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Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Living overseas

Slingbox..any good?

19 replies

EmmaNicole · 06/09/2011 11:09

Moved to France 4 weeks ago and struggling with only 4 English TV channels. We are living in an apartment so a satellite dish is not possible. Am considering a Slingbox from my father-in-laws Sky box in the UK - just wondered if anybody is using one and any thoughts.... Thx

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RuthChan · 06/09/2011 18:47

We have a slingbox. Well, DH does.
We don't use it for Sky though.
It's connected to the normal TV in his parents' house in Japan and he watches it through his computer here in Belgium.
He only set it up over the summer, but he is SO happy with it as he couldn't see any Japanese tv here at all before.

Portofino · 06/09/2011 19:22

You could also get a VPN account which allows you to watch all the iPlayer stuff. There are different ones - we have VPN UK at a cost of about 6 euros per month. It is possible to get a box that lets you watch stuff from PC on the TV also. Ruth, does Slingbox limit you to watching what THEY are watching?

Portofino · 06/09/2011 19:24

The VPN also allows DH to trawl the internet for live Premiership matches.

Portofino · 06/09/2011 19:25

And the iPad has the most fabulous new BBC iPlayer app. I am going to bed early recently as there is LOADS of stuff to watch.

Gastonladybird · 06/09/2011 19:33

Have both VPN and sling box. Sling box fine if works but doesnt take much to stop it( someone moving bits or sky playin up plus you have to watch whatever anyone on home box is watching). VPN better but can take some time to work ( bit like if you have a broadband signal that dips in and out). Both are very heavy on bandwidth use so need a decent broadband but of two VPN better( potofino there is also an itv player app now).

EmmaNicole · 06/09/2011 20:02

My father-in-law has Sky multi-room so we were going to plug the Slingbox into the Sky box in the bedroom thereby getting round the problem of having to watch the same programme as them. DH wasn't convinced on the VPN as he thought that football matches were still blocked, and that's what he really wants to watch, but you say that your VPN allows your DH to watch Premiership matches. So that could be an option. Thx everybody.

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EmmaNicole · 06/09/2011 20:04

Meant to say Portofino's DH

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RuthChan · 06/09/2011 21:09

No, you don't have to watch the same as the people at the other end.
Our slingbox is connected to a tv in a spare room that nobody uses, so we have complete and independent control.
We can also record programmes remotely and watch them at any time. Vital when dealing with an 8 hour time difference!

Gastonladybird · 06/09/2011 21:49

I think you need some kind of Uk access- to watch sky online it links up to your sub here so I am not sure if VPN alone works for sports

Portofino · 06/09/2011 21:52

ITV player app? I searched. Please do tell!

Gastonladybird · 07/09/2011 07:21

Is it not in your iTunes store as ITV player app (if not can you switch VPN to Uk and search then as maybe Uk only). It's free and basically does same as BBC iplayer (not all sport on so rugby world cup I am not sure there if that's your thing). Will have downtown abbey (when it's back on) and x factor if you need your junk quota

romaniabound · 07/09/2011 08:35

I am reading this with interest. If I have a VPN, will this also allow me to have a LoveFilm account? Can anyone recommend my a VPN provider?

Portofino · 07/09/2011 10:28

We have this one. It works very well. We can access all the UK iPlayers, though I haven't tried Lovefilm. I will go and have a look in a minute. I'll try searching for the ITV player app while I'm at it. It might be because our iTunes account is tied to Belgium. I wanted to download some ER - and it wouldn't let me.....

Portofino · 07/09/2011 10:48

Right, well I have gone into Lovefilm - and ordered Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (for 48 hours) - on a pay per view basis. I am now very popular with dd!

It seems that the packages seem to involve having dvds delivered to your house and required a UK address. However for Pay per view, I just had to put in my credit card details. It did ask for a UK postcode - I put my old one in and it worked!

romaniabound · 07/09/2011 17:57

Thanks Portofino for the infos on the VPN and for trying out LoveFilm for me! I am off to browse!

DelGirl · 07/09/2011 17:59

Thank you so much for this thread. I didn't really know about vpn before but after reading this today, I have set it up and getting ready to enjoy Jonathan Ross tonight on itvplayer. I have had no tv for a year (in italy). can't say i've missed it too much but it sure will be nice to watch some good tv now and again.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Portofino · 07/09/2011 18:40

Emma, DH uses live footy. You have to download a plug in from the website, but he gets to watch the Man U matches live, and watched England last night.

Portofino · 07/09/2011 18:47

We also have one of these which sends the PC signal to the TV.

EmmaNicole · 07/09/2011 19:04

Portofino, thanks so much....my DH will be over the moon when I show him this. Really grateful for your help. x

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