SlingMedia's SlingBox and SlingPlayer Mobile Review

I have a Nokia N95-3. I just purchased a SlingBox Solo from NewEgg, along with a Netgear GS105 Gigabyte switch and some CAT5e cables. The Gigabyte switch replaced the FS105 I already had in my shop and that came up into my basement video/router/studio area. I obtained a second Comcast Digital Converter (and of course then the fun began--Not), and hooked it all up per SlingMedia's instructions. I installed v.1.5 Slingplayer Windows client on some desktops around the house and the current Mobile client for Symbian phones on my N95-3.

Some observations:

Installing the Slingbox was not as easy as the manufacturer claims it is. Their system has a few flaws, mostly due to a lack of truly helpful specifications and other pertinent technical information. I'm not a newbie--I was a Systems Engineer for Novell, Inc. and won Northeast Area Systems Engineer of the Year for clinching DuPont as a customer and in the process displacing Microsoft's LanMan and Dec's VAX-based equivalent. In fact, we caused DuPont to toss their Vax's altogether. Who knew that the chief architect for the Vax OS would then go to Microsoft and create--that is, remold Vaxware into--NT and ultimately clobber us, but nonetheless those were the days. After systems engineering, I moved into Sales and in my second year, our office (Philadelphia) went to Hawaii for Pro-Club, being second in the country only to the Detroit office, where the car companies live (I bet they remember those days, too).

But I digress. First off, SlingMedia's Finder service is mysterious to say the least. You get the impression by cruising their website that they aren't in the business of providing much information about how their stuff works. Or, more importantly, how you first get a Finder ID. For example, how do their clients and boxes detect WPA encryption codes and work straight through them? Also, why don't they make it clearer that you can select a port other than their default (5001), which I had to take on faith because my Synology NAS server uses 5000 and 5001 for administration purposes. I selected 5002, which my D-Link router forwards without a problem.

Anyway, unlike the desktop client, the Slingplayer mobile client can't identify the Slingbox you want to watch through, say, dyndns.org, even though you've set it up to be accessible that way. It has to be located by either its actual I.P. address (always use fixed I.P. addresses) or SlingMedia's "Finder ID", which is a HUGE code that takes forever to enter using a standard cellphone keypad.

In addition, for some reason I believe is related to the Symbian OS, you can't use your in-house wireless LAN router as an access point to connect to the Slingbox--you have to go outside and use your service provider's internet connectivity service (MediaNet through AT&T in my case). In contrast, desktop clients on your LAN can connect straight through to the Slingbox over your standard router connection. It's wierd.

As for bandwidth requirements, I'm writing this on a wirelessly connected desktop using a Draft-N D-Link DIR-655 router and DWA-142 USB adapter as I watch CNN "slung" from my Comcast DCT-2524 converter (which is having trouble taking an On-Demand authorization as we speak). DU Meter shows me receiving anywhere from 1.65 to 2.21 mbps while simultaneously running an instance of All Media Fixer and Firefox. When only the Slingplayer app runs, the client can suck as much as 4-5 mbps, depending on the source. With the Mobile client, it takes a bit less and can be configured to accept lower quality signals to make it even better over slower connections. Having only tested it over a 3G connection, I can't speak to how it works over a GSM EDGE connection, but with 3G pumping away, the N95-3 definitely dishes out a clean, clear picture.

This apparent bandwidth "regulation" is said to be the result of SlingMedia's SlingStream technology, allegedly a significant improvement over their earlier design. Basically, as I semi-understand it, the system takes the bandwidth available to it.

Do I like the SlingMedia concept--yup, it's extremely cool. Have I had a lot of experience with Remote Viewing yet? Not on my laptop, but I have installed the client on it and it does work great here in the house. On my cellphone, it works as advertised as long as you use your ISP's network connection (basically going out and coming back in).

By the way, even if you didn't buy your N95-3 in a SuperStore and get the Slingplayer Mobile client for free (it is said to cost $30 if you didn't), you can find it on either SlingMedia's website or Nokia's (I forget which) for free, as long as you have your phones IMEI number (as I recall). Regardless, don't complain about having to pay for the Mobile client--it's out there and available if you look hard enough for it. I'm proof of that. Which begs the question, if you want to sell boxes, why charge for a client that you include free for other platforms? I suspect that this situation will change, not to mention the fact that I have the distinct impression that the Mobile client is as much a Beta release as anything. We're field-testing something you want to charge real money for? Sheesh (as if that hasn't happened before).

So here's what I think you should get--I bought the SlingBox Solo because it gives you pass-through connections for baseband, S-Video, or component video as well as stereo audio. While it calls itself an HD box and will Sling HD signals, it slings them in standard definition. And being the "Solo", it can only handle one device, as opposed to the Pro model, which as I understand it, uses older hardware technology and isn't as responsive. There are other models--the AV (which takes signals and doesn't pass them through, which for the average Comcast cable box user is totally useless because the RF OUT CONNECTOR on self-install and DCH-70 converters sends out remodulated MONO audio, if not for all channels, definitely for the digital channels. There's also a Tuner model, which is usable if all you have or want or can get are "analog" channels from your cable provider.

Here's a newsflash: there's no such thing as analog video on Comcast systems anymore, since they use Direct-TV as a signal source for many of their standard channels. Ever seen the History channel suddenly lock up, begin to break up into blocks and then go black, only to come back clear? That's digital content, dude. Pretty amazing. It's one reason I still have a 10-foot dish for Starz and other services when the leaves fall off the trees.

One of my OTHER jobs was as Tech Pubs Administrator/technical writer for, among other companies, Jerrold (we wrote the manuals, including those for their early converters), which was bought by General Instrument, which was then bought by Motorola. I also worked for COMCAST, where I wrote the technical sections of the original proposal for CATV service in NW and NE Philadelphia when Billy Green was Mayor. Of course, Wilson Goode got elected, tossed out that proposal so he could give a quarter of the city to a minority interest, but then bombing the MOVE organization sort of cooked his butt (a little Philly history there). Eventually, Comcast got the NW and the NE areas, General Media got South Philly, and Jim Wade got West Philly and immediately had financial troubles. Ultimately, Comcast bought them all out and here we are today.

Did you know that Comcast began as a win in a poker game in Tupelo, Mississippi? Ralph Roberts raised in a hand that his opponent had to toss in his cable system to call then promptly lost the hand. Thus was born Comcast Cable. The second system Ralph bought was in Flint, Michigan, which has been fined more times for signal leakage by the FCC than any other system in the history of cable television.

Flint, Michigan's system proved something to Ralph, though--no matter how bad things get economically (see "Roger and Me" by Michael Moore to get a picture of just how bad things got when GM shut down "Buick City"), the Cable Bill is always the last bill to go unpaid. Rent, food, mortgage, car payments all suffer while the cable bill continues to get paid. Why do you think having a monopoly in this business is so important to its owners? It's a virtual annuity from every customer, and systems are awarded for 15 years at a time. And here's another kicker--the hardware that comprises the system is devalued for insurance purposes over a 15-year timeline. Now THAT'S a deal.

But I digress. Hope I've helped. Enjoy whatever you like--life is short.

73, Criefman

Hey Criefman, thank you for this eye-opener review on Slingbox. I didn't really have the slightest idea about this. Well I hope our other members will get to know the reality about slingmedia products.
Thanks once again.

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Dear ijhtio,

Thanks--appreciate it. At least I know that if you found it I put it in one of the right forums.

Take care and be well.

73, Criefman

dude you like to write alot you should start a blog. i see you write alot on other forums and i think iv spoken with you a few times i enjoyed reading this even tho i aint got clue who comcast is or what it is anyway hope your well take care. jason

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Take care and be well.

Criefman

oh im glad rodger dude its you i cant belive you dont recognise my name and age put them together thats my name on noeman cant really discuss it here. im glad to see your still going strong. thanks for the info about comcast in the uk we have similar service from virgin media (CABLE COMPANY) & BSKYB ( SATELITE TV) theres also a digital tv package from british telecommunications (bt) called bt vision that im subscribed to. this company also supplies my landline & broadband (adsl). i see your suffering from Bronchiolitis Obliterans Oganizing Pneumonia i hope you recover soon or at least are comfortable is this something you picked up after your lung transplant?. i didnt know you were a ham radio operator (amature radio) i see your callsign on your site i to have been an amature radio enthusiast for meany years (only hold mm3 licence) im also a member of the alpha tango (italian) and alpha whiskey (Perth Scotland)) cb radio groups those where the days in my teens (almost 16 years ago) when i used to pirate 27.555mhz upper side band lol i miss the buzz of whacking 400watts through my 5 element beam using my president jackson or high gain 5 mk2. take care mate. 73's. jason

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