Can Slingbox Stream Your Home TV Anywhere in the World?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the capabilities and features of Slingbox, a device that allows users to stream their home television content over the internet. Participants explore its advantages, potential fees, and the availability of related devices for enhancing the viewing experience.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the Slingbox as a device that connects to a TV or tuner box to stream video, allowing viewing from anywhere in the world.
  • Advantages mentioned include the ability to watch TV on a laptop in different rooms without needing multiple cable boxes and the convenience of watching TV on a phone.
  • Questions are raised about the existence of any monthly fees associated with Slingbox usage, with one participant suggesting there may not be any fees but lacking personal experience.
  • Another participant mentions the desire for a stand-alone device to drive a TV signal throughout the house, suggesting that a Slingcatcher might fulfill this need.
  • Concerns are expressed regarding the availability of the Slingcatcher, with participants noting it appears to be discontinued and hard to find.
  • References to an alternative device, the Monsoon Volcano, are made, with uncertainty about its release and availability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the functionality of Slingbox and express uncertainty regarding fees and the availability of related devices, indicating multiple competing views and unresolved questions about the best options for streaming TV content.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of definitive information about fees and the status of related devices like the Slingcatcher and Monsoon Volcano, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

russ_watters
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Ever heard of Slingbox? http://www.slingbox.com/

Basically, you hook it up to your tv/tuner box and it streams the video on a network. With software to control the channel, this means you can watch your home tv from anywhere in the world.

For me, I see two big advantages of this:
1. I'm single and I have only 1 HDTV but I have two computers. So I can carry a laptop into rooms where I don't have a cable box and watch tv from it. No need for another cable box (they are expensive).
2. Watching tv on my phone.

Questions:
1. I'm not seeing anything about a monthly fee - am I correct in assuming there aren't any?
2. I don't see stand-alone devices to drive a tv, which would be nice to have: then I'm basically just multiplexing the tv signal for use in the house. Are there devices which can do such a thing? This would be more valuable than watching tv on my phone or PC.
 
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For #1, I don't think there are any fees involved, but I don't use one myself so I don't know for sure. For #2, it looks like what you want is a Slingcatcher.
 


Huh - oddly, they don't seem to have that linked from slingbox.com. Looking at retailers, it kinda looks like it might be discontinued.
 


Looks like you're right. I can't find it anywhere either. I did find references to something called the Monsoon Volcano which was supposed to come out in March, but hasn't, yet. One forum has a guy who posted that he's given up waiting for the Volcano and is now trying to find a Slingcatcher. That sounds like there might not be anything else like this out there.
 

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