It is the way this one is implemented as opposed to the hd model. There have never been such issues with the slingplayer application.
SlingPlayer application from Sling? Or as hobbled by Dish for the SlingAdapter?
A big difference from Sling*BOX* to SlingAdapter ... is that the sling adapter doesn't get an Overlay of the channel/grid. Where the Sling Box .. operating in pass-through mode.. should relay remote ir-strings, to the IR of the dish receiver ... and at that, tell the receiver "output the guide overlay"
If the Sling Adapter worked with the Guide Overlay .. *all* of the "missing channel problems" would disappear since the display on screen would be a real mirror of what you'd get on the TV2 output from the receiver normally.
Web App side - Dish Remote Access / Dish Online
The key in the channels displayed, is that any channels you don't subscribe to, are filtered out at the website level for the WebPlayer App connection.. so here there are these servers (at least 15 user facing ones) that accept user connections.. these servers do auth, stream quality, and channel data for the users that connect (seems more static the assignment of server than randomly dynamic .. I have been on the same server for nearly 2 months dish11.sling.com)
I was on dish6.sling.com initially.. and then one day I logged in.. and my servicing server was now dish1.sling.com ... for other people dish1.sling.com was working fine.. but for me.. I had only *two* tv channels listed in "The Grid". PM to Dish IRT and the next time I logged in, I was on Dish11.sling.com where I have remained.. all of my channels are back ... the exception of 6038 which was Sirius Area 38... and I'm sure a few others were "missing" but not that I'd tell because I don't watch them normally ...
It was that back end data stream that for what ever reason.. corrupted getting me all my channels in "The Grid" ... this appears to be the same way the Android App works, though I admit I've not hammered on it as much as the PC side. The common thread is that the guide is not an overlay as it is when sitting at TV2 ... but a separated app display.
I would also lay odds.. that for SlingBOX users.. the App side of the SlingBox authorized player .. gets its data feed from sling ... and that sling provides a better refresh and sync than does Dish's side of the sling fiasco.