What is the difference between slingbox 350 and 500

Like most Slingboxes before it, the and perform a man-in-the-middle attack on your content. You unplug your set-top box, or any other video source, from your TV and plug it into the Slingbox.

From there, you connect the Slingbox's outputs to your TV. Since both the and the have an integrated IR blaster, it can easily control your source without any extra wires or connection, as long as the two are near each other. If you do wish to separate them, you can use the included IR blaster by plugging it into the back of the Slingbox and attaching the emitter to the front of your source. The actual configuration, done via a web app by navigating to a URL, is pretty painless. The offers optional on-screen setup using the included remote, but, as we said earlier, it's actually required if you plan to use WiFi.

Since the Slingbox works from inside or outside your home network, you do have to open a few ports on your firewall. If you have UPnP enabled on your router, which is typically a bad idea security-wise, the wizard will automatically do what needs to be done -- both worked without a problem in our testing. The only thing left is setting your source, location and provider.

The success of HDMI in the home theater is indisputable, but if you want to use the Slingbox, you better not be opposed to the old red, green and blue. The quick-start guide for the recommends connecting both HDMI and component video and for good reason. To be fair, we know this isn't Sling Media's fault, but from a practical standpoint the HDMI input on the Slingbox is almost completely useless.

The HDMI output on the other hand can be used to display content in p from future sources, but as it stands now, it isn't exactly useful either. The good news is that most set-top boxes don't have a problem outputting HD via component and HDMI at the same time, but since the component video spec doesn't support p, officially , the Slingbox has to convert i to p for streaming.

No matter which Slingbox you choose, you're going to use the same software. Your client choices are plentiful, but only the new web browser version is included for free.

The guide makes it easy to find what's on by browsing or searching. There are a few new features like the ability to receive programming reminders and invite guests to use your Slingbox still limited to a single simultaneous connection , but overall, it is the same Slingbox client experience you love, or hate. Of all the new features, we're mostly disappointed by the lack of a sports-specific perspective.

By that, we mean we believe there is no more compelling use-case for a Slingbox then watching your favorite team perform when you'd otherwise be predisposed or downright unavailable -- we've been known to keep an eye on NFL playoffs during CES, for example. Quick and easy access to live events currently available would be a big first step, but why not throw up some scores with one-tap access to stream the game?

The other big miss, in our eyes, is the reliance on IR. Despite updates to the iPhone SlingPlayer client for the new hardware and added features, it isn't optimized for the new iPhone's larger display, which results in black boxes on all four sides on content. AirPlay mode is there, but all the streaming is limited for p on iOS. You can only watch in landscape, which is fine, and if you prefer, you can lock the screen and just listen.

The biggest quirk, though, is the complete lack of resume -- if, say, you need to quickly switch over and reply to an email. A close second is the fact that the guide doesn't ever remember where we last were and instead always displays Channel 3 at the top. Sling Media's adaptive streaming technology has never disappointed us and these new boxes are no exception.

We tested them in an office, at home and on the go and found that they made the best out of whatever throughput was available. Using LTE on a smartphone, the quality was smooth at 5 Mbps.

Dropping below 1 Mbps does significantly degrade the quality, however. Log In via Login Sign Up. Home Articles Community My Profile. Article Edit Discuss. Home Entertainment Home Theater.

Slingbox M1. Slingbox M2. Slingbox What is the difference between the Slingbox m1 and m2? Just looking for an opinion on both boxes VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer. M2 vs slingbox, how do you decide between the two? Thank you VisiHow QnA. Share this Article:. Both boxes can stream HD video with up to p resolution, and both offer streaming via an Ethernet connection. Both models also feature built-in IR blasters that will allow the box to easily control almost any cable box.

Slingbox The most noticeable differences are that the has built-in Wi-Fi access the relies solely on a wired Ethernet connection and it also features HDMI input and output as opposed to component video on the The also has a slightly upgraded interface that makes it easier to use.

HDMI support is also nice, but some cable providers actually scramble the signal from their boxes when using HDMI as a way of discouraging customers from using products like the Slingbox.