slingbox: how good is it

[desi112]

Hey All,

I'm just moving into a new apartment in victoria park, and would like to share my parents satellite connection via slingbox. Preferably in HD.

Any reviews, comments or issues? Also can you use it on ps3, i'm been finding mixed discussion on this.

And if you have any alternatives to suggest that would be great.

cheers

[Xtrema]

Why don't you ask your parents to request for a 2nd terminal and get your own dish?

EDIT: I guess you are in an apartment and want to watch your rants' terminal via Internet?

You do know that sling basically highjacks the terminal, so you and your dad may have to fight on what to watch.

[desi112]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Why don't you ask your parents to request for a 2nd terminal and get your own dish?

EDIT: I guess you are in an apartment and want to watch your rants' terminal via Internet?

You do know that sling basically highjacks the terminal, so you and your dad may have to fight on what to watch.

Yah no dishes in my building, and hijacking is not an issue since theres a spare terminal in my old bedroom.

[Xtrema]

Bandwidth will be limited your dad's internet uplink. So don't expect good quality over 1Mbps.

It's fine with SD. I have never seen how well it does with HD and low bandwidth.

[desi112]

they have shaw extreme, i think it should be decent. I'll give it a shot i guess.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by desi112
they have shaw extreme, i think it should be decent. I'll give it a shot i guess.

Shaw Extreme is still only 1Mbps.

[beung]

Its good but not great....

I think you need to buy clients for devices other then PC, so you may have to buy a client for the PS3.

I don't think it's with the $300 (I think that is how much it is).

Frankly I think it's great for streaming to your LAN but not for over the internet.

There are cheaper and better ways to get TV for $300.

[desi112]

Originally posted by beung
Its good but not great....

I think you need to buy clients for devices other then PC, so you may have to buy a client for the PS3.

I don't think it's with the $300 (I think that is how much it is).

Frankly I think it's great for streaming to your LAN but not for over the internet.

There are cheaper and better ways to get TV for $300.

could you suggest the other methods, thank you!

[rage2]

HD doesn't work over 1Mbps period. You'll need at least 3Mbps to get HD.

1Mbps SD is decent, good for TV shows and movies, bad for sports with a lot of camera movement.

I watch quite often at the gym on my iPad. $40 app though which kinda blows.

[DeeK]

Not only that, but if you are looking to game via satellite, your latency will be ridiculously high. Cable is better for ping times.

[w_man]

I use it to watch it across the world. Sat is sitting in Calgary and I have tested it from Toronto, US and the Middle East.

Like everyone says - it's good but not great!! I mainly got it to watch hockey and an odd show here and there. Works great with a PVR sitting back home and with the time zones - its awesome.

Quality isn't great by any means. Watching hockey just isn't the same and changing channels even takes a while sometimes as the signal is sent over the net back to the the slingbox and then to the receiver. I even picked up a slingcatcher (no longer in production) so I don't need my computer hooked up to the TV.

All in all - it's nice for a backup if you aren't home often and traveling but I wouldn't do it for my day-to-day entertainment. You should go buy it and set it up - you'll just have to buy the client software (non-refundable) for $30/40 bucks. Test it out - if you don't like it, give it back.

Oh yea and I wouldn't bother with the HD in Shaw Extreme ... tried it and it was no good. SD is your only real option.

GL.

[desi112]

I"d be fine with SD, is the quality same as SD tv? or lower?

[Xtrema]

Lower. Fine on small screen like laptop or cell phone. Sucks on anything bigger than 20".

Again, your uplink of 1Mbps is the bottle neck, not the type of systems.