OT- Slingbox Questions
August 31st, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
"Names Carl. MMMMhmmm. You recon you got anyuvdem french-fried 'taters?"
August 31st, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
no, you would control the remote from whatever device you are using (laptop, iphone, ipad, etc). The only catch is that your friend cannot be watching the same TV to which the cable box, or direct tv is connected to - atleast not at the same time you want to watch the game. He can use other TVs in the house, but not the one being used by the slingbox. Hope that helps.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Yeah basically it takes whatever is being broadcast by the set top box and projects it through the internet. So you can basically control his TV but there's no way for the two of you to watch different things.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
Could you theoretically connect a slingbox to a box without a TV attached to it? Say, if I moved to a different state, didn't have cable there, but had a slingbox attached to the cable box in my old room at my parents' house just plugged in without a TV?
Yes, I am conspiring to mooch off my parents' cable during grad school.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
I'm pretty sure this should work. I have HAVA and not a sling box, but I think it's basically the same. You connect to the cable box, not the TV (e.g. my parents tv can be turned off, and I can still watch what's being transmitted from the cable box.)
August 31st, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
I am not sure, but theoretically it sounds like it might work since the traffic is coming in from the box itself into the slingbox. I would try it beforehand though and see.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
August 31st, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
As has been answered below by several others, that is exactly what I do. I have my Slingbox connected to a designated cable box at my brother's house, for my use only.
Speaking of Sling Media, they recently had a major service problem that was connected to the move of Sling Media from California to Colorado. It took them several weeks, but it seemed as if they finally solved the problem. Now, just as of today, some people are reporting problems again (including me).
All in all it has been great and has allowed me to watched college football after missing a season.
BTW, is anyone else out there currently experiencing problems in connecting to their Slingbox?
Thanks!
August 31st, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
Be warned though, slingbox is not an easy setup as it seems to be. Its sensitive to what technology it is connected to. I had to get a new router altogether in order for it to work. Also if your friend's router is not very near the cable box, you might have to make additional investments for remote connection between the router and the cable/sat box. For instance, i had to get the slinklink since my router and directtv are in different rooms.
Once i got the connection though, i have been happy. Looking foward to watching football from anywhere i am at.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
Never used a slingbox. Would you guys recommend one? I'm going to be at a family reunion for the game and that's the day of the family picture so I'll have to watch it on my phone and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do that. Any suggestions would be great.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
I would. Nothing like having conrol of your cable box live (or watch pre-recorded shows if you have it connected to a DVR) where ever you are at. I have an iPhone so i downloaded the slingbox mobile player (addtional 30 bucks) to watch TV basically anytime i want when i am away from home. They are coming out with an iPad mobile player as well, though for now you can install the iphone player and still get decent picture quality. I am sold.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
I've got an iphone as well. Do you have any issues with it?
August 31st, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
none so far. Works pretty well. Always have 3G on. Haven't tried it at a WiFi location outside my house though. Not sure how streaming would be then. But on 3G, i am pleased with the quality.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^
Thanks for the help. I'd been leaning toward getting one and you've pushed me over the edge. My wife will be happy I found something so I'm not pissed off all day. Thanks again.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
Anytime. I think you'll be pleased. And with bluetooth availability in cars, you can stream it to your BT and at the very least hear the game if you are on the road. Pure awesomeness...
September 1st, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^
Good thing we probably won't have Pam Ward this year, or else all you'd have were his monotone, off-base, and incoherent statements.
/crosses fingers
August 31st, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Your friend has to be watching what you want to watch, but you can control the remote. Simply log into the Slingbox software, flip to the channel and enjoy.
And no, you don't need to have a TV hooked up to the cable box. When I was on an internship in Florida for a year, I kept my slingbox and cable box in my room just as you described. Worked like a charm.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
I don't have anything to add that isn't already here, but when I had one in school, one night at like 12 my mother must have woken up and started changing the channel to Everybody Loves Raymond. I immediately realized what was going on and kept changing the channel to MTV, adultswim, etc, to make her crazy.
The next day she was telling me that the TV was broken and they had to get a new one. She used the word "possessed" twice. Great day.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^
It is fairly simple. You don't need a tv, just a box. You do need an internet connection. Slingbox is FTW. I use this on my iphone as well. Works great. Highly recommended.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
I saw the depth chart on freep.com I was a little surprissed to see Carvin as the starter. I don't know if thats a good thing right now or what? But does anybody know why Josh Furman is not on the depth chart? Is he going to redshirt or is he just that far back?
August 31st, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^
I've got sling box on my computer and phone im a pilot i travel a lot. It is def worth it. You dont need to have a tv to use it. But you do need a cable box. its very easy to use. Very user friendly.
September 1st, 2010 at 12:47 AM ^
I'm living out of the country and have been thinking of ordering a Slingbox and sending it to my parents house. While researching this a bit I thought I read that if you want to use it on a laptop, for example, you need that laptop connected to the slingbox or router or something for the initial set up.
Is this accurate? Do I need to be at my parents house with my computer during set up, or would it work if they just set it up for me? As I don't think I'll be in the US at all during football season I wouldn't be able to be there to set it up.
September 1st, 2010 at 3:08 AM ^
I believe you can do a remote set-up (I was in the U.S. when I set mine up). The most important information you will need is the Slingbox ID number and the administrator password so that you can connect to your Slingbox in the U.S.. This is pertinent whether you watch via the Slingplayer that you have on your laptop or via Slingbox.com.
Perhaps others here can give a more definitive answer.
Also remember, as mentioned earlier here, you will want to have a designated cable box for your Slingbox, otherwise you will be competing for use with whoever is on the other side.
For more information you can go to www.slingbox.com or www.slingmedia.com.
Good Luck!
September 1st, 2010 at 3:21 AM ^
Thanks for your help. I'm leaning towards getting one now.
Last season I was abroad as well and paid ESPN360.com something like $25/month for the duration of the season and only could watch the games on the ESPN networks, and for some reason they did not show the OSU game! Very irritating. Now the service is no longer even available in Asia.