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11:47 am
January 10, 2012
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I'm about to move to another city and would like to still watch the local basketball team. The issue is I do not watch TV other than basketball, and thus do not plan on buying cable. I'd buy the overpriced cable package if I thought I'd actually watch the stations in it, but it contains more than 200 channels and I would only watch the one station that shows the games.
So what'd I'd like to do is stream my friend's cable to my TV so I can watch the games. It seems there are options to watch the cable stream on a PC, but I'd like to watch it on my TV.
After some research, a SlingboxPro-to-Slingcatcher setup seemed like the solution, but, of course, the Slingcatcher's out of commission. So what are my options for place-shifting out of the home to an actual TV?
Do the Vulkano's support this kind of setup? One Vulkano on the cable, another on my TV? Or are there other options out there I haven't found yet?
I'm adept at Linux and programming and it does seem like a MythTV setup might be an option. I couldn't find documentation that said it supported out-of-home streaming though. Seems to be intended to place shift within the home, not out of it. Anybody familiar with MythTV?
Assuming there's no perfect slingcatcher setups alternative, what kind of device works best for a HTPC setup?
4:51 am
August 28, 2010
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I recommend you to get a Macmini - capable to display HD content, totally noiseless and small enough to find its place near the TV.
So far I got the best perfomance and quality with the macmini and a Slingplayer that connects to a Pro HD, the Mac itself is connected via HDMI.
Vulkano video resolution seems to be restricted, but there you could do recordings to your local harddrive.
1:25 pm
August 11, 2010
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Mac mini is great option but keep in mind that you can't pause FFWD or RRWD on the mac slingcatcher, boxee, and Logitech box.
Boxee and Logitech might be a option since they now have a slingplayer app but but only work with HD PRO or SOLO
So if you want pause rewind and fast forward I recommend a HTPC like acer revo or zotac ION
I have zotac PC, slingcatcher and Logitech. I use the zotac as my main one b/c of options pause etc.
I use catcher in my room due to how easy it is. I don't use the Logitech at all can't stand the keyboard
12:26 am
August 28, 2010
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.. did forget to mention that I use Windows7 64bit on the Macmini. With Slingplayer for Windows you have a higher video resolution and you can pause or FFWD/RRWD the buffered video stream.
7:58 am
January 10, 2012
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Thanks for the advice. The more I look at HTPCs, the more I want one in general, not just as a solution for this.
I was thinking Acer/Zotac HTPC (MacMini's are nice, but too overpriced for me. Like everything else Apple sells) that was running Linux/XMBS, accessing Slingbox from a browser, but it sounds like Windows gives you the best resolution with Slingbox? I hate Windows but maybe I'll make an exception.
(Also, for closure and those who get here Googling, the MythTV setup theoretically would work over the internet, but you would need very fast upload speeds at the original site, and very fast download speeds at the remote site. There seems to be a discrepancy on how fast is 'very fast' but it's out of my reach.)
9:06 am
August 28, 2010
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To my knowledge Sling doesn't support Linux, means there is no Linux stand-alone or web player available.
7:59 am
May 9, 2012
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If you want to use your friends cablebox as your source and you want it on a TV either Vulkano or Slingbox will do that. I'm assuming you want a fairly good quality picture also. Avoid any other solution as quality is limited in the other options (Revue, etc). You will need (1) high speed internet at your friends home with good upload speed, (2) cable box that you can control without impacting the owner, (3) PC with HDMI output, and (4) good HD TV. You will have to configure the router at the source to work with whatever you chose and the bandwidth at the source (your friends home) will be impacted when you are using it. Vulkano will provide good quality but cannot take advantage of higher upload speed at remote so if you have internet with 2 meg or less (really need at least 1 meg for any quality) I would chose Vulkano, if you have 2 meg or better Slingbox HD would give the best quality. Hope that helps.
1:13 pm
August 28, 2012
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I have a similar question.
I’ve never used these products before but I've read a decent amount on this products through Amazon reviews. I want to set up a more permanent solution at my future home in my London apartment to watch US sports and other programs via the DVR. I’m thinking the DVR taped programs will be considerably better to watch due to the buffering that takes place (maybe watching sports at a slight delay is the way to go?). I'm thinking I can set up a Slingbox or Belkin @TV product at my folks' place with the internet & dedicated cable/dvr box (just for my use). I would like to have set up a digital media receiver like Belkin ScreenCast or Apple TV in order to display my programming directly on my TV at the highest possible resolution and least amount of buffering issues. I plan on plugging directly into the router back at my folks’ place and I’m not sure what my internet connection will be in London yet.
Any recommendations to get the best possible HD (or even remotely close) viewing experience. I’m open to product suggestions and willing to shell out the necessary funds.
Thanks
6:53 pm
April 19, 2010
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If you have the upload bandwidth 2,000Kbps or better at your 'folks' place then the Slingbox Pro HD would give you higher resolution than the other brands. If not then a @TV plus or Vulkano would be a better way to go.
Far as the receiving end goes you would be probably be best off with a low cost laptop receiving the stream and then sending to the TV via HDMI regardless of what you choose to send the stream.
2:47 am
August 28, 2012
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Brandon C said
If you have the upload bandwidth 2,000Kbps or better at your 'folks' place then the Slingbox Pro HD would give you higher resolution than the other brands. If not then a @TV plus or Vulkano would be a better way to go.Far as the receiving end goes you would be probably be best off with a low cost laptop receiving the stream and then sending to the TV via HDMI regardless of what you choose to send the stream.
Thanks, Brandon. My only reservations is the inordinate amount of reviews on Amazon that say the Slingbox Pro HD completely breaks down after a short period of time. Do you suggest I simply take a chance with this? $250 is a decent amount to throw down with this possibly being an outcome.
6:58 pm
April 19, 2010
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I have seen those reviews on Amazon.com but, I have 3 Pro HD's and they are one of the first ones to come out. They are all working fine and get used almost everyday. I have had to replace a couple of Power Supplies but that's it.
We have also had a few people mention hardware issues with the Pro HD here also.
Do you have enough upload bandwidth where the Slingbox will be to get an HD stream? (2,000Kbps or better) If so I wouldn't worry about the hardware.
I have never heard anyone mention a hardware or Power supply issue with a Vulkano yet though and if you get a Flow from Amazon for under $100.00 it may only be 720p output but it's 1/3 the price. 
