Sling Media HD Connect Cable for Slingbox Pro ( HD200-100 )

Average customer rating: 4.0

Portabilty and extending
A must have for using multiple sources, not worth it for HD alone
Very missleadingly named cable.
Well Built Cable, Nice Packaging, Accessories Galore
This adaptor is just an excuse to get more money from you

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Audio and Computer Equipment for your bedroom

Sling Media HD Connect Cable for Slingbox Pro ( HD200-100 )

Manufacturer: Sling Media
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B000J56H5I

Related Categories:

Networking & Online Communication

Networking & Online Communication

Product Description

The HD Connect Cable for Slingbox Pro from Sling Media allows you to connect to an HDTV source. The adapter connects to the HDMI port on the Slingbox Pro and features component video and stereo RCA input and output. The HD Connect Cable features a component video pass through design. This allows you to route your 720p or 1080i component source to the Slingbox Pro and to your HDTV at the same time. The HD Connect Cable is compatible with the Slingbox Pro from Sling Media.

Customer Reviews:

Portabilty and extending.......2007-05-09

Get my cable anywhere on my wireless in my house. Great for on the road and pushes good streaming content to my phone

A must have for using multiple sources, not worth it for HD alone.......2007-03-31

Don't buy the Sling HD connect cable - more accurately referred to as a component video adapter - if you're eager to get your Slingbox Pro broadcasting HD quality, since it won't do that. Instead, buy it if you want to connect multiple sources to your Slingbox, since the 4-way IR blaster that's included means you can actually take advantage of the full input capability of the Pro. I take a star off on both how this has been mismarketed and how it should have been included with the Pro, but it's a must have if you're going to truly take advantage of the Pro's capabilities.

The Slingbox is a really neat toy, but they've done a semi-unethical job positioning the Pro and this adapter as HD "compatible" in an attempt to catch on to the HD upgrade wave. Some of it isn't their fault, as bandwidth is a huge issue. Think of it this way: compressed high definition video in 1080i runs somewhere in the 8-10 GB/hour range, with uncompressed video directly from over-the-air stations running quite a bit higher. Even the fastest current cable modems - let alone DSL - would have problems keeping up with that, and with uploading generally limited to 1/10th that speed to prevent you from running a file server, it's a moot issue, which is why the Slingbox limits remote uploads to 320x240. And while you can get closer to the required speed on a LAN and the Pro transmits 640x480 video over it, it'd probably take $600 more of hardware for the Slingbox to process a 1080i stream - and while Slingbox is neat, it's certainly not $1000 neat.

So the Slingbox downrezzes any HD signal you send into it. Whether or not connecting a HD component to this adapter results in improved output depends a whole lot on how well your DVR or TV already downrezzes to 480i, which also makes sense: an expensive piece of hardware like that generally has better electronics to do so. Generally, the best reason to buy this for the HD input capability alone is if you have an oddball HD source, like my DVHS VCR which doesn't display menus in certain resolutions. Otherwise, it's a crapshoot as to whether or not you'll get improved video even within your LAN. (Outside of it you probably won't notice the difference much either way.) And by the way, even though the port looks like it accepts an HDMI input, the adapter only accepts component video inputs - although at least it includes a set of component video cables so you can pass through the signal if you need to without spending any more than you already have.

The reason you buy this, though, is that the Pro is very good at streaming 4 separate devices - but while you can connect 3 devices without this item, you can only control 2 with the IR blaster that comes with the Pro. I spent a while trying to figure out a workaround for this, looking into such things as 3/32" Y cable splitters connecting to 1/8" plugs and looking into finding another brand of IR blasters since Sling won't sell you a second one. Then I hit my head against the wall once I realized this includes a 4-prong IR blaster. Basically, buy this cable set if you plan on taking full advantage of the Pro's capabilities to remotely control more than 2 devices - or get a headache.

No real excuse for Sling Media not to include this with the Pro and not to explain it to the consumer properly, but such is life.

Very missleadingly named cable........2007-03-29

I finally realize why they don't include this with the pro sling box. Because the value it adds is practically 0.

The resulting picture is actually worse than the component output. I have an HD cable box that outputs converted signals and downsampled picture was actually better than the straight resampled HD signal that this cable outputs.

The picture is small and it is not noticably better than the component output. In hindsight the pro box is really not necessary since the HD cable does not add its advertised value.

Well Built Cable, Nice Packaging, Accessories Galore.......2007-03-29

This is a must-have accessory for your new Slingbox Pro. It is a shame that SlingMedia did not include this cable with the Slingbox Pro. This is something that I'm sure a lot of folks don't realize until they go to hook up their component video source to their SlingBox... Oh well, enough about that.

This cable is very well made. Its construction is very solid. The input/output connections are very clearly labelled. The cable is essentially a small dongle that connects to the Slingbox via an ~12 inch cable with an HDMI-like connector. The component interface to your Slingbox is proprietary so you need to purchase this cable if you want to connect component video to your Slingbox Pro.

The cable comes in a very stylish box. SlingMedia obviously takes great pride in their products to provide such nice packaging.

This cable includes the following items (this was a great surprise):
- One dongle cable as described above
- One set of 3-conductor male-to-male component video cables
- One set of 2-conductor male-to-male stereo audio cables
- One 4-headed IR blaster cable. This cable can be used in place of the 2-headed IR blaster cable that comes with the Slingbox Pro. This allows you to easily control up to 4 devices.

You essentially connect this cable between your audio/video source (ex. Cable box or DVR) and your HDTV. Note: You have to keep your Slingbox powered on otherwise the signals do not pass through this dongle to your HDTV. This shouldn't be a problem since the Slingbox is designed to be left powered on continuously.

Nice job Sling!

This adaptor is just an excuse to get more money from you.......2007-03-16

The connections offered on this cable could just as easily been made available on the Slingbox HD unit itself. Making this cable necessary to connect component devices was done purely to create an "add-on" sale. Nevertheless, it solves the problem and does its job.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics