JUST HEARD ABOUT this great new tech toy from our friend Rob Sherman. It’s called a Slingbox (site no longer available), and with it, you can watch your home’s cable TV, satellite TV, or DVR programming from any internet-connected TV or cellphone anywhere in the world! Live! You can even change your channels.
Rob says the set up is not for the non-tech-savvy nor the faint-at-heart, but the videos we’ve watched on YouTube say it only takes about 15 minutes. Hey, I want one!
The Slingbox comes in 3 flavors, plus mobile.
Slingbox AV
- Connects one standard definition device such as your DVR, digital cable set top box or satellite receiver.
Slingbox Solo
- Single Input
Connects one high definition or standard definition device such as your DVR, digital cable set top box or satellite receiver. - HD Component Input
Connects to any one of your high definition sources for great picture quality on your laptop, desktop, or mobile device.
Slingbox Pro
- Multiple Inputs
Connect and control up to four video sources, including your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, and DVD player. - HD Component Input
Connects to any one of your high definition sources for great picture quality on your laptop, desktop, or mobile device. - Built-in Cable Tuner
Features an integrated analog tuner for access to your basic cable line-up without changing your set-top box channel on your home TV.
All version have no monthly subscription fees. There is a charge for separate software that is needed to use Slingbox on your Windows Mobile, Palm OS or Symbian cell phones and PDAs. However, you can download a 30 day free trial of that software from SlingMedia’s website.
Here is a step-by-step video on how to set up a Slingbox Pro to an HD DVR, Xbox 360, and a coax cable feed:
