October 2008

Slingbox PRO-HD: Unboxing and What’s Inside

by Michael Sheehan on October 30, 2008

Unboxing is always the most fun when you get a new gadget. Since I just love getting new devices, I frequently find myself in the position of either being torn between ripping open the packaging and quickly setting up what ever the new technology (much like a kid), or that of being a more rational adult, one that realizes that I have to take box shots and product shots as I go so that I can carefully document the process.Â For me, a sign of a product that interests me is oneÂ where I just can’t wait to be the kid. In this case, I couldn’t wait to get my Slingbox going!

Packaging has become more and more important to manufacturers, it seems. The clear winner, in my opinion, of beauty in packaging is Apple. They have a simplicity and elegance that is often copied but usually these attempts are not equal to and definitely not better than what Apple has mastered. To me, product packages should have the following requirements:

Easy to open
Quickly see the product in a “good way”
Be able to access all of the “extra parts” quickly
Have a Quick Start Guide or the Instructions readily accessible
Not produce a lot of garbage
Use Recycled and post-consumer waste packaging
Have good product shots on the box along with key features and compatibility information

So this post will cover two unboxings and discussion of the items therein: the SlingLink and Slingbox PRO-HD.

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Slingbox PRO HD: Pre-Installation – setting up your network

by Michael Sheehan on October 23, 2008

in Fix It, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Review

So, you are thinking about getting the new Slingbox PRO HD. Trust me, it’s a great decision. The PRO HD transforms any computer in your network or even remotely an extension of your media center but more about the Slingbox PRO HD feature set later. There is something critical to having a Slingbox though that it cannot exist without, namely a good reliable network connection.

A Slingbox is a quite simple product conceptually. It basically sits between a component (e.g., Cable Box, Tivo, Dish or DirecTV receiver, DVD player, etc) and a TV. It also has an internet pipe where it sends the signal that is captured. The quality of the video signal coming from your Slingbox depends on the speed and quality of the connection to it. There are two connections to think about: LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). If you are going to be viewing your Slingbox stream within the network of your home, you will be using the LAN. If you will be watching your Slingbox content remotely (e.g., from work), you will be using the WAN. The Slingbox software does the magic of connecting you whether you are 100 feet from your Slingbox or 100 miles. It just works.

In the back of the Slingbox PRO-HD is an Ethernet port or jack. What you need to connect to this is either a wired connection (e.g., Cat5/6 cable connected directly to your router or network), a wireless connection (still connected via a cable, but in this case, the cable is connected to some sort of a wireless device) or a Ethernet over Powerline connection.

Wired Connection

If your router is close to your Slingbox, then this is the recommended approach, in my opinion, as your throughput and transfer speeds will be faster and more reliable. Simply plug it in and away you go. In the end, this is the way that I hooked up my setup, but it did entail making a 50 foot Cat5 cable and running it under the house, complete with drilling holes in the floor and having my daughter feed me the cables while I was under the house. There are many tutorials on the web about making your own Cat5/5e/6 cable. My only advice, be sure that you fully crimp down on the RJ-45 connector, otherwise your cable will be useless. The disadvantage of this approach is the time that you have to invest in running/creating the cables. (One site that I know about that has a wide array of cabling products that could help you with potential wiring dilemmas is CXtec. Check their Network Cables section! Note: I have not used their service but looking at some of their higher end networking products.)

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HTD Tech Tip #2 – Be nice to your IT resource!

by Michael Sheehan on October 20, 2008

in General, HTD Tech Tip

Being nice to someone should go without saying. So why is it that people seem to forget this when they need technology help? Is it that people consider Tech Support to be a given, meaning IT help should be provided regardless of how it is asked for? I try to apply “being nice” to ANYONE who knows more about something than I do. This could be a plumber, a developer, a teacher and yes, the guy/gal who helps you with your technology needs. So why is it that so many people are rude on the phone when they talk to Tech Support? Is it because they are desperate? Or simply because they feel like those people “work for them” regardless of whether they do or not.

Here are some things you can do the next time you need the help from a technology-savvy person…and trust me, coming from the support-provider side, it really makes a difference:

Be polite – the people who you need help from are people too. Get mad at the automated machines that provide support, but not with the live person.
Be prepared – nothing is more annoying than when a person needing help hasn’t done a bit of leg-work prior to asking for help. If you even slightly appear that you have tried to resolve things yourself will get you higher marks with the Tech Support person. Be sure you can list out what you have or have not tried. It shows them that you are human too and not just demanding.
Listen & Learn – don’t think that because you have done your research that you know everything. You don’t. You can learn new ways at troubleshooting or even new tips and tricks to make you more of an expert “the next time”
Spend some time – don’t expect that your issue will be resolved immediately. It’s often difficult to troubleshoot things remotely or even on-site. A good support person will come at things from different angles. The first angle may not work, but other ones may.
Personalize it – while some support people may not want to chat (because they are concentrating or getting paid on the number of resolutions they can provide within a short time period), others may actually like breaking from the monotony. If on the phone, ask them where their call center is. I often find that talking about kids helps to make things a bit more personal.
Use Humor – getting someone to laugh or laughing with someone can really help. It puts you on a different level with them and they may be more willing to go the extra mile for you.
Reward them – if, but the luck of the draw, you find someone who DOES go the extra mile, do the same thing for them. This is often hard to do, but many support organizations have feedback mechanisms in place for you to comment on their work. If someone is really good, give them high marks or even write a letter to their manager. It will definitely make their day!
Escalations – if you are forced to escalate your case, try to keep your cool. This is many times, hard to do. I personally have been irate with people and their managers on the phone and done a bit of yelling. It doesn’t help (or if it does, it doesn’t often happen). If you escalate, be sure to tell the escalation manager that it had nothing to do with the lower level support person (unless it does, obviously). If you are rude or belligerent, it may be noted in your customer profile.
Offer to help – this works great with people who are on-site. First, you should ask if they want a drink or something. You can also see if there is some menial task that you can do (e.g., move a ladder, hold a flashlight, etc.). If you are “investing” in the solution, you will get better mileage.

These are just a few tips that you can employ when getting help. Many of these can be applied to any type of service so be sure to try this out across the board. I just tried it today, in fact, so we will see if my own tips hold true!

Do you have any others? Leave a comment on things that have worked for you! [click to continue…]

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HTD Tech Tip #1 – Your hardware/software is always out of date

by Michael Sheehan on October 17, 2008

in General, HTD Tech Tip

As it seems to be taking some time for me to produce longer reviews, I thought that I would start a new smaller, on-going series of posts called “HTD Tech Tips”. (HTD stands for HighTechDad.) When I come across something, a tip, trick, software or hardware item that I think is particularly noteworthy, I will write a small (hopefully) post about it. If you have questions or suggestions for tips, send them my way!

So, the first tip: Your hardware/software is always out of date

Being an early adopter of tech, I try to stay on top of new(er) software, gadgets or gizmos. However, it is often hard to do with minimal time and zero budget. So, if you want to be on the bleeding edge, what do you need to do?

Hardware

Just forget about it. Seriously though. You will never keep up unless you are a high profile blogger or press person. You CAN stay informed by just reading THEIR reviews. If you read a few on the same subject, you may even be able to form your own opinion without actually having the technology in your hands. Start writing about it and you may start to attract the interest of tech companies. The more you write, the better your chances are at getting the physical product some day (e.g., I’m in the process of reviewing the new SlingBox PRO-HD).

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Extended Review: Slingbox PRO HD

October 13, 2008

It is rare that I receive a gadget or technology device that warrants me having to do multiple articles to cover it. However, when Sling Media released their new Slingbox PRO HD, I quickly realized that I would need to do so. What will follow over the next few days or so is an in-depth [...]

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10 Tips for StartUps to Survive the “Recession”

October 3, 2008

“Don’t Panic!” These are two words (made popular by Douglas Adams in TheÂ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) that every day become more appropriate and valid. Credit has dried up as has funding by Venture Capitalists, Angel Funders and the like. If you are a bootstrapped company, a startup or a company in “stealth mode,” [...]

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