Slingbox $189 at Costco,normally $249, ends 2/26

[Jel2h]

With this could I connect slingbox to a TV w/ tivo in one room and have the tivo features show up in another room on a TV without tivo?

 

[robby69]

On a computer yes, on another TV, no.

 

[jono8]

must... resist...

 

[slayer202]

hmm not sure if i understand this correctly.

right now i am away at college. at home in my room, i have a cable connection, that as far as i know is basically untouched while i am here. if i buy this thing, i set up this box at my house, and its basically like having that cable tv service here on my computer? i could use it as i please, no one needs to touch the tv at home? i wonder if the university would have problems with this...probably yes

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: slayer202
hmm not sure if i understand this correctly.

right now i am away at college. at home in my room, i have a cable connection, that as far as i know is basically untouched while i am here. if i buy this thing, i set up this box at my house, and its basically like having that cable tv service here on my computer? i could use it as i please, no one needs to touch the tv at home? i wonder if the university would have problems with this...probably yes

Thats how it will work.
Its just like any video stream data, its not illegal. Also port 5001 needs to be allowed to pass thru, you could have a problem if they block that port. (You can change the port that is used, but it could have some other issues.)

 

[cmbehan]

Orb will allow you to remotely chance channels, won't it?

In addition, It'll allow you to stream any computer saved DVR content, as well as any other saved media whether it be movies, mp3s, photos....

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: cmbehan
Orb will allow you to remotely chance channels, won't it?

In addition, It'll allow you to stream any computer saved DVR content, as well as any other saved media whether it be movies, mp3s, photos....

As far as i understand it, you can only change channels from an unencrypted or over the air source. So if you have a naked cable connection, usually analog cable then you are fine. But if you need to use a box, either from the cable co or satelite, i dont think orb has any way to manipulate that box by itself. (change channels etc).
To do that i think orb uses a connection with a tivo series 2 machine.

 

[Su1c1da1]

can I get one of these from local store? or only available from costco.com?

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: kki000

Originally posted by: cmbehan
Orb will allow you to remotely chance channels, won't it?

In addition, It'll allow you to stream any computer saved DVR content, as well as any other saved media whether it be movies, mp3s, photos....

As far as i understand it, you can only change channels from an unencrypted or over the air source. So if you have a naked cable connection, usually analog cable then you are fine. But if you need to use a box, either from the cable co or satelite, i dont think orb has any way to manipulate that box by itself. (change channels etc).
To do that i think orb uses a connection with a tivo series 2 machine.

im confused now, seems like what you said in response to my post is different than what you said here. at home, my tv has a cable box, for digital cable and HD, which i think just about everyone has unless you only have basic cable. does this mean I can't change the channel from the computer? seems to take the funcionality of the slingbox away. i mean, im not gonna have my parents change the channels for me...nor will i want to pay $200 just to watch 1 channel

 

[Su1c1da1]

ok even though I dont' own 1 of these, but I would think it works like this.

The sling box has svideo/rca/coax inputs. You plug your cablebox/sat receiver outputs to the slingbox input. then you plug in rj45 output to your router. the slingbox also has some sort of IR box to control your receiver/cablebox. After you install the software on your remote computer. It will receive the TV from your slingbox through router, and also be control your receiver through the computer since it is sending command to the slingbox which utilize the IR box.

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: kki000

Originally posted by: cmbehan
Orb will allow you to remotely chance channels, won't it?

In addition, It'll allow you to stream any computer saved DVR content, as well as any other saved media whether it be movies, mp3s, photos....

As far as i understand it, you can only change channels from an unencrypted or over the air source. So if you have a naked cable connection, usually analog cable then you are fine. But if you need to use a box, either from the cable co or satelite, i dont think orb has any way to manipulate that box by itself. (change channels etc).
To do that i think orb uses a connection with a tivo series 2 machine.

im confused now, seems like what you said in response to my post is different than what you said here. at home, my tv has a cable box, for digital cable and HD, which i think just about everyone has unless you only have basic cable. does this mean I can't change the channel from the computer? seems to take the funcionality of the slingbox away. i mean, im not gonna have my parents change the channels for me...nor will i want to pay $200 just to watch 1 channel

I was refering to how the orb server works. Yer parents are safe, sling can change channels.(orb and others cannot)
Sorry for any confusions.

 

[slayer202]

gotcha. what is orb?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: slayer202
gotcha. what is orb?

Please read and bump

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: kki000
I am living the american dream, i can watch tv while i poop.

 

[airjrdn]

There's some Orb TV info here - http://www.orb.com/what_is_orb/orb_tv/

For the record, I believe it will allow you to change channels, etc.

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: airjrdn
There's some Orb TV info here - http://www.orb.com/what_is_orb/orb_tv/

For the record, I believe it will allow you to change channels, etc.

Orb does look a nice piece of software but it CANNOT change channels if you use a cable box or a sat box.
I think orb connects to a series2 tivo to control external boxes.

 

[airjrdn]

I *believe* it may be able to through Windows MCE and/or possibly Snapstream's Beyond TV. I'm definitely not sure on this, and it's entirely possible kki000 may be.

It's been probably 9 months or longer since I messed with Orb much as it's kind of a "set it up and forget it" application. I got pretty into it for a week or so getting everything ironed out but after I got everything working the way I wanted it to, my only Orb involvement was usage related.

 

[PDubs]

I thought I read somewhere that the Slingbox doesn't have wireless capability? I have my router setup in one room, Tivo in another. Has anyone tried the WiFi capability with this piece?

 

[RossMAN]

nm

 

[slayer202]

i think on their website it says wireless compatible

 

[kki000]

they sell a wireless bridge, its the extent of the wireless compatbility, lol.

I didnt have an issue plugging it in directly to my router.
You must have a wireless router and laptop though, for the previously mentioned bathroom funtionality.

Beware of show choices, watching foodtv while sitting on the throne...not recommended.

 

[Pastore]

I'd think about it if it supported Windows Mobile. Until then, I wouldn't use it enough to make it worth while. Watching syndicated Saved by the Bell at work or at school on my Pocket PC would ROCK.

 

[kki000]

They showed the windows mobile player at ces, its in beta test right now. It was supposed to be released in Nov, i dont know what the new date is.

 

[coons10]

For the Costco impaired.... They also have this on Amazon.com for $199.99. Still a pretty good deal!

Sorry that I didn't include a link to amazon.com, but I'm not really sure how to identify a referral link, so I didn't want to risk it.