Anyone here hip to "Slingbox"? - Page 3  

I just picked up my Slingbox last Friday at the Paramus, NJ (South) CompUSA. They had 6 in stock when I reserved my unit from CompUSA's site. They are probably sold out by now (unless they received another shipment since then.)

First, I thought the setup was incredibly simple. I was truly impressed (though I would NEVER, EVER give one to my parents!!). As simple as the setup was, I could not get the Replay to change channels during the Slingplayer setup. No matter what I did, it wouldn't work. After 1/2 hour on the phone with a Sling tech, he decided that I had a faulty flasher cable and he is sending me a replacement. That was a bummer - 'cause I really wanted to play with it. I was really pissed that Sling decided to use a 3/32 jack, instead of a standard one, as I had other flashers I could have tried, but I they had 1/8 jacks. It was late at night so I had to wait a day to pick up an adaper at Rat Shack. I must say that the small jack did not seem to have a very tight fit (it didn't really "snap" when I plugged it in).

Truth is, I was really trying to NOT use Sling's flasher. My problem was that the IR window in my 4516 is really small. My Replay sits in a converted cabinet behind a swing-out drawer front. It is hidden, along with the rest of my equipment and works with a main IR Receiver that blasts the IR signals to each of my components through a Xantech connecting block. There is literally NO room for any additional flasher in front of the window. The dual flasher that came with the Slingbox is really big, and is made to extend an inch or so in front of the window. I don't have that space available in my setup, so I decided to use a 3/32 > 1/8 adapter and a 6' m-m audio extender cable to connect the IR out from the Slingbox directly into my "IR Receiver IN" jack in my connecting block. This way, I would only have my original flasher over the IR window and the Sling signals would be transmitted through my connecting block. To others out there... 'DON'T DO THAT!". I burned out 2 transformers (one for each of my 2 connecting blocks). So, I now have the solution: I am using the 3/32 > 1/8 adapter with a standard Xantech flasher placed ALONGSIDE my original flasher. The two flasher "lenses" are side-by-side over the IR window and they both work well (even though the window is a 1/4" circle). Fortunately, I had 2 replacement transformers and an extra flasher. I did have to buy the adapter, but it was pretty cheap. And YES, the Sling flasher was defective as the Xantach one works just fine.

Otherwise, I have the beta player installed. I am pretty impressed, but so far, I have only viewed through my local network. Seems much better when I am wired vs. wireless (b) My LAN bitrate has been as high as about 850 kbps on my desktop, but it seems like it averages between 500 and 700. My laptop on wireless sometimes goes below 200 and then it ocassionally stutters. And I sometimes get a severe humm (which is now starting to bother me). I just moved the transformer and I think the hum went away. Will have to wait and see... All and all, I think this is way cool. Now I have 3 networked Replays, a Slingbox, a Proliphix IP Thermostat, a Pan/Tilt/Zoom Netcam, Vonage. Soon, I won't even have to get out of my chair!! Anyone know of an IP device that will feed me??

Also the Slingbox and the transformer seem to get very hot. Any one else notice this? Any reason to worry? Mine is in an enclosed cabinet, but there is ventilation space on all sides.

Sling support....
Yesterday my Slingbox streaming was down to under 30 kb/s instead of it's usual 400-700 kb/s. Resulted in choppy/frozen video. I dropped the connection and restarted several times without result. I realized the Slingbox probably just needed a reboot (remove DC power, connect DC power) but I was at my office. I couldn't find anything about remote reboots in the FAQ's or other docs.
I gave tech support a call for advice.....
Seems there's no way to do a remote reboot of the Slingbox at this time. I asked him if he could add that feature to the "wish list" he told me it was already on there. Shouldn't be too hard to add a reboot feature to the firmware.
Anyway, I just wanted to let others know that Sling mgmt. is open to suggestions and it seems they want to improve their product. :D

The Slingbox will reboot if you change the network configuration, which you can do remotely with the administrator password. I came up with a method to kick off a "guest" user that I posted here. You could attempt using the same method to force a reboot remotely once you set up two ports in your router to toggle your Slingbox between.

Tried this (toggling between ports) and can see the Slingbox go off line and then back on line, but can't tell if it's really doing a "reboot". Time will tell. Thanks for the tip.

Yes. I think the phrase used by the Slingbox is something like "restart" so I think at best it is a warm reboot and more likely just restarting a service with the new port assignment.

I helped test the initial W2K beta and was happy to see the new player and firmware released yesterday so quickly after the public .89 beta. However, I was disappointed the new build didn't include the improvements in the Replay remote controls to enable a button for direct access to the Replay Guide and for the Pgup Pgdn displayed button to work.

I know they're working on getting those codes mapped and I thought they wouldn't be too difficult to add - especially since they tackled the multiple Replay/Tivo codesets. Since they get many feature requests, Replay/Slingbox users will need to speak up if they want improvements in the remote codes.

Thanks, I'll setup another port forwarding line on my router in case the Sling gets sluggish again. I'll let you know if it works out... ;)

It appears the good people at Slingmedia are going to continue to improve what the Slingbox can do. They released a software and firmware update in the past week that greatly improves the picture quality. I can't wait to travel out of town and view my ReplayTV programming and live TV from my home setup remotely. :cool:

Pretty cool indeed :) Can't wait for the customized ReplayTV remote they're hopefully working on.

Do a Google search for "Internet Power Switch".

Well, looks like Sling had some bad hardware shipped out. Seems there's a "recall" of sorts with unit sn# in the range of 50600000 to 50700801. My unit is SN 5060XXXX. That would explain the streaming problems I've had with it. I contacted Sling support, they loked up my case notes and agreed that my unit displayed all the symptoms of a defective box, and they are sending a new advance replacement unit. Here's the link to the "recall" notice:http://www.slingmedia.com/gethelp.ph...007%26p%3D7393

Got my Slingbox and want to set it up to work with my Replay5XXX, linked by Ethernet cable to a wireless router to DSL connection. We have Directv and use an IR Blaster to change channels via the Replaytv. We have 4 Replays, all 5XXX in our network, with 3 wireless and one wired.

My question is, when I hook the Slingbox up to the RTV, I am supposed to attach an IR Blaster to the RTV, but I can't see where the "eye" is on the front of the RTV to attach the IR blaster to. The Slingbox directions are pretty general.

Any insights?

Thanks,

Carolyn

Carolyn, the ReplayTV's IR receiver is between the red light and the blue light. You should be able to find it based on that

Only had it 1 day so far and it is great even over the web! Easy to set up and you can control replay easily and use replay inputs to monitor your security cameras etc.

Thanks, MH!

Carolyn

I am using ORB software right now but I have to first download the shows via DVARchive before I can view them using ORB, with the Slingbox, do you have to download them or can you seen them directly off of the replay?

You can see them directly off your ReplayTV, as well as watching live TV or shows recorded on other networked RTVs through the ReplayTV if you desire.

that is pretty kick a$$

Good work! btw. So many things go unsaid around here.

Expertise is almost everything, but good timing of initiative is the everything else that decides whether something happens or not.

Way to manifest yourself. four hooves up!

It allows you to watch and control your replay tv in real time over the internet. All you need is a broadband connection and the $249 retail Slingbox (slingmedia.com). Plug your video and audio out into the Slingbox, set the remote infra-red transmitter and plug the Slingbox into your ethernet connection and it does the rest. It is an amazing thing!
And you can set up recordings immediately. It also allows you to watch the replay inputs in real time such as any cable channel.

can you help me out? roady2 is the model

quite

Who would want to spend all that money for that little functionality?

if you travel or want to watch your replay at work, it's perfect. I have my security camera as an imput to the replay and can monitor it in full motion and sound from work or while traveling.

I've been reading about "slingbox" and please excuse the confusion but I wanted to clarify an issue. The only function that I really need is to be able to access my replay 5000 unit from a PC in a different location (i.e the library or on while on vacation) and program a show that I may have forgotten to do or that popped up suddenly. I am not concerned about watching shows I have recorded from a remote location but I would love to be able to control the replay (delete shows, check to see if a show recorded ok, etc.). Do I need "slingbox" for this? Are there other options? Cheaper options? Software options? etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! THANKS! :)

Seems to be XP only [maybe w2k] -- but that leaves out a lot of my hardware.

The web interface of DVArchive will do everything you are wanting to do. All you have to do is leave DVA running on a home computer on the same network as your ReplayTV(s) and you will be able to do what you mentioned.

The Slingbox allows you to interface directly with the ReplayTV, which means you can do everything you could do if you were sitting in front of that particular ReplayTV.

I wouldn't say it's a must for a ReplayTV owner, but it is pretty darn cool and the fact that you can have multiple inputs into the ReplayTV means you can access that many more video sources from anywhere with a decent Internet connection.

While DVA allows you to schedule recordings almost instantly from anywhere, and manage shows as far as deleting, triggering downloads to your home PC, etc, the Slingbox certainly provides more and different functionality.