{"id":9740,"date":"2013-03-13T00:49:45","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T17:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=9740"},"modified":"2013-03-16T07:16:57","modified_gmt":"2013-03-16T00:16:57","slug":"what-is-a-slingbox-and-do-i-need-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/what-is-a-slingbox-and-do-i-need-one\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Slingbox and Do I Need One?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><span style=\"color: #888888;\">by Lori Cunningham<\/span><\/div>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-9971\" alt=\"Slingbox 500 (20)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?resize=560%2C420&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"560\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?w=2592&amp;ssl=1 2592w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong> \u00a0We are giving away\u00a0<strong>5 FREE copies of<a href=\"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/04\/need-a-photo-slideshow-in-a-pinch\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Wondershare\u2019s DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0See our review to sign up to win one! \u00a0We love this super easy way to make great slideshows of all those pictures trapped on your computer!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>You&#8217;ve probably heard the word &#8220;Slingbox&#8221; slung around but do you know what it is? \u00a0A Slingbox is a physical device that you attach to your cablebox\/DVR and it allows you to control and view your TV\/cablebox\/DVR content from afar using a broadband Internet connection and the SlingPlayer app on your mobile phone, iPad, or through Slingbox software on your laptop. In essence, you can watch live TV or your DVR content from anywhere in the world. \u00a0Slingbox has been around since 2004 and has\u00a0greatly\u00a0progressed in features since that time. \u00a0And better yet? \u00a0There are no monthly fees!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Features<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"line-height: 13px;\">Access any content on your TV\/DVR such as live sports, local channels, recorded shows, and\u00a0premium\u00a0shows<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Record and view in 1080 HD<\/li>\n<li>No monthly fees<\/li>\n<li>Built-in WiFi<\/li>\n<li>Built-in IR emitter &#8211; no cables needed<\/li>\n<li>HDMI capable<\/li>\n<li>Guest access to Slingbox for family members\/friends<\/li>\n<li>SlingPlayer (extra cost) works with smartphones &#8211; Android, Apple, and Windows platforms<\/li>\n<li>SlingPlayer can be used for free through another TV screen or free apps on Western Digital media players, Sony Internet Player with Google TV, and Netgear NeoTV (as well as through Facebook!)<\/li>\n<li>Use\u00a0SlingProjector\u00a0from your phone to stream pictures and videos through your Slingbox to your TV<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Setup<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>We have a complicated set-up with wires running everywhere in our media area of our family room. \u00a0I was\u00a0nervous\u00a0I would knock an input or move a wire, and not know where to put the wire back. \u00a0I noticed that you could connect using a HDMI port, which I was happy because my FIOS set-top box had one HDMI port open. \u00a0I connected the two and thought I was done. \u00a0But then I found out that I also needed to connect the composite connector between the two units too, because\u00a0apparently\u00a0connected content doesn&#8217;t travel on HDMI. \u00a0So I took out all the composite video cables from my set-top box and hooked them into the Slingbox. \u00a0From the Slingbox I used the included composite cables and sent them back into the set-top box. \u00a0I followed the onscreen directions and viola, it worked, just liked that. \u00a0Phew!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-9970\" alt=\"Slingbox 500 (18)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-18.jpg?resize=491%2C369&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"491\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-18.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-18.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-18.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-9969\" alt=\"Slingbox 500 (17)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-17.jpg?resize=491%2C369&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"491\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-17.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-17.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-17.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Then the nerve-wrecking part came, my husband came into the room and was tepidly nervous to see if I messed up his well-working TV set-up. \u00a0He came in too early for me to check out everything. \u00a0Fortunately after a bit of him being disgruntled because his stereo sound didn&#8217;t sound right (not an issue I caused), he fixed it and we found everything was working as it should. \u00a0Yeah!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I went into our office, loaded the Slingbox website, signed in, and was able to watch the same show my husband was watching in the office.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-9973\" alt=\"Slingbox 500 (6)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-6.jpg?resize=491%2C369&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"491\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-6.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-6.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-6.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-9974\" alt=\"Slingbox 500 (12)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-12.jpg?resize=491%2C369&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"491\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-12.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-12.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-12.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>What better day to debut the Slingbox than on Superbowl Sunday. \u00a0I downloaded the SlingPlayer app so that my iPad could view the Superbowl as well. \u00a0There was probably about a 10-15 second delay from the actual live show to what was playing on my iPad. \u00a0Nonetheless, during the halftime show, Beyonce looked great. \u00a0This solution works great especially when you&#8217;re grilling or cooking and can&#8217;t keep your eye on the game on the main TV.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>Pros<\/b>:<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Watch your Slingbox programming for free on any laptop\/computer using your browser or the SlingPlayer app (app costs $14.99) on your mobile phone, tablet, Kindle, etc.<\/li>\n<li>The same remote you use for your DVR pops up on your laptop\/computer so you can watch and pause live TV, access your DVR recorded content, even your cable provider&#8217;s widgets<\/li>\n<li>You can watch your live TV or recorded content from anywhere in the world<\/li>\n<li>If your TV and recorded shows use 1080 HD, your shows will be in the same quality<\/li>\n<li>There is no monthly fee to access your TV content<\/li>\n<li>You can give guest access to your Slingbox so a family member\/friend can also access your content<\/li>\n<li>Streaming your pictures from your smartphone (and soon tablets too!) to your TV using SlingProjector is so handy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>Cons<\/b>:<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>It&#8217;s a bit pricey to buy the SlingPlayer on your mobile devices to watch your Slingbox content<\/li>\n<li>Only one person can use the SlingPlayer app\/software at a time (called\u00a0placeshifting, this avoids copy infringement)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Only one person can use the SlingPlayer app\/software at the same time means:<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0 \u00a01. I can use Slingbox from my PC while someone is watching TV in the family room where the Slingbox is, but we both have control of the TV, so it&#8217;s better you agree on the show to watch ahead of time!<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0 2. \u00a0I cannot use Slingbox app on my iPad or other mobile device if someone is watching TV on a computer or other mobile device.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-9977\" alt=\"Slingbox Live TV &amp; Verizon Remote Superbowl\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-Live-TV-Verizon-Remote-Superbowl.jpg?resize=614%2C366&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"614\" height=\"366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-Live-TV-Verizon-Remote-Superbowl.jpg?resize=1024%2C610&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-Live-TV-Verizon-Remote-Superbowl.jpg?resize=300%2C178&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-Live-TV-Verizon-Remote-Superbowl.jpg?w=1346&amp;ssl=1 1346w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Slingbox is introducing a new feature for the Slingbox 500 called the SlingSync. \u00a0Its features are similar to the SlingProjector, except you can store and archive your phone&#8217;s pictures and videos to the USB drive you connect to your Slingbox 500. \u00a0It will automatically download the pictures\/videos for you so you don&#8217;t even have to think about it and you&#8217;ll be able to access these pictures and videos on your Slingbox 500 from anywhere in the world via your SlingSync app.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Fortunately, everything worked as advertised. \u00a0The Slingbox 500 is the most advanced Slingbox available featuring HDMI ports, the ability to sling your pictures on your TV from your mobile devices (using SlingPlayer), built-in WiFi,and agreat TV interface with on-screen setup. \u00a0The Slingbox 500 sells for $298 from <a href=\"TV Interface and On-Screen Setup\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon.com<\/a>\u00a0plus free super saver shipping. \u00a0The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.slingbox.com\/go\/spm\" target=\"_blank\">SlingPlayer <\/a>is now available for half price for $14.99 on Android, iOS, and Windows.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">A Mom&#8217;s Perspective<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-1589\" alt=\"WellConnectedMom LOGO MOM\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/12\/WellConnectedMom-LOGO-MOM.jpg?resize=192%2C348&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"192\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/12\/WellConnectedMom-LOGO-MOM.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/12\/WellConnectedMom-LOGO-MOM.jpg?resize=165%2C300&amp;ssl=1 165w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/span><\/h2>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The Slingbox is truly remarkable in that you can view and control and watch your DVR from anywhere in the world. \u00a0Out of town and want to watch The Bachelor&#8230;without commercials? \u00a0Wait a half hour after the show starts and see it on your iPad, using the SlingPlayer app. \u00a0I love it! \u00a0Traveling with your family and there&#8217;s nothing on TV? \u00a0Set up your laptop and watch recorded shows from your DVR at home. \u00a0My kids&#8217; biggest complaint when traveling is that they can&#8217;t watch their shows when they want to watch them and second, they don&#8217;t like watching the\u00a0commercials. \u00a0Now with the Slingbox, they don&#8217;t have to. \u00a0There&#8217;s nothing like taking the &#8220;comforts of home&#8221; with you on a trip.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I had the opportunity to test the Slingbox while vacationing down in Mazatlan, Mexico. \u00a0Much to my surprise, it actually worked. \u00a0When I opened the SlingPlayer app on my iPad, I saw an onscreen remote, exactly like the one I have at home. \u00a0I accessed my DVR, played some shows and even could record current shows or upcoming shows, just like I could do at home, the functionality was the same. \u00a0I could even watch live TV. \u00a0The only possible issue I noticed is that the Slingbox Player plays only as well as your WiFi connection works. \u00a0If you have a bad connection, there will be some delays in your video.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I cannot wait to take the SlingPlayer app with me on our next vacation with the kids. \u00a0They will love watching their favorite shows on the road and my husband and I will appreciate \u00a0watching our favorite shows before arriving home. \u00a0In the past, we&#8217;d come home to a bunch of shows to play catch up on. \u00a0If you&#8217;re a TV fanatic&#8230;or your kids are&#8230;Slingbox is an inexpensive way to add extra convenience to your life.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>How would you use Slingbox?<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>* \u00a0I was given a Slingbox 500 and SlingPlayer app to conduct this review. \u00a0All opinions are my own.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WellConnectedMom.com sets up the Slingbox 500 to have the flexibility to watch and control the family room TV from halfway around the world or just from the bedroom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,9,10,13,14],"tags":[1657,1654,85,95,178,1653,1655,1656,2791,1658],"class_list":["post-9740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dads","category-home-technology","category-how-to","category-kids","category-moms","tag-access-dvr-content","tag-access-your-dvr","tag-dvr","tag-family-tech","tag-mom-tech","tag-slingbox","tag-slingbox-500","tag-slingplayer","tag-tv","tag-watching-tv","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2013\/03\/Slingbox-500-20.jpg?fit=2592%2C1944&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9740"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9740\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}