A Review of Sling Media's Slingbox Pro HD

As an avid watcher of television I find that when I am out of town on a trip or on vacation with my family that I really miss my Satellite High Definition programming. I have always wished there was a way that I could watch my TV from anywhere in the world. Recently I discovered that there is a way to do just that. Sling Media has introduced the new Slingbox Pro HD model. Now, you can take your HD programming anywhere you can find a WiFi connection.

What is a Slingbox? Slingbox is a device that when connected to your TV at home and connected your homes Hi Speed Internet connection allows you to stream live Television to anywhere in the world. Out of the box, the Pro model is a sleek looking device unlike it's predecessors. Previous models have been chunky and a bit on the heavy side. This particular model is much sleeker and has been put on a diet. Weighing in at only a couple of pounds, the Slingbox Pro HD looks good mixed in with your other TV necessities (ie. DVD players, Game Consoles, etc.).

Set up for the Pro HD model is relatively simple for anyone that can read basic instructions and has just a small amount of tech sense. Make sure and pay attention to the devices that you desire to input. The Pro HD model, unlike other models, allows you to have up to 4 inputs. This comes in particularly useful with a Netflix subscription or your DVD player. The hardest part of the set-up process is connecting an ethernet line into your home's high speed router. If your TV is not close to your router this can create a problem. You must either run a line long enough for it to reach, or you can by the plug in wireless adapter made by Sling called the Slinglink. The Slinglink is a highly advised purchase that will complete your high tech TV watching experience. After your computer and TV are linked just load the supplied software on your computer and you are ready to go.

The picture quality is remarkably stable on SlingBox. With a relatively fast connection the HD content streams seamlessly onto your computer. Our connection speed was about 1.5mbps and we saw no interference or had any connection problems. However, when the connection speed dropped to anything below 500kbps the HD picture resolution was markedly lowered. Standard definition programming was streaming at a perfectly acceptable pace and I found the screen to be very clear. I really found the remote control skins to be very helpful as it allows you to use the exact remote you have at your home. The remote is placed in a corner of your computer screen, I found this to be somewhat agitating but still well worth being able to watch my HD programming.

For those who are truly tech junkies (or those who have iphones and Blackberries), there is an application that allows you to watch your programming on your smart phone. Double check with your provider to make sure that they will allow this (currently Verizon blocks Slingbox applications, but ATT allows it only over Wifi).

Overall, Slingbox is a game changer with their newest HD device. As the creator of place shifting they have mastered the concept. I only wish they would find a way to integrate a wireless connection....here's to hoping.