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Sling Media Slingbox PRO (SB200-100)

Brand: Sling Media
Category: CE

List Price: ~~$229.99~~
Buy New: $199.99
You Save: $30.00 (13%)

New (3) Used (4) from $199.95

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

169 reviews
Sales Rank: 2576

Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.2
Dimensions (in): 0.2 x 0 x 0.1

MPN: SB200-100
Model: SB200-100
UPC: 852619001134
EAN: 0852619001134
ASIN: B000IVDIL4

Release Date: September 28, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	Redirects the TV signal to the computer of your choice--providing high quality video, no matter the distance
•	SlingStream technology delivers up to a 400 percent video quality improvement over the original Slingbox
•	Connects to digital cable box, DVR, satellite receiver, DVD players, video/security camera, or any NTSC component HD, S-video, or composite video source
•	Includes free Slingbox Finder service to locate a Slingbox from any network location
•	Watch and control your home TV, DVR, basic cable, digital cable box, or satellite receiver anywhere around your home or around the globe

Accessories:

•	Quicken Deluxe 2009
•	Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009
•	Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2
•	Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
•	Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com Product Description
The first generation Slingbox was a big step forward for so-called "place shifting" technology, a device that allowed you to view incoming TV signals on any TV computer in your home, or on any Internet-connected PC around the world. Sling Media is now introducing the successors to this groundbreaking product. Now there are three Slingboxes to choose from, each with features that make it easier than ever to bring your TV and other media with you wherever you roam. Choose from the Slingbox Tuner, AV, and Pro models depending on your entertainment needs. Compare Slingbox models.

The Slingbox Pro offers Component HD, S-video, coax, and composite video connections.

Slingbox Pro
The Slingbox Pro ensures that you can watch all of your favorite home theater entertainment anywhere you go, with the ability to watch and control up to three standard definition and one high definition video (via component connection) devices. Using an Internet connected computer or compatible mobile phone (with purchase of SlingPlayer Mobile software), you can watch and control your home TV, DVR, basic cable, digital cable box, or satellite receiver anywhere around your home or around the globe. With a Slingbox Pro you will never be separated from your favorite TV shows, sports broadcasts, breaking news stories, digital video recordings, or video on demand.

The Slingbox Pro also includes the free Slingbox Finder service to locate a Slingbox from any network location, in or out of the home.

How it Works
Slingbox Pro is a small device that connects to your cable box to redirect the TV signal to the computer of your choice--providing high quality video, no matter the distance, so long as there is a high-speed Internet connection. This technology also allows you to access and control your TV from anywhere--and your TV doesn't even have to be on.

You can enjoy signals from a digital cable box, DVR, satellite receiver, or DVD player on any computer at home, on the Internet, or on a compatible mobile phone. One of the video sources can be an HD component device.

SlingMedia's patent pending SlingStream technology delivers the smoothest and best video quality possible. SlingStream delivers up to a 400 percent video quality improvement over the original Slingbox. SlingStream is powered by a programmable engine that is capable of running the latest video compression algorithms. SlingStream dynamically adjusts to changes in network conditions, video content, and Internet bandwidth.

At Home, At Work, or on the Go
At home, Now you can watch TV in whatever room in the house you choose. Say goodbye to the days of having to watch your child's favorite DVD over and over again. Now you can watch your soaps in the laundry room. You can watch your fix-it shows in the garage. Or you can watch your cooking shows in the kitchen. You'll never get stuck having to watch shows you don't want to now that you're in charge of what's on, when it's on, and where it's on.

Now that you can access your TV wherever you have your computer, the clock won't be the only thing worth watching at work. You can watch your news and business channels to stay updated. You can catch the big game while tending to business. Or, you can watch your favorite shows during your downtime. In any event, work will never just be business as usual.

With the SlingBox you can travel to another country and actually understand the programs. You can visit the in-laws and not get stuck watching The Weather Channel.

You can change channels and control your TV on your computer just as if you were in your living room. The AV and Pro models add remote control options for your home theater devices. Smartphone support is available with purchase of SlingPlayer Mobile software.

Ready for Vista
SlingPlayer software is compatible with the Windows Vista operating system. Future Vista-specific enhancements are expected in early 2007.

What's in the Box
Slingbox Pro, SlingPlayer CD-ROM, AC adapter (100-240V 50-60Hz), ethernet cable, stereo audio cable, RF/coax cable, composite AV cable, S-video cable, remote control IR cable, and quick start guide.

Product Description
The Slingbox PRO is the perfect companion for your home theater. With the ability to watch and control one high definition video source and up to three standard definition video devices, the Slingbox PRO ensures that you can watch all of your favorite home theater entertainment anywhere you go. Using an Internet-connected computer or compatible mobile phone, you can watch and control your home TV, DVR, basic cable, digital cable box, or satellite receiver anywhere around your home or around the globe. With a Slingbox PRO you are never separated from your favorite TV shows, sports broadcasts, breaking news stories, digital video recordings, or video on demand.

Customer Reviews: Read 164 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable: Works better than my highest expectations... December 10, 2006
David Pearlman (Arlington, MA United States)
197 out of 204 found this review helpful

So by now you probably know what this is: A thin ethernet client (read: single purpose computer) that takes video from your home devices and streams it so that you can watch it on a PC or other compatible device anywhere in the world with internet access. You get to control your home device through a virtual remote that sends IR signals through an IR "blaster" cable that connects to the Slingbox and shoots the IR signals to your home device just as if you were at home with a remote.

Looks good on paper. But does it work? Having a lot of experience with streaming video, I was very skeptical. In general, I've found that streaming video eminating from high bandwith commercial servers still results in videos that continually freeze as the buffer runs out. Just how could this Slingbox, which has to squeeze its broadcast signal through the intentionally crippled upload connection of a typical cable connection, possibly deliver the goods to the receiving device in a fashion that allows a good, non-stuttering, non-freezing picture? (In case you don't know, almost all home cable/DSL connections are limited by the providers to about 30kpbs upload speed; compare that to download speeds that range from 768kbps to 3mbps! This is done intentionally so that people don't use their PCs as web servers unless they pay much higher commercial rates).

Anyway, I installed the Slingbox (trivially easy if you have ever installed an A/V component before), installed the software on a PC (Windows 2000 or XP required, sorry you ME, 98 and NT laggards), and let the Slingbox installer do its thing. It asked me some simple questions and I was done.

Installation was quick and painless, but what about the real question: How's the streaming video quality? Well, on my home PC, which obviously has an advantage since it's on the same network as the Slingbox, I can get great streaming video. But that's no real challenge.

So I went over to a friend's house, where there's a kinda miserable DSL connection, installed the Slingbox player, and fired it up...And guess what? After about 30 seconds, where the slingbox player was adjusting the compression/resolution in order to provide stutter free playback, the picture was rock solid. Better than anything I've EVER experienced with video from any web server. And it stayed rock solid. W-O-W!

I'm sold. This product is for real. What a great product.

As for whether you need the Slingbox Pro, or the cheaper models. The pro adds capacity for multiple inputs, an integrated analogue video tuner (so you can watch EITHER cable or your attached DVR/VCR/DVD player/cable box/etc), and the abilty to stream the output of a HD (high definition) device. HOWEVER, be aware that to use the HD input to the Slingbox, you need a proprietary cable that is NOT included in the package (and which will set you back about $50). That kinda sucks, and I almost docked the unit one star for that bit of bait and switch (the box touts its high definition capabilities but doesn't really say that it will cost you $50 more to use them), but I'm so happy with the performance of the box in general that I'll let that slide...

5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! October 22, 2006
Mothra (USA)
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

OK This is the coolest thing since Tivo. I have a Comcast dual tuner HD DVR and a Tivo series one box. For a network I'm using Comcast internet with a Netgear wireless router (wpn824). My wife and I both have Hp nx7400 laptops. The Netgear is connected to the Slingbox via a standard Ethernet cable.

First thing, the Pro does have an internal tuner, so I ran the cable into it, then to my Tivo. The Tivo is hooked to the sling box via composite video. The Comcast DVR is connected via S-video. We have one TV in our living room but now my wife or I can watch TV from anywhere in our house, full screen with fantastic quality. When I tried it from work the quality is very very good in a window and even ok full screen. My boss travels all over the world and his first question was where can I get one?

PROS: Fantastic wonderful incredibly cool way to turn a wireless laptop into a wireless portable TV that works from anywhere you have a broadband internet connection. If my wife is watching the cable box in the living room I can control and watch the Tivo in the bedroom and vice versa. I can watch all our analog cable channels anytime from anywhere without affecting our home setup.

CONS: Only one computer can connect to the Slingbox at a time. This makes sense when you think about it.

5 out of 5 stars

even better than original Slingbox January 30, 2007
Living in Budapest (Budapest, Hungary (originally Ann Arbor, MI))
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I bought a Slingbox because I live and work in Europe and like to keep up with all sorts of American sports. Last year I installed an original Slingbox at my home in Ann Arbor. It's been great. I have 'Slinged' at my apartment in Budapest and all over the US and Europe using my laptop and wifi connections.
Sling Media does a great job of upgrading/updating its software improving picture resolution. I upgraded to the Slingbox PRO and have seen a significant improvement in the picture quality. I don't know if it's really the 400 times improvement over the original Slingbox that Sling Media claims, but it really gives a much crisper pictures at large viewing sizes. As with the original Slinbox, setup can be a little tricky especially for those with little experience in setting up wireless networks/devices. In my case, I had to play around with some network settings.

If you're deciding between the original Slingbox and the Slingbox PRO, I would make the extra investment in the Slingbox PRO.

5 out of 5 stars

Great product! October 8, 2006
Bearcat (Ohio)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

I just bought the Slingbox Pro and installed it. This is the first Slingbox device I have purchased or used. Setup was very easy and this thing was running great in no time flat. I used the Slingbox brand outlet router thingies. They work great as well and were easy to setup. I even downloaded the slingbox mobile player for my wifes Motorola Q and she can now view our tv from her mobile phone! We have it connected to our DVR unit and now she can view her saved showed whenever and wherever she wants. She travels a lot for work so this makes her very happy! Very happy.

5 out of 5 stars

Slingbox is great May 12, 2007
R. Holcombe (Atlanta, GA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I really liked the idea of the slingbox. I travel, and I have a pocketPC phone, so the idea of being able to access my TIVO from an airport using Cingular's 3G network, or from a hotel room using my laptop was very appealing. It works great! Here are some tips and other information you might find useful:
1. Slingmedia's support is terrific. I found the process of the initial set up very confusing, as the instructions and setup wizard could not modify my DSL router. I tried to do it manually, following the directions, but the screenshots provided in the setup wizard didn't match my router's homepage. Anyway, I went to slingmedia's website and found the technical support option and clicked the "chat" option. Within a few minutes, the technician took over my computer and remotely set up my router to work correctly. Since then, it has been very easy to add devices to receive the Sling signal.
2. To watch on a laptop, you have to be able to download software to your laptop: if you are using a company laptop, for example, you need administrative rights to install.
3. Write down your Slingbox's password.
4. Slingbox apparently takes a lot of resources on your computer. Trying to surf the internet while watching a program really slows down your internet connection - lots of timeouts on pages.
5. Before you buy, scope out your location. The slingbox needs to be near your AV equipment, as well as near your router. (You have to have a wired router -- slingbox doesn't support wireless -- and not just a cable modem or DSL modem. You have to have a highspeed modem, AND a router. I have a DSL modem that has a wireless and wired router built in, a Westell DSL modem from AT&T). Slingmedia sells some extra equipment to allow hook ups where your router is in a different room, but I have no experience with that. Also, the computer requirements are pretty high - 1 gig processor minimum. I don't quite get this last part. Sling works well with my cell phone/pocket PC so I don't know why they set the minimum requirements so high.
6. The program to make you pocketPC work costs about $30 and can be downloaded from the slingmedia website. This is, of course, in addition to the cost of the Slingbox.
7. Once you own it, you own it. No monthly fees. Just the normal cable or satellite/tivo charges.
If you travel with a laptop or with a pocketPC (a palm version is in beta testing, from what I understand) you will be happy with the purchase.