The Internet viewing experience

Using your Slingbox via the Internet works the same way as it does when you're viewing in your home. The streaming quality, however, may be affected by the Internet traffic between your computer (or mobile device) and the Slingbox that you are watching.

The streaming quality—or audio and video quality—is represented by a number known as the bit rate. The bit rate of the connection is indicated in Kbps (kilobits per second). The higher the bit rate, the better the streaming quality. To see the streaming bit rate, go to the View menu and select Show Statistics. You can then click on the bit rate to show the streaming frame rate.

Note: As you watch TV with your Slingbox, for example when you change stations or pause/rewind/fast forward your DVR, you're actually controlling the TV source that your Slingbox is connected to. As you change channels, fast-forward, set recording options, and so on, anyone in the room watching the video source will see the changes you make—just as if you were in the room using the actual remote control. And you'll see remote control commands that they make, too. (The Volume and Mute settings work independently.) If they don't like your programming decisions, they could change things to their liking ... and there could be a possible battle! So be aware.

If you're in the room with a Slingbox, you can tell whether or not someone's using it by looking at the front of the Slingbox. Normally there are two indicator lights on the right side of the Slingbox face. These two lights tell you that the Slingbox is connected to your network (left) and that it is powered on (right).

However, if there's also a light glowing in the center of the Slingbox, then someone's connected to the Slingbox. So ... if the channel changes on its own, then you're not (necessarily) going bonkers ... whoever's connected to your Slingbox doesn't like what you're watching!