlayer software onto your computer and follow the instructions. In minutes you will be ready to watch your home TV via your computer. A quick start guide is included to make setting up your Slingbox PRO a piece of cake.
You can connect up to four audio/video sources to the Slingbox PRO. With the click of a button you can switch from digital cable, to your satellite receiver, to your DVR, to your DVD player.. There are composite video, S-Video, aerial and component (via the included HD Connect cable) connections. The aerial connection and built-in digital TV tuner (Freeview) mean you can access free to air digital TV without changing the channel on your TV in your lounge.
You can control most devices that would sit under and connect to your TV. Whether it is a simple set-top box (cable, satellite or Freeview), or a digital video recorder such as Freeview+, Sky+ or Virgin V+, you will be able to view or control everything as if you were sat on your sofa.
Why I chose the Pro over the Solo?
GREAT PRODUCT! Slingbox products work well, are easy to set up, the software application are easily downlaoded and configured and it provides a quality streaming experience and image.
I have slinged US TV to London, Seoul and Moscow and have just set up the Slingbox Pro so I can sling UK TV when I am travelling. Quality is always dependant on the broadband speed you are receiving.
The new versions of the Slingbox handle higher streaming speeds that provide better quality.
When you are away from home or in another room and are watching Sky, every channel change you makes affects the main or connected TV. What tilted my purchase towards the Pro was the ability to tune in both my Sky digital TV and Freeview channels. I can now watch Freeview without affecting what people watch on my living room main TV.
Besides occasional viewing on my home PC, I have loaded the player on my son’s laptop.
Both devices offer HDTV connectivity but the signal is reduced so its not as HD as one might think.
After some research and measurement, I decided to feed a 10 metre CAT5 Ethernet cable between my home office, where the wireless broadband router is, through two walls (I already had a passage for the broadband cable), and into the living room. This was a cheaper solution to adding a Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge 802.11g device or home plug (fast data transfer over existing household electrical circuit) system.
I was surprised at first to have to attach two separate black plastic strips with adhesive tape to my sky box in order to remotely control the TV. But once I installed it, which took all of 1 minute after I used a flashlight to identify exactly where the remote receiver bulb was, I forgot about it.
NEXT? Ultimately, I want to be able to watch web streamed video content on my TV. The Sling Catcher is due for release in the UK soon so maybe early 2008 I can start watching the HD web streamed content on my TV. Watching the internet video streamed on TV is a much better experience than the PC. You usually sit further away and the TV is made to improve images!
V+ Update
I dont normally bother writing reviews but I was almost put off buying this product by the 1* rating review about it not working with Virgin V+. After further investigation I thought I’d take the risk and glad I did.
My set up is a V+ box, connected via HD componant cables to the Slingbox PRO
Although slightly time consuming to set up, as this was due to my previous experience from other “to good to be true” gadgets. I took installation slowly. Within two hours of taking it out the box, neatly cabling and downloading the latest viewer I was up and running.
Works an absolute treat. On other websites/forums it was mentioned that the official V+ remote image was not available but this could be solved by selecting the Telewest TVdrive remote. I am glad to say that the latest revision of the software includes the V+ remote.
I have it installed on the Mac in the study and two PC laptops. I have also downloaded the Windows mobile client for my HTC Touch PRO and it works a dream (within a wifi or 3g coverage area).
To sum this up, it works, out of the box, brilliantly. A genuine A+ product.
