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I don’t watch a lot of TV, but before I left for Buenos Aires, I decided it would be nice to watch some U.S. TV stations and shows while I was here. Watching my DVR would be great too, and I also wanted to be able to watch Michigan football games this fall. Luckily, The Slingbox comes to the rescue.
The Slingbox lets you watch your TV over the Internet on any connected PC, Mac or mobile phone. The small box plugs into your TV on one end and high-speed Internet connection on the other. An infrared controller attaches to your cable box and controls the functions of it (including your DVR). You then simply install the SlingPlayer software on your laptop or mobile phone and connect. You’re now watching and controlling your home TV from wherever you are. (You can check out their flash video for a better explanation.)
All right, so this tech trick requires some setup before you leave (or a friend willing to set it up for you), a working high-speed Internet connection and cable TV, but if you have some place to set it up, it works pretty well. I have the SlingPlayer software running on my wireless laptop and connected to the TV with an S-video cable. A wireless mouse lets me control the on-screen remote from the couch. Now, I won’t have to miss any episodes of The Daily Show even though I’m thousands of miles away and I can still skip the commercials!
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18 responses so far ↓
1 Ed // Aug 19, 2008 at 11:41 am
Have you used the slingbox yet? Does it work well and quality? We are planning the move next year and this would be great to get us direct tv programming down there and have it as if we were home. Just wondering if you had issues with the picture quality or if it works as advertised and you have a remote extension of your tv at home. Thanks, how are you enjoying it so far?
2 DaVe // Aug 20, 2008 at 7:01 am
Ed – It works fairly well. It is not even close to HDTV, but it is definitely watchable and works as advertised. We have been having Internet issues at our apartment and we’re still able to stream TV even though our Vonage phone isn’t working right. (We’re switching from Arnet to Fibertel which should help.)
We’re loving it so far. Lots to get used to though…
3 Ed // Aug 20, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Thanks, I hear fibertel is the best. I had issues with Vonage as well (we have a place in Mexico) but it ended up being the vonage box, I got a new one and had the numbers transferred to the new modem and it helped a ton so if your provider change does not work, you may try that. We are heading down in May or June for a couple of years so the slingbox would be a great help.
Thanks
4 DaVe // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Vonage has been great. It worked initially, but this Internet connection is horrible. No one here is rushed to get things done, that’s for sure. You call Arnet and they tell you they know about the problem and then hang up. Takes some getting used to.
5 Natalie // Aug 30, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I just moved to BA from the states, and I really want this slingbox contraption. Can someone at home connect the slingbox and then send me the installation cd? Is that how it works? Thanks!
6 DaVe // Aug 31, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Natalie – It’s even easier than that. Someone at home can install it and then you can download the viewing software from their web site. All you need is a good Internet connection at both ends. The setup is pretty straight forward, but helps if whomever is setting it up is a bit technical.
7 DaVe // Aug 31, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Unfortunately, while I was able to catch yesterday’s Michigan v. Utah game via the Slingbox, Michigan lost 25-23. Oh well, they say it’s a rebuilding year…
8 Expat Tech: Miro, Your TiVo for the Internet + Your Favorite Shows // Sep 4, 2008 at 7:31 am
[...] lot of people were interested in our post about using the Slingbox to stream your TV over the Internet and watch it overseas, and while it [...]
9 2008: The Year in Review | Discover Buenos Aires // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm
[...] Having the Slingbox setup in the U.S was a great idea in theory, but the problem is that the Internet connection has [...]
10 Expat Tech: Downloading Content Overseas | Discover Buenos Aires // Feb 25, 2009 at 11:55 am
[...] just not as speedy as the ones available in the US. We have had countless problems watching our Slingbox and have pretty much just given up on it. When streaming movies, we often start the video and then [...]
11 LivingLargeBA // Feb 25, 2009 at 6:26 pm
We’ve been slingboxing in Buenos Aires since 2006. It works very well,… BUT the one thing that helps is to sign up for “business” or “turbo” service back home in the States with your Cable or DSL provider.
Slingbox works best if your remote location (where the Slingbox is) has a internet connection with a good upstream speed. Most consumer DSL/Cable packages provide excellent download speeds (3Mbps +) but lame upstream (256kbps ~ 512kbps). This upstream is not the ideal for slingboxing, specially internationally. The Business or Turbo packages cost more, but should give you a higher upstream speed. Back in the US we get this on RoadRunner with a 1Mbps upstream. It works wonders with Slingbox and even the quality of HD programming is good. Good luck!
12 DaVe // Mar 1, 2009 at 9:25 am
Just tested and I have 2Mbps upload and download. Must be the connection in Buenos Aires, though it is a 3Mbps cable connection.
13 LivingLargeBA // Mar 1, 2009 at 2:34 pm
We have 2.5mbps Fibertel (Multicanal Cable) and 2mbps Arnet (Telecom DSL). For Slingboxing, both work well although DSL seems consistently better with less buffering than the cable modem. For Vonage, it always worked better via Cable than DSL. Although recently that has changed and we have to toggle between one or the other if Vonage starts having trouble. For Apple TV (iTunes), our DSL has always been consistently better than our Cable for downloading movies and TV shows etc., (often times by a magnitude of 2 – 5 times faster).
DaVe; Try testing your local BA and your remote US connections with http://www.speedtest.net. Check the download speed for your local, and the upload speed for your US. On both tests, run against a server at the other location.
14 Larry // May 5, 2009 at 2:52 am
where can one obtain programming from the US? Are there any commerical services that you are aware of that I could subscribe to? I would love to watch US programming but I live here in South America and I don't have a place in the US.
15 Gabriela // May 6, 2009 at 12:45 am
I am on the opposite end of the spectrum here. I live in the US and would like to watch Argentinean TV. I have sent a SLINGBOX to my mom in Argentina who has Cablevision and Broadband, but she has no clue as to how to connect it. I'd be willing to have someone connect his SLINGBOX in my house in the US in exchange for someone helping me with my Slingbox connection in Argentina. Any takers?
16 Larry // May 6, 2009 at 12:55 am
I am in Colombia and would be willing to do that with you. I have 2 megabits in and 500 kb out with satellite with Telefonica. My slingbox is in Florida but I will be there for a week on the 15th as I have renters moving and I will ship a bunch of stuff back home (to Colombia) including the Slingbox.
How fast in and out is your internet connection and who do you have for TV?
Another option is for you to conference call Sling Media and your mom from there in the US. I am sure they have support in Spanish to help her and with Vongage it’s so cheap calling Latin America.
I have 2 Vonage and a Packet8 line here in Colombia – and in the US Vonage with the Unlimited Latin America Plan which allows unlimited calls to Latin America (non mobiles) for 14.99 per month (on top of the base package).
17 Gabriela // May 6, 2009 at 1:10 am
I have Cablevision for both TV and Broadband in the US, and I have the "Silver" TV package + IO en ESPANOL.
My mom is 80 years old and I don't think it'll be feasible to do a conference call. I didn't quite understand how you can help me with Argentinean programming if you'll be in Colombia. ..
18 Larry // May 6, 2009 at 1:20 am
Here on Telefoncia we get programming from Argentina and all of South America but no, I don't have all the channels from Argentina.
Do you have any family who can help your mom? Or maybe you could call computer guy to come out to your mom's to configure the slingbox?
Larry
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