Advent OGM1: Watch LIVE TV with Slingbox

wottenad · November 21, 2012

For those of you that don't know what to ask Santa for for Christmas, think about a Slingbox. I've used one for years (currently own two), and it's the best way to I know of to watch live TV anywhere in the world for free once you buy it.

For instance: My stepdaughter is currently going to college and can't afford a cable subscription, so I bought her a WDTV Live box because it has the Slingbox app built into it. Now when she wants to watch TV in her apartment in Las Vegas, she fires up the WDTV and watches our downstairs cable box (in Washington) in near HD quality any time she wants.

For a one-time purchase (the Slingbox Solo is $89 on Amazon), you can use it to stream just about any video source you want via the internet (or to any monitor on your home network as well) for free, forever...

Here's how it works using the SlingPlayer app on the iPhone 4S:

Also, just heard on the radio tonight that the apps are now half price ($14.99).

Morgan1986 · November 21, 2012

can she control the channels or is she stuck to watch what ever channel the basement tv was on last.

chrislidgett · November 21, 2012

does this only work while the vehicle is in park or while it is moving as well?

wottenad · November 21, 2012

can she control the channels or is she stuck to watch what ever channel the basement tv was on last.

She has full control of the cable box just as if she were sitting in front of the TV holding the remote in her hand. As a matter of fact, if she accesses the Slingbox we have hooked to our upstairs TIVO, she's able to record her own shows and play them back at any time too!

does this only work while the vehicle is in park or while it is moving as well?

If you made the personal choice to override the parking brake interlock, you'd have this available while moving.

tazerbro · November 30, 2012

Walt this is awesome. It almost makes me want to sign up for cable in the home to do this. Now, I am curious as to what this does as far as data use is concerned. I would imagine using constant streaming video uses quite a bit of data on your cellphone plan. Obviously an unlimited data plan would be more ideal for this type of use, correct?

Now I just need cable, an iPhone, and a slingbox

Bowtie55 · December 1, 2012

Nice video Walt..

wottenad · December 2, 2012

Walt this is awesome. It almost makes me want to sign up for cable in the home to do this. Now, I am curious as to what this does as far as data use is concerned. I would imagine using constant streaming video uses quite a bit of data on your cellphone plan. Obviously an unlimited data plan would be more ideal for this type of use, correct?

Now I just need cable, an iPhone, and a slingbox

Actually, it would be better to buy a Slingbox, then buy a buddy that already has cable another cable box, set up the Slingbox at his house, and pay his extra $10 bill for the extra box instead of the $70+ the cable company would charge you for new service.

You wouldn't even need to hook a TV to it, just send the output into the Slingbox, then you could watch it from your house, your phone, or from any computer anywhere in the world...

tazerbro · December 2, 2012

Walt this is awesome. It almost makes me want to sign up for cable in the home to do this. Now, I am curious as to what this does as far as data use is concerned. I would imagine using constant streaming video uses quite a bit of data on your cellphone plan. Obviously an unlimited data plan would be more ideal for this type of use, correct?

Now I just need cable, an iPhone, and a slingbox

Actually, it would be better to buy a Slingbox, then buy a buddy that already has cable another cable box, set up the Slingbox at his house, and pay his extra $10 bill for the extra box instead of the $70+ the cable company would charge you for new service.

You wouldn't even need to hook a TV to it, just send the output into the Slingbox, then you could watch it from your house, your phone, or from any computer anywhere in the world...

Not a bad idea there. I didn't even think of that. Guess I may have to make a call to my father and see if we can work something out ;)

roden001 · May 6, 2013

Actually, it would be better to buy a Slingbox, then buy a buddy that already has cable another cable box, set up the Slingbox at his house, and pay his extra $10 bill for the extra box instead of the $70+ the cable company would charge you for new service.

You wouldn't even need to hook a TV to it, just send the output into the Slingbox, then you could watch it from your house, your phone, or from any computer anywhere in the world...

Of course, since you're also tying up some of his bandwidth every time you watch, you may offer to pay the difference for an upgrade to his internet service, too.