cable tv in the truck

[LDB]

I just got a Slingbox system. It wires in between your cable from the wall and your tv. It uses your internet connection to allow you to watch tv using any internet enabled pc. With this you can watch cable/dish on your laptop in your truck or anywhere else that has internet capability. You install software on the pc that receives the signal. It's not high def but it's plenty good enough to see the picture and much better than what you get with a regular tv and antenna. You also have the 80-90 channels you have at home instead of the few you get wherever you happen to be. The drawbacks are you can't watch one show on the tv and a different one on the pc and you don't get channels higher than 99, at least on my setup. It's $230 at Best Buy and if you don't need the wireless adapter to get from the tv to your internet router then it's $130. You can see them on bestbuy.com for sure and slingbox.com I think.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
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[greg334]

ok I wondered about this, why can't you watch one show on tv and the other on the box? does it use the cable box?

 

[LDB]

It uses the cable box if you have one and if there's no cable box then it goes between the cable input and the tv. There's no way to watch different shows on it and the tv.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Dreamer]

I have heard of this system, and it seems like the coming thing if you've got broadband at home, and on the road.

It would seem the solution would be to run a splitter, and possibly even a second dedicated cable box inline with the computer.



Dreamer
Forums Administrator


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"If you don't have the time to do something right,
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[heel4you]

Hi all,
I have a slingbox and have enjoyed it. I just got a dish for the truck and house so I am not going to be using it any longer. If anyone is interested in having one I can let this one go at a really good price (it's just taking up space now). PM me and I will let you know the specifics.
Laura

 

[LDB]

RE: Slingbox update

I've been playing with this a little here at the house. You need about a 250Kbps minimum speed to get a decent picture without jumps or skips. I changed mine from automatic to manual buffering 15 seconds and that helped too. The default is a small window, about 5 inch diagonal, but you can zoom it to full screen on your laptop. The quality isn't as good full screen but it's definitely passable and better than what I got a lot of the time on my plain broadcast tv in the truck. For $230 one time (and only $130 if you don't need the remote kit at the house) it's a very good option to me.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[themagicoen]

RE: Slingbox update

For anyone who doesn't know this item is called a "place shifter". It coverts what ever signal you want into digital and then at a remote location you can watch it. The home unit can control your tv, tivo, cable cable box, etc. I like the idea of the Tivo the best, it records everything I like and then I can watch it any where at anytime. Best next thing to that would be a in motion dish and dvr - very expensive.

 

[greg334]

RE: Slingbox update

Actually sounds like a terminal or citrix services where only the screen and the sound is updated on the fly. Very small bandwidth is needed to do this.

 

[Moot]

RE: Slingbox update

If you have broadband with internet service at home can you also get the internet service in your truck?

 

[LDB]

RE: Slingbox update

Not with this unit.. at least that I know of.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.