How to Troubleshoot the Slingbox

You can use a laptop loaded with Sling software to access your stream in a remote location.

Slingbox hardware provides a channel for your existing television source to be streamed onto the Internet. The device takes programming that you've already paid for, such as a cable or satellite subscription, and creates a private stream. You can access the stream in a remote location, such as a hotel room, by using a laptop loaded with Sling software. The device isn't quite plug-and-play, though--you need to make configuration changes to your router at the Slingbox location. Other problems can include bandwidth issues. These kinds of problems can be corrected by following some troubleshooting steps.

Instructions

1. Open Port 5001 on your home router if the Slingbox won't stream outside of your home. The Slingbox needs a path to the Internet and uses Port 5001 to do this. Access your router's home page with a Web browser and look for a menu item described as Gaming, Firewall, or similar. All routers are different, so you may have to check the documentation that came with the router for the IP address of the home page, the user ID and password, and the exact location of the port opening page. Once you've opened the port, your Slingbox will stream externally. If the Slingbox won't stream externally, this issue is the reason.

2. Look for a "Show Statistics" option in the Slingplayer menu and check it if the picture is blocky or pixelated. This option will provide a running calculation of the kilobits per second (kbps) used by the stream. It's based on the bandwidth available at the Slingbox location. Slingboxes ideally need 600 kbps, but if you're desperate you can work with 250 kbps. Check this figure and make sure it's over 600 kbps. If it isn't, call your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and request an upgrade to your Internet service.

3. Allow the Slingbox to settle down when starting the Slingplayer. The Slingbox needs a minute or so to calculate how much available bandwidth it has to work with and to make adjustments to the stream to optimize the picture for that bandwidth. Pixelation when starting is normal.

References

• Sling Media: Slingbox SOLO User Guide