Can someone explain to me WHY the Slingbox has to be that big?
Am I correct in saying they just transfer video to the internet, which can then be viewed via software? Can't you accomplish the same thing less elegantly with a little TV-tuner on one end? I don't get why they have to be so huge for what they do unless there's something here I'm clearly missing.
I don't think they are that big. Also, that picture is the slingcatcher which is different.
However, to answer your question, there are a lot of reason. One, those little tiny tv tuners you are talking about are usually the USB ones. They little usb generally don't have hardware encoding. It lets the computer do that. The Slingbox needs to have a processor to handle that. It also needs a larger amount of memory to store the file info before sending it over the internet. It also usually has more input than just the standard coax that a normal usb tv tuner has. Component, and composite take up more space physically. It also needs it own network card to connect to the internet. It also needs to have its own power supply whereas the tv tuner uses the computers power supply. In other words, the Slingbox is not just a tv tuner, and an entirely self contained computer.
It's not that big. The SlingCatcher is 11.4 x 4.3 x 9.1 inches, and some of the Slingboxes are much smaller. The SlingBox AV for example is 1.5 x 3.5 x 6.5 inches, for example.
This SlingCatcher is kind of the opposite of a SlingBox, in that it receives video from other SlingBoxes and Internet sources and displays them on your TV. You're right that you could use a computer for the same purpose, but it would be even bigger and clunkier and more difficult to integrate with cable boxes etc..
My issues with the SlingCatcher is price. I could probably put together a basic HTPC for about the same price, which would have much better functionality.
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Pardon my ignorance on this one, but...
Can someone explain to me WHY the Slingbox has to be that big?
Am I correct in saying they just transfer video to the internet, which can then be viewed via software? Can't you accomplish the same thing less elegantly with a little TV-tuner on one end? I don't get why they have to be so huge for what they do unless there's something here I'm clearly missing.
I don't think they are that big. Also, that picture is the slingcatcher which is different.
However, to answer your question, there are a lot of reason. One, those little tiny tv tuners you are talking about are usually the USB ones. They little usb generally don't have hardware encoding. It lets the computer do that. The Slingbox needs to have a processor to handle that. It also needs a larger amount of memory to store the file info before sending it over the internet. It also usually has more input than just the standard coax that a normal usb tv tuner has. Component, and composite take up more space physically. It also needs it own network card to connect to the internet. It also needs to have its own power supply whereas the tv tuner uses the computers power supply. In other words, the Slingbox is not just a tv tuner, and an entirely self contained computer.
It's not that big. The SlingCatcher is 11.4 x 4.3 x 9.1 inches, and some of the Slingboxes are much smaller. The SlingBox AV for example is 1.5 x 3.5 x 6.5 inches, for example.
This SlingCatcher is kind of the opposite of a SlingBox, in that it receives video from other SlingBoxes and Internet sources and displays them on your TV. You're right that you could use a computer for the same purpose, but it would be even bigger and clunkier and more difficult to integrate with cable boxes etc..
My issues with the SlingCatcher is price. I could probably put together a basic HTPC for about the same price, which would have much better functionality.