Jul 25 2008
Watch Your TV On The Road With Slingbox
If you are a TV buff like myself, sometimes you hate when you are on the road and can’t get access to your favorite shows. Hotels have TV’s, but what if you rely on your trusty DVR to capture your programming so you can watch it at a later date? Or, say you want to catch the Yankee game, but are stuck in a hotel in St. Louis for that dreadful four day conference. I have come across this dilemna on more than on occasion, and honestly now realize I am a true couch potato who is addicted to watching television. Thankfully, I am not alone out there, as we can see with the introduction of the Slingbox. The Slingbox works together with your broadband internet connection and your existing cable, satellite and DVR service, to bring you your programming wherever you are in the world (given there is internet access on your end). You plug the input of your set top cable box, satellite receiver or DVR into the Slingbox and SlingStream technology takes over.
This technology calculates a lot of factors that typically come into play when watching video through a broadband connection. The Slingbox uploads your TV broadcast into a live video stream on the internet. The video stream is adjusted based on the type of device plugged into the Slingbox. It reads whether you are pumping in digital cable, or analog signal which will be irrelevant in the near future. This adjustment gives you the most optimal viewing quality. There is then an adjustment made for the type of bandwith you are broadcasting on. And finally, a third adjustment is made taking into consideration the device you are viewing the programming on, be it a laptop, cell phone, or PDA. All of these modifcations will ensure that you get the best viewing quality possible everytime. and the mobile player you install on your device is fully controllable with an on-screen remote, giving you the ability to channel surf as if you were in front of your TV in the living room.
The low down on costs is horrible. The box costs $250, with no service fees or memberships to sign up for; it is a one time fee and that’s it. There is the additional cost per device you set up to receive the programming, which is a one time fee of $29.95. A little price, yes, but just think of all the fun you will have catching the game, news, or favorite TV drama in front of your laptop in a hotel, or at your desk, or on a PDA or mobile phone walking around the streets of the Big Apple. I say it’s worth it.
