Slingbox and SlingCatcher (6m?)

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
21/03/2009 22:46

I watch *all* major Western European TV channels via Internet (SlingBox in Holland, connected to a cable-provider: 149 Euros, subscription: 4 Euros/month). I'm now looking for a so-called "SlingCatcher" which makes it possible to send the stream not to my laptop but to a normal TV set. "SlingCatchers" exist, but are not yet for sale in Holland. Does anyone out there know if they are for sale in the UK (6m?) or in the USA (TurboTurk)?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
21/03/2009 22:54

My question was just answered in an email from Holland.



Anyone interested in the possibilities of "SlingPlayer" (available for PC and Mac) and "SlingCatcher", more here:



http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingcatcher

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
21/03/2009 23:53

http://uk.slingmedia.com/go/slingcatcher-purchase

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
21/03/2009 23:54

Thanks, 6m. As you can see from my post I too found the right place. Are you familiar with the SlingBox and SlingPlayer?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
21/03/2009 23:57

DC, what is the UPLINK speed from NL, for your Slingbox?





As you know I've been trying to get these to work from the UK, but the costs of getting the necessary 2 m/bit UPLOAD per s/box - to get FULL windowed picture .. 4 Euro / month sounds great



For the price of this slingcatcher, couldn't you connect your MAC to a decent LCD TV via a HDMI Didgi out feed to the input of the screen?



THAT's what clients of mine do for watching BBC iplayer, etc in Oz

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 00:06

Oooops read up some more..



http://uk.slingmedia.com/go/slingcatcher-faq



Q: Can I use a SlingCatcher if I have a Mac OS computer?





A: Yes! If you have a Mac, you can still use SlingCatcher to connect to your Slingbox, or to enjoy video and audio files loaded onto a USB drive. Unfortunately at this time, the SlingProjector software is only available for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista.



May be this belongs in the PC v Mac thread ;) ....

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 00:08

6m, the SlingCatcher unfortunately will not yet work for me: "* Macintosh support not currently available." Maybe later...



This is what my friend in Holland told me: "De bandbreedte op de zaak is 100Mbit en loopt direct via het datacentrum waar we 1000Mbit/sec (!) up en download hebben. Een slingbox verbruikt zo'n 200-500 Kbit/seconde." (Bandwith in the office is 100Mbit, connected to the datacenter in Amsterdam where my friend has 1000Mbit up and download. A SLINGBOX USES ABOUT 200-500 KBIT/SECOND". (My caps).



I watch full screen (Mac PowerBook 17", OS 10.5.6, Slingplayer for Mac).



Does this help? Let me know if you need more technical information and I wiill relay your question to my Dutch friend (he is an Inetrnet provider).

croft



Joined: 09/02/2009
Posts: 65

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 02:03

mmmmmm



You're probably right about the other thread but - for what it's worth - we have a Mac Mini under our TV going via HDMI. It's great as a cheap server for video and music, plus it's almost silent. I hope SlingCatcher Mac software is/becomes available because that would be a great solution for us while we are in Cyprus. Until then, there's Torrent...

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 03:24

Slingbox just looks expensive to me.



Hardware costs of sling box kit. Cost of internet connection at the sending location. Cost of internet connection at recieving end. That is all before any cost for 'content', like a sky subcription. I personally do not like the dependance on the internet either. I do not want my online gaming to become unplayable because my other half is watching eastenders.



On a different note for anyone looking for a networked media player to plug into their spanky HD TV / surround sound setup I would personally recommend having a look at this device



http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/accessories/0,39100115,49298605,00.htm



On a different note again for any music lovers out there that use IP masking service (proxy or vpn) to allow for viewing iplayer and the like outside the UK check out http://www.spotify.com, currently free for those with UK IP addresses. Not a big music lover myself but have had rave reviews from UK friends about it.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 07:09

Dear ErolZ re msg 9



There is numerous FREE to air TV channels that MOST UK expats want .. BBC/ ITV / c4 / Five / SKY 3 / History / Dave, etc are FREE on UK Freeview ( Terrestrial Digital) , and most of those via Satellite.. hence the demand for 4.2m dishes !



IF the uplink was good and cheap at the UK end, the folk in "TRNC" would only need to buy the slingbox and have a SKY receiver / Freeview receiver back in the UK...



Naturally, the internet connection at the RECEIVING end has to be reliable, too !



No matter how good your connection, nothing beats a BIG dish and the ability to watch TV on a BIG screen in HD ( c4 / SKY/ Nat Geo, etc., ) in Cyprus - those of us that can't won't have a big dish - for whatever reason - have the option of a VPN or Sling ( or similar) .. for now downloading, for PERFECT playback, and viewing via the VPN/ iPlayer option is "best" but it would be GREAT to be asble to use a SKY+ or even a Freeview - with built in HDD to record and schedule ..

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 07:13

Hi Hans



I have all flavours of Sling here on test in the UK... and yo get as near as dam it full screen good quality - a la BBC iplayer - you need 2 Mbits .. 200-500Kps ( for me, and I can't see how it is different for you!) will work full screen the the quality .....:(

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 07:28

MM msg 10



(please do not call me dear)



I am aware that there is free to air UK TV content.



"IF the uplink was good and cheap at the UK end, the folk in "TRNC" would only need to buy the slingbox and have a SKY receiver / Freeview receiver back in the UK..."



That is a big if and the need to have a devices permantely plugged in and powered up in a country I am not resident in is another downside to slingbox for me. Having to have and rely on 2 internet connections in two different countires and having my other use of my local internet connection degraded when TV is being watched are other reasons I personaly would not want a slingbox setup.



For me personally as far as there is UK based content I want to view I just download it first, without any need for proxy or vpns to make my IP appear to be a UK one. I have not need for 'live' feeds. I prefer to control when I download and when I do not and have not had much trouble finding content I want without Iplayer or the like.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 10:00

RE msg 12, Croft > I hope SlingCatcher Mac software is/becomes available because that would be a great solution for us <



===> Hi Croft, The "SlingPlayer" for Mac can be downloaded here: http://downloads.slingmedia.com/go/desktop-ie

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 10:04

Sorry Croft, I mixed the SlingPlayer and the SlingCATCHER. I share your hope!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 10:39

RE msg 9, Erolz > Slingbox just looks expensive to me. Hardware costs of sling box kit. <

=> 149 Euros (once)

> Cost of internet connection at the sending location. <

===> Alternative: You may use a friend's connection and use his computer as a server.

> Cost of internet connection at recieving end. <

=> I have that connection anyway.

> That is all before any cost for 'content', like a sky subcription. <

=> 4 Euros a month is bearable, I think.

> I personally do not like the dependance on the internet either. I do not want my online gaming to become unplayable because my other half is watching eastenders. <

===> You have a point here. But I give way to my other half, unless Ajax is playing.



=> To summarize: as a (temporary) TRNC resident I don't have to watch the Digiturk rubbish on Turkish TV (mo) or Hallmark or BBC prime (old stuff). I'm very happy with this Slingbox solution. I will now check if the quality will even be better when I upgrade my Nethouse Network conne

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 10:43

Network connection (continued).



At the moment I pay 48 TL/month (I think) for Digiturk, but not any longer.



My conclusion for now (other possibilities not yet checked, Mark!): I get the channels I want, in an acceptable quality (not being a high def freak to watch football) and I spend less money (bye bye DigiTurk and no ugly dish plus costs).



What do you think, Erolz, when you at it from my position in TRNC?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 11:30

Correction: What do you think, Erolz, when you look at it from my position in TRNC?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 19:44

For you DC it seems like a good solution. I do not doubt that. Having a friend with a 100mbs connection who is willing to have the sending box on and connected all the time makes a big difference as to how feasiable this is as a solution. In general Holland has, in many areas, much better and cheaper internet access than UK. For me if I was to ask say my brother in the UK to host the server box for me, the reality is that when I watched TV here it would affect his internet useage there. Certainly if and when 10 or 100mbs symetrical internet connections become available in UK for home users then the senario would be different. Currently however a sending slinbox on a UK 'home' internet connection will affect that connnection. Even though you might have a 20mbs + connection at home in the UK that is download. The upload will be considerably less and thus sending out video to me would have an impact on their usage. Thus not something I would ask / expect from friends.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 19:48

re msg 18, ErolZ



As the tests we conducted keep illustrating - the UPLOAD from the UK is the problem.. if someone is watching the slingbox in Cyprus my ADSL connection is next to USELESS :(

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 19:51

Buy a 4.2 and dont be so stingy

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 20:04

MM msg 18



(thanks for not calling me dear)



Of course for the sending box upload bandwidth is the issue. I would not need to conduct test to know that. The point is in places in holland you can get home connections of 10 or even 100mbs symetrical. If I had a friend in holland with such a connection I would not be that connerned with asking them to have my sending slingbox in their house for me, as I know on such a connection my watching TV would have little to no impact on their usage of their connection. This is not the case in the UK where such symetrical internet connections to home users do not exist like they do in holland. My point was to DC, that given the reality of UK internet connections asking a friend to host my sending slingbox would not be in my view a reasonable expectation in the same way it is in his case, where his firend has a business 100mbs (and I suspect symetrical) connection.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
22/03/2009 21:16

ErolZ , re 21



" I would not need to conduct test to know that."



Some folk are reassured when theory is put in practice!