Reviews for Sling Media Slingbox SOLO (SB260-100)

Total reviews: 5 of 69
Average Rating:

• Remote Control issues because of hardware | Rating: | Date: 2008-12-24

  This could be a really great little device EXCEPT for the way they try to control your box. They use IR Blasters, which are these little wires that sticky tape to your box. I personally have never gotten these stupid little things to work with any device (tivo), maybe it's me, but there were MANY questions about IR problems on their support blog. Tech support said "Should be working, good luck" and washed their hands of me. BTW I am a Computer Support Specialist so I am pretty tech savy. The sticky tape also ends up giving way too.
  
  I really wanted this to work, setup was easy and fast. Support was adequate and I liked the technology they used, but you can only do so much with a lousy hardware setup/component.
  
  Didn't like the fact that you couldn't view DVR recordings without changing the tv viewing as well. Could have used a dedicated box but that defeats the purpose doesn't it.
  
  They have been bought by Dish Network so maybe Dish will build the technology into future boxes, until then give it a try but without the remote functions you will not be able to use the full capabilites of the box!

• Sling versatility | Rating: | Date: 2008-12-23

  I just bought my son a Solo for Christmas and currently own an Slingbox AV unit. I bought the AV to be able to use the Wi-Fi when out of town and watch home TV through my Dish network DVR.
  
  Keep in mind that the quality of the Slingbox video depends upon two things. First the upstream speed of your home Internet connection. Keep in mind that if you have DSL, speeds are always slower on the upstream side. I've had 1.5, 3.0 and now 6 meg DSL service. The faster your upstream side the better the picture on your PC or Mac can be. The other controlling point of quality is the Wi-Fi throughput at the site outside your home. Heavy usage of the access point you are connected to will also negatively affect picture quality. This is something you won't know until you connect at the remote site.
  
  The thing that I didn't consider is that by connecting to my wireless router at home, the Slingbox streams at very high speed since it doesn't have to negotiate through the Internet. Your laptop then becomes a very good quality TV. What we discovered is that we now use our Mac all over the house and outside on the deck. No wires, no moving TV's or running cables. I want to work on the car in the garage? I take the Mac out with me and fire up the Sling software and watch the satellite receiver in the garage. Consider that when running through your home router, the Slingbox will be able to stream 8-15 times more bandwidth than what you will get in the real life world connecting through your Internet service. That translates into pretty good picture quality. Yes it's not the quality of your big screen but it's pretty good.
  
  

• My Son Can't Thank Me Enough | Rating: | Date: 2008-12-10

  My son, who now lives in N.C, missed watching his favorite sport teams from New England, especially the Patriots. I purchased him a Slingbox for his birthday in Nov. He absolutely loves it. He has it connected from my TV in MA to his computer in NC to his TV in the 'man's room'. He said the picture clarity is terrific. This may be due to the fact that the TV at my house is in high definition, as well as his new computer. Last Sunday, the Patriots Club in Raleigh, NC was able to view the game thru my son's laptop onto the Club's TV!! (That particular game was not being televise last week in NC) You can just imagine how excited the fans were watching the game, as well as the New England commercials!!
  
  Setting this up was relatively easy. But there are some things worth noting. Nowhere on the box or in the directions did it mention that the TV and computer (router) be in the same room. This did delay the set up since I did not want wires running from room to room. I purchased a Slinglink Turbo (about $80.00) and plugged it into a wall outlet in each room. It 'bridged' the connection without wires. Also, you must use a TV that has a receiver, not just a spare TV with a cable connection. While the Singbox is being used, I either watch the game, or watch another TV, since only one station can be watched while the Slingbox is in use. So far, this has not been a problem, but I did feel you should get the whole picture in this Slingbox review.
  
  

• Beware | Rating: | Date: 2008-12-05

  Buyers Beware!! Ordered this and found it wouldn't work with my Cable Box/DVR, a MOXI, provided by Charter, EVEN THOUGH THE BOX IS LISTED AS A SUPPORTED DEVICE. The MOXI box does not use IR technology for its remote control and that apparently is the problem. I returned to AMAZON for a refund.

• Slingbox and mobil device sound promissing; but... | Rating: | Date: 2008-12-04

  I'll be sincere; hopefully this will help somebody like myself struggling to find a solution. Anyway, it's ony my taste.
  
  I bought Slingbox Solo with the hope that I would be able to listen to(/watch) financial news (Bloomberg or CNBC) at work. My (new) company doesn't allow employees to streemline audio/video. So, I can't listen to free bloomberg TV or radio online. However, I soon recognized that the Solo is not the solution because it requires a lot of MB download.
  
  My Solo is connected to a regular digital box (not HD box). To me the quality is very poor on a 15' Dell Lattitude D630 laptop. It's rainy (like you try to zoom in a low pixel picture). The color is dead. I wouldn't use it around home and don't need it for home. I have Verizon Fios service for my TVs. Verizon gave me enough boxes for all my TVs in different rooms. Even movie online (Netflix) on this same laptop or to 42' TV is many times better.
  
  One thing I hope to be able to make use is the Slingmedia Mobile. I've been searching for smartphones/PDA for this purpose. Disappointingly enough, the software don't support iPod Touch, Blackberry Storms, Samsung Omnia, even Verizon Wireless XV6900 or XV6800 (it works on XV6700 though) and lot of other recent mobil devices. Well, I would get an Ipod touch and purchase SlingMobil sofware if the sofware support the device...
  
  I didn't test the quality on HD box, though.