Sling Media Slingbox PRO (SB200-100)
by Sling Media
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List Price: Our Price: $135.00 You Save: $94.99 (41%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sling Media Slingbox PRO (SB200-100)
Customer Review: Great, once you get it dialed in
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a bit surprised by some of the hostility in the reviews. This is a very clever concept, but it deals intimately with home computer networking, TV hookups, cable TV complications, and internet variability, so it's no surprise that getting it all to work can often be a challenge.
We have a 3-year-old SlingboxPro. We have a big DLP set in the living room, fed by Comcast cable. Six months ago Comcast went all-digital, rendering our Tivo Series2 box less useful, and the Comcast HD converter box they provided was just awful. So, we bought a TivoHD unit, and now the living room video setup is simple and easy to use.
Once the TivoHD issue was settled, I turned to getting the Slingbox up and running again. I needed an adapter dongle with R/G/B connections, but those are suprisingly cheap on eBay.
Getting the SlingboxPro configured was MUCH easier than a few years ago. The setup guide was much more user-friendly than before, and we had video on our home PCs in just a few minutes.
Getting video outside of the home network is a bit more of a challenge, since you need to tell your router to let the Slingbox see the Internet and vice-versa. The automatic setup didn't work for us, but after a few false starts we found the web pages that explained to us how to go into the router (a DI-524 from D-Link) and make the changes necessary. After that, bingo--our remote laptops can see the Slingbox (and thus the Tivo box) from anywhere. Very slick.
But as mentioned this setup is not for the newbie. You may need to enlist the help of a nerdy family friend or a local expert.
Customer Review: Beware of this device
Summary: 2 Stars
Is this device a cool concept? Yes. Is it worth the resounding headache? No.
I can't tell you the number of issues I've had with this thing. Configuring it is a joke. I'm pretty good at these things but can't tell you the problems. Their techs have been on the phone with me so many times stumped its ridiculous.
You may be lucky - your router might sync nice with this and you may have a cable box or satellite box that is listed. Otherwise, get ready for hell. Maybe you move, your router dies or you upgrade your modem - start the process over and pray it syncs easily. I bought a very popular directv box and spent forever trying to find the remote code. Then the router wasn't one of the options to configure.
GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. You will need it. Otherwise, its $30 every time there is an issue.
$30 if your phone stops connecting, $30 if you replace routers and they don't have it listed, etc, etc.
One more thing - DO NOT MOVE THIS DEVICE AROUND. It is built very cheap and things are easily broken. The IR sensors stopped working and I only moved the box 1 time to a different part of the room. I'm not sure if they just wore out or if moving it around dislocated something.
In explaining my frustrations and asking nicely for them to comp one of my $30 tech assistance fees I was hung up on. I mean really, that's how you're trained to get out of a situation with a customer. I guess they figured the next call would be simpler - could always blame it on a bad connection I guess.
Customer Review: Great Device
Summary: 5 Stars
Slingbox is a really cool device that lets you access your cable from anywhere you have internet (including smart-phones, like the Motorola Q; the mobile software is $30 however). The video quality certainly isn't as good as a full TV but it's still completely sufficient for watching on your laptop or phone. The best part is the slingplayer software (which is a free download from their site, only the mobile version costs $$) is just like being at your tv with your cable provider's remote. Installing the slingbox can be difficult, particularly with wireless routers, but their customer service is very helpful, you can log on and instantly chat with a representative who will do the configuration on your computer for you if need be. They have almost every type of cable company's remote, so you can access unique features like ondemand and on-screen program guides on your computer or phone. Mine is at a friend's house back home (he has a better cable plan than I do) which means I get access to all the local channels and best of all, I get to see my home teams' games that aren't covered locally when I'm away at college
The only downside is the cost, slingbox pro is about $300, but 90% you have to also buy slinglink which is another $80 because most people don't have their router right next to the cable outlet. Then again it is just a one-time fee, and if you use it on your mobile phone, it beats any mobile TV service out there by a long shot since it's only $30 one time for the software (you need a good data plan, however)
Customer Review: This Thing is Slick!
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided to purchase a Slingbox after seeing it in action on a friend's PDA phone. He casually flipped it open and said, "Excuse me, I gotta check the NCAA tournement". I glanced over and he was watching ESPN... I thought to myself, quoting Will Smith, "I gotta get me one of THESE!!".
I hurried home and ordered the Slingbox Pro and it was at my doorstep in less than a week. Set-up was pretty painful, but only because I was trying to connect with my wireless network via a defective Linksys Wireless Gaming Adapter. Finally I ran out and bought a couple SlingLinks and spent the next hour laughing and shaking my head at how easy set-up was after that. If your Slingbox isn't right next to your internet router, I HIGHLY suggest getting the SlingLinks. Definitely worth the money.
My Slingbox connects quicker than I expected with both my laptop and my HTC Touch pda/phone. Software for the laptop is free via download from the Sling website though the software for the mobile device will cost you some dinero (30 day free evaluation though). Picture and sound quality is much better than I expected and I've heard nothing but good things about their customer support... though the one time I called with a question about license transfer I got a guy who MUST have been having a bad day. Very professional, but personable?... not so much. ;)
If you want to watch YOUR programming from anywhere with an internet connection, Sling is the way to go.
Customer Review: Great Idea - Poorly Executed
Summary: 3 Stars
Such a great idea. I really really want to like this product. But I'm thinking I don't.
Ask yourself two questions before purchasing this product:
(1) Do I have an ethernet connection next to my TV? Probably not, unless your main computer (the one with your broadband internet connection) is located in your family room or living room near your TV. I suspect for most people, the answer to that is no. But if so, you're golden.
(2) If your answer to number (1) is no, then the next question is this: Am I actually willing to pay about $90 more for this product than Slingmedia claims that it costs. Sure you can buy this for about $250. And then you can immediately head to your nearest computer store to shell out another $90 or so for a wireless bridge (the only way to connect it to your network, and thus view it on your computer) so you can actually use it. (Incidently Slingmedia sells just such a product for about $99, which they tout as the "least expensive way to connect your Slingbox to your router without wires.")
On principle I'm inclined to return the thing. It should work out of the box. How hard would it be for them to incorporate wireless capability and price it accordingly? After all, my Tivo effortlessly connected to my wireless network with a very inexpensive usb wireless connector (and would still be useful without it, whereas this product is worthless unless you can successfully connect it to your home network.)