Slingbox anyone?

[Leshaface]

My husband is really wanting to buy the Slingbox to use for MLB games that play at either my mom's house or his mom's, that we are unable to get at our own home.

Does anyone have one and can tell me your experience with it?

ETA: I think there might be threads on this already, but the dang search function is down.

 

[kermit116]

We've used it in the past. It works pretty well, but you have to make sure you have a good internet connection otherwise it's pretty useless.

Also, it can be a bit of a pain to change channels, or if you are watching something and the person with the TV the Slingbox is attached to (in this case, your mom or MIL) decides to change the channel. To avoid frustration, I'd suggest setting it up in a guest room or another room with a TV that doesn't get used often so you guys have primary control over the channel it's on. Also, you maybe would want to call you mom/MIL to let her know when you'll be watching. It can be a little spooky to be watching TV quietly and suddenly have it change channels with no explanation

 

[Jitzy]

The slingbox is a one time cost but we are paying for the cable box rental in our house in FL. So, you would have to figure out if you needed to rent a cable box to be at the slingbox location in order to watch the games. If the games are locally broadcast, then you can just hook up the slingbox to the cable outlet. But that connection can only be controlled by one user, so it is best to put the slingbox in a place where no one uses the cable outlet.

It does have to be hooked up to the internet, so if there is no connection there, you have to buy the device that turns your power outlet into an internet connection. I think it is called a "slinglink" but we found the same thing in a Best Buy 20 dollars cheaper without the "sling" brand name making it more expensive.

We haven't had any problems with our slingbox. The internet in our FL house can get spotty, which can cause a lost connection, but for the most part we really like it. We have ours hooked up to a DVR so we can watch recorded shows because we are now living in Japan and are 13 hours ahead of east coast time. I'm glad that we have it!

 

[Leshaface]

We've used it in the past. It works pretty well, but you have to make sure you have a good internet connection otherwise it's pretty useless.

Also, it can be a bit of a pain to change channels, or if you are watching something and the person with the TV the Slingbox is attached to (in this case, your mom or MIL) decides to change the channel. To avoid frustration, I'd suggest setting it up in a guest room or another room with a TV that doesn't get used often so you guys have primary control over the channel it's on. Also, you maybe would want to call you mom/MIL to let her know when you'll be watching. It can be a little spooky to be watching TV quietly and suddenly have it change channels with no explanation

The slingbox is a one time cost but we are paying for the cable box rental in our house in FL. So, you would have to figure out if you needed to rent a cable box to be at the slingbox location in order to watch the games. If the games are locally broadcast, then you can just hook up the slingbox to the cable outlet. But that connection can only be controlled by one user, so it is best to put the slingbox in a place where no one uses the cable outlet.

It does have to be hooked up to the internet, so if there is no connection there, you have to buy the device that turns your power outlet into an internet connection. I think it is called a "slinglink" but we found the same thing in a Best Buy 20 dollars cheaper without the "sling" brand name making it more expensive.

We haven't had any problems with our slingbox. The internet in our FL house can get spotty, which can cause a lost connection, but for the most part we really like it. We have ours hooked up to a DVR so we can watch recorded shows because we are now living in Japan and are 13 hours ahead of east coast time. I'm glad that we have it!

These are both exactly the information I needed! Thanks so much!

 

[Jitzy]

You're welcome! Hope it works out. We are lowly Jaguars fans, so come football season, we would never see them if we didn't have the Slingbox.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We have one that we use with Dish Network. Set it up in my daughter's room so my dad can watch local sports when he's out of town. He waits until her bedtime to start any games so it doesn't create issues with what the kids are watching. Says the picture is not as good as when he can see games through his own provider, but it's good enough that he can enjoy the games.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I lived overseas for the past seven years and had a sling box to watch on my computer. The box was set up in my parent's office and we had to pay an extra charge for a separate cable box. I thought it was a pretty good way to get programming especially since most programs are blocked outside of the us. I wanted to watch my college football games - but found it a little difficult to get a good picture for football games - however much better than nothing at all! I give it a thumbs up for sure!!

 

[Leshaface]

Thanks gumbo and expat!

Luckily for us, my mom has a cable box in all rooms that contain a tv (5 different rooms) so we'll just pick the room that she doesn't use much

Does anyone recommend the HD version over the regular? There's a big money difference..

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Thanks gumbo and expat!

Luckily for us, my mom has a cable box in all rooms that contain a tv (5 different rooms) so we'll just pick the room that she doesn't use much

Does anyone recommend the HD version over the regular? There's a big money difference..

IMO I wouldn't spend extra money for HD as it seemed to me that the determining factor as to picture quality was really the internet connection - think of it as streaming media - but others here might have more experience with HD. Of course my internet connection was so so but nothing to rave about - worked fine. We had the $150 box (not hd) - at least that was the price when we made the purchase.

 

[Leshaface]

IMO I wouldn't spend extra money for HD as it seemed to me that the determining factor as to picture quality was really the internet connection - think of it as streaming media - but others here might have more experience with HD. Of course my internet connection was so so but nothing to rave about - worked fine. We had the $150 box (not hd) - at least that was the price when we made the purchase.

Good to know. I figured any picture of the games is better than no games at all. The internet connection is fairly good, so i'm not too worried about that. I'm not sure but through the Slingbox website, I believe it's $180. Perhaps I could find it cheaper elsewhere.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Good to know. I figured any picture of the games is better than no games at all. The internet connection is fairly good, so i'm not too worried about that. I'm not sure but through the Slingbox website, I believe it's $180. Perhaps I could find it cheaper elsewhere.

I think we bought ours at Walmart - just checked the slingbox solo which was our model is on the website for $160.99. If you decide on it, hope you get your sling up and running smoothly!

 

[Leshaface]

I think we bought ours at Walmart - just checked the slingbox solo which was our model is on the website for $160.99. If you decide on it, hope you get your sling up and running smoothly!

Thank you for the price. I'll be placing an order today!

ETA: expat, is it this one? http://www.amazon.com/Sling-Media-Slingbox-SOLO-SB260-100/dp/B000VXKD8K

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Thank you for the price. I'll be placing an order today!

ETA: expat, is it this one? http://www.amazon.com/Sling-Media-Slingbox-SOLO-SB260-100/dp/B000VXKD8K

Yes that's it! An even better prize on Amazon! Good find!

 

[Leshaface]

Yes that's it! An even better prize on Amazon! Good find!

Wonderful, just making sure! Thanks Jill

 

[momxx5]

This is all very intriguing to me. I am interested to hear all about it as well.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, my understanding of it all is:

1. purchase Slingbox
2. connect it to tv that has either cable/satellite/what ever is "wanted"
3. it sends the signal, meaning tv program, to a recieving tv for those to watch the show
4. the only cost to viewer is the slingbox, the sender is not really paying anything other than their ordinary bill.

So, if agreed, people could split their cable bill because both would be using it???

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is all very intriguing to me. I am interested to hear all about it as well.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, my understanding of it all is:

1. purchase Slingbox
2. connect it to tv that has either cable/satellite/what ever is "wanted"
3. it sends the signal, meaning tv program, to a recieving tv for those to watch the show
4. the only cost to viewer is the slingbox, the sender is not really paying anything other than their ordinary bill.

So, if agreed, people could split their cable bill because both would be using it???

The Slingbox plugs directly into your receiver. The way the Slingbox works is through your wi-fi (and if your wi-fi is down, so is the Slingbox). Because it's connected to the internet, that allows you to access it remotely. Also, if you are watching your cable/satellite remotely, the person watching "at home" must watch the same thing as you (at least that's how it works with Dish Network).

In our case, we have 2 2-room Dish Network DVR receivers. One receiver is in DD11's room, and DD6 can also access what's on this DVR. When the slingbox is not in use, they can both watch different shows. When my dad is watching via the Slingbox, EVERYONE sees the same thing.

Our other Dish receiver services the living room & master bedroom. Because the slingbox is not connected to this, using the slingbox does not impact this receiver. However, we technically COULD have a 2nd slingbox if we wanted. We purchased ours from Dish for $100 & got a $100 Visa card as a "rebate", so essentially ours was free.

edit: Dad accesses the Slingbox through his laptop & a local wi-fi connection. He then tethers his laptop to a 42" TV with a cable he picked up at Best Buy.

 

[cats mom]

We got a sling box when DD went away to school. She watches very little TV, but she does have one or two must see shows, and we didn't want her trying to plan her life around TV schedules.

Our SB is hooked up in a guest bedroom that's seldom used. We do warn anyone who stays in that room though. It freaked grandma out the first time the channel started changing randomly.

We actually have 2 kids with access to the box now.The only problem is when they both try to watch at the same time. Or when their teenage brother notices someone is using the box and decides to mess with them for the fun of it.

 

[mkel34]

I couldn't see using a slingbox to watch games all the time. Do you have an Xbox, if so the mlb.tv package you can get through them is getting great reviews.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

I have a slingbox, I love it, use it all the time. I use it to catch the news or other programs on my cell phone while waiting for the kids to be done with stuff. We also use it to watch local sports when out of town. I also use it to watch TV in bed when my husband is sleeping, I just watch on my ipod with headphones. Once while driving back from FL we used it to plug in and put the Titans game on the video player in the car so the boys could watch the game - we have unlimited data so not an issue for us. (apple has a video out plug, we use that all the time when we travel to put movies on the hotel room TVs so we're paying nothing or $3.99 to rent and not $19.99!)

If the internet is slow, the show will freeze up. Most of the time this is not a problem but it does occasionally happen.

As mentioned, you will have to put it in a room that is not used as much unless you are the only one in your house. Also be mindful of data caps on your internet provider if you have one as streaming a lot of video will run that up.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I couldn't see using a slingbox to watch games all the time. Do you have an Xbox, if so the mlb.tv package you can get through them is getting great reviews.

My dad looked into the NHL package for their Snowbird time of the year, but IIRC it was about $400 a year. I also taped some Mizzou basketball games for him when they weren't on ESPN or the Longhorn Network (they Winter in TX). Oh, and no they don't have an X-box