Sling Adaptor Field Reviews

[TheKrell]

Sling adapter only works if you are connected to the internet. When I disconnected my ISP here I got an error message that the receiver is currently unavailable, please connect to a broadband internet connection and try again.

What happens when you do this while already streaming? Will the connection get severed? I'm pretty sure that the router has to be powered or else it won't even perform a loopback function. Ideally the receiver and client would be moving data directly and not need even a loopback from the router.

I sure wish this had a direct-connect function like my Hava. Then an Internet connection would not be necessary.

 

[TheForce]

Thanks, Claude for your review, comparing the 922 with the 722K. I came to that conclusion about a year ago when I decided not to wait on the 922 and go for a 722K with OTA module. The toughest part of that battle was getting Dish to stop sending me 622 refurbs and send what I ordered which was the 722K. Anyway, it has performed flawlessly for nearly a year. Now I have this sling adapter. Which installed and executed on my PC without trouble.

However...

I am quite concerned that the every day use of sling media here is a closet load of trouble.

I would appreciate it if any of you have similar experience.

The sling adapter gets very hot when it runs which concerns me as to the amount of current running through the USB port. I worry about burning out the USB port in my 722K. I hope my concerns are wrong.

The 722K has only two USB ports. I also have an external hard drive. On first try having the hard drive connected to the front USB and the SA on the rear USB, I can see my external drive's content OK but when I start to play it it plays for about 5 minutes and then freezes. Then I lose connection to the SA, followed by an automatic reboot of the 722K. Next I tried to use a small USB hub connected to the rear USB and got nearly the same results. If I had the drive connected ( both with and without the hub) but didn't access the SA it ran fine playing content from the internal HD only. But if I tried to connect to the SA from a PC, the 722K began to reboot over and over. So, what works, is to have either the hard drive connected or the SA connected but not both or my 722K reboots constantly. Here's my take on this. The key factor that causes all these DVRs to reboot has been intermittant power supply. This has been confirmed tome by Echostar as a root cause of the reboot issues in the refurb 622's which they tracked down to a weak power supply connection and have since replaced those in the refurb process. Therefore, when we are attaching devices with excessive power draw on the USB port such as the SA ( gets really hot) my theory is that the 722K power supply is being drained of proper voltage levels and it triggers a reboot. This would be an easy theory to test out but not so easy to fix unless a redesign of the SA is done to enable an outboard power supply, getting that drain off the 722 supply. After the holidays, I plan to call my inside contact at Echostar to get his view on my theory if we need to be concerned about the power the SA pulls through the 722USB port and supply.

Software- Currently, the implementation of the SA is rather awkward compared to the traditional slingbox address. This is a system still in progress, and I accept that. But my real complaint here is that sling media along with DishNetwork has shut down the sling mobile player for windows mobile devices and my ipad. I believe this is in violation of the terms of my sling box and sling player mobile purchase. Both are less than 10 months old! They should not have expired my purchases and now insist I purchase their latest hardware and software all over again.

The Dish Remote Access software works in a compatibility mode for the iPAD but there are some hidden gotchas in the process. The main one is with the latest iPAD iOS 4.2.1, you have to be careful to remember to shut down the hidden DishRemoteAccess app in the multitasking banner or you won't be able to use your SA connection elsewhere. I discovered this last night when I realized I had the ipad, in standby mode, but the DRA app running in the background and I could not gain access on my PC!

The other problem I discovered is you will run into conflict issues with the SA on your 722K as it throws your DVR into dual mode which could be an issue if you are normally set up for single and have multiple timers set for single mode capability.

I have obvious concerns with the above and I hope some of the issues can be resolved with better app development, especially for the iPAD. I'm sure they are working on it. But at this point, I'm thinking that the Sling Solo may be a much better way to go for the 722K. SA was a great idea but there are a number of closet issues, I'm seeing with it's use for long viewing periods.


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This is my speed test run when I get error messages that my internet connection is too slow and Sling has disconnected.

 

[TheForce]

What happens when you do this while already streaming? Will the connection get severed? I'm pretty sure that the router has to be powered or else it won't even perform a loopback function. Ideally the receiver and client would be moving data directly and not need even a loopback from the router.

I sure wish this had a direct-connect function like my Hava. Then an Internet connection would not be necessary.

That's the way I tested it. Disconnected the cable on the modem. Was still powered but no connection to Comcast, my ISP.

I think you either NEED a router or a null modem like cable from the VIP to the TV for this to work like you want, if that. Like joining two computers with a cable with the wires flipped.

What I think you are suggesting is if you could have the TV connect to a local IP address on your subnet and gain access to the IP of your DVR with Sling adapter. Seems to me my old sling box classic could be set up that way when I first got it but later on with software updates you had to connect through sling media and the LAN connection disappeard. Most likely this gave them control over your use. As we see now, they shut down the mobile sling players for older sling boxes. Sucks! if you ask me but as much as I loved sling media, this is one evil thing they have done and most don't even know they got screwed.

 

[TheKrell]

That is truely evil!

Couple of quick comments re: power supply issue. Your EHD has it's own exernal power supply, so that should not be an issue when connecting both. To fix the power draw for the Sling Adapter, we might get away with a powered USB hub. Apparently I'm going to have to test some more, because I didn't notice much heat other than what was coming from my 722 itself. If the Sling Adapter is getting really hot despite that enormous waffle heat sink, then it must be drawing more than the regulation 0.5 amp at 5V. This might explain why the 622 is now disallowed; it probably can't source whatever the Sling Adapter needs. Somebody should put a meter on that thing!

Edited to add: I feel no significant heating out of the Sling Adapter after an hour's operations (on an HD channel) using the mid quality setting. In fact, it feels cooler to the touch than the top of my 722.

 

[mrpither]

got mine Monday, plugged it into my new mini usb hub on the back of my 722k, and it worked right away. Streams to my macbook and iPhone a-ok. still a bit laggy with remote commands - had hoped that part would be better than the sling box. another odd thing - on my iPhone using the dish app, I have lost some of the commands that I had with the regular sling box. i.e. the menu that appears across the top of the screen has only 3 'buttons' instead of the 5 it had before. or is that some setting I am just missing?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Are you saying that the 722k w/adapter works better than the 922 w/built in adapter?

Much better the ow on the 922 sucks compared to the new Sling adapter

 

[TheKrell]

the ow on the 922 sucks

Hurt so good.
Come on baby, make it hurt so good.
Sometimes love don't feel like it should.
You make it hurt so good.

 

[mrpither]

ow?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Was supposed to say pq but my sang phone changed it to ow.

 

[mrpither]

Was supposed to say pq but my sang phone changed it to ow.

ah yes - my iphone never does that sort of thing...

 

[MikeD-C05]

Much better the pq on the 922 sucks compared to the new Sling adapter

Well I am glad to know that it wasn't just me seeing bad picture quality using the 922.

 

[Dirtydan]

ah yes - my iphone never does that sort of thing...

Maybe too much slause.
Dan

 

[TheForce]

Krell- My USB powered hub is a possibility too but I don't have a power pack for it yet. I just saw the jack next to one of the USB ports. I do plan to check that out. Also, the heat is much reduced by suspending the heat sing case of the SA over a fan. But, convecting the heat away faster doesn't necessarily reduce the current of the thing.

I have much testing to do but I may just bite the bullet and upgrade my sling box and be back in business for everything. In other words- throw money at the problem.

Hey Scott- my ipad also tries to respell my last name as landies.

 

[TheKrell]

But, convecting the heat away faster doesn't necessarily reduce the current of the thing.

True. The powered USB hub was supposed to address that problem by offloading the receiver. You had commented that the EHD and Sling Adapter could not both be run together without problems. I'm still not seeing any significant heat coming off that thing. Do you see the same heating on the medium quality that I'm using? I'm suspicious that it really starts cooking for HD transcoding.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Your USB hub needs to be powered for it to work correctly, without the power you should short out the SLingbox or your receiver (or both) so use a powered USB hub!

 

[Tyralak]

Question about the SlingLink power internet connection. In the Dish store it looks like you only have to purchase one $30 unit to attach to the router and the 722k somehow picks up the signal through its power cord. Is this true? Is there no need to buy 2 of these?

That's correct. The 722k is able to read the Sling Link through the power lines in the house. It's very important to remember though, that both the Sling Link and the722k need to be plugged directly into the wall outlet. No power strips and no surge protectors. They filter out the signal. The only surge protectors you can use are the ones rated as Homeplug compatible.

 

[TheForce]

I'm suspicious that it really starts cooking for HD transcoding.

Didn't mean to imply that! The SA heats up even in Good mode when sitting on top of the 722K case. I have it suspended now and air flowing through it and it stays cool. BUT, it still hangs up with a variety of error messaged on the PC viewing when run in combination with the EHD. I put a contact thermometer on the SA when it was running "hot" and the temp was 135 degrees F. Suspended with a fan on it and it is running 85 degrees.

Scott- Thanks for the reassurance on the power supply. I will make the effort to get that in place today. The hub didn't come with one but there is a jack for power.

 

[rjruby]

The 722 with the Sing adaptor works just like the 922 with the sling adaptor built in.

Here is why I do not like the 922...

#1 $4 more per month than 722K
#2 Buggy and Clunky Interface
#3 No TV2

Granted your getting a slightly smaller hard drive on the 722K, instead of the 922. However just the fact the software is polished off in the 722K makes it well worth having over the 922.

Im getting rid of my 922 and replacing it with a 722K.

Keep in mind, I say this when my idea of upgrading a receiver in my house is as simply as going to the office in my warehouse and taking a receiver from inventory and taking it home with me. It says alot when I can put whatever I want in my house and this is what I choose.

Here's hoping the 722K shows up as Cyber Monday deal on some un-named Gold Sponsor's website....hint..hint

 

[netmaster]

Here's hoping the 722K shows up as Cyber Monday deal on some un-named Gold Sponsor's website....hint..hint

The 922 isn't buggy at all anymore now that they have made some updates and the second TV tuner can be connected to a second TV as long as it is a standard def one (cause the connectors on the back are only the standard A/V component cables). Not a single problem here. As far as the extra four buck a month go, it is well worth the price due to the sharper and easier to use interface, and the menu being faster during navigation (and knowing it's all covered in case something goes wrong, but you're SOL when it comes to an external hard drive or sling adapter). Since those features like the smoother and easier to navigate menu are something you use every single day and are stuck with I think it's well worth the money and still a far better value than anything offered by Direct or other programming solutions. It is also nice having it all built in right out of the box. PQ is excellent through sling as well as long as you have a high speed internet connection. I think it definitely has a small edge over the 722 even despite the $4 extra per month. It's a small edge but an edge is an edge and I want to have the best and the 922 is it for me.

 

[eurosteve]

That's correct. The 722k is able to read the Sling Link through the power lines in the house. It's very important to remember though, that both the Sling Link and the722k need to be plugged directly into the wall outlet. No power strips and no surge protectors. They filter out the signal. The only surge protectors you can use are the ones rated as Homeplug compatible.

Thanks for the info. Since I already ordered the Wireless broadband adapter I will try that out first. Hopefully I can get enough bandwidth with that to use the Sling Adapter. If not, it's nice to know that for $30 I have another technology to try out.

I guess if I use both the USB wireless adapter and the Sling Adapter in the rear USB port, I should get a powered USB hub. I'm thinking that at the very least it takes some strain off the 722k power supply?