Your Slingbox Directory stores the Slingboxes that you use most, whether they are located within your network or outside of it. Further, any Slingbox that you add to your Slingbox Directory is also stored in your Sling Account, automatically. That way, your Slingbox Directory can "follow you" no matter what computer you're using ... just log into your Sling Account.
How you add an additional Slingbox to your Slingbox Directory depends on where you are:
At home, connecting to a Slingbox that's within your home network
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Connect the additional Slingbox to your network, then start SlingPlayer. SlingPlayer finds the new Slingbox automatically, and launches the Slingbox Setup Assistant to configure the new Slingbox. Once that's done, the new Slingbox is added to your Slingbox Directory (and therefore to your Sling Account).
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If you're using SlingPlayer within a network that has an already-configured Slingbox on it, such as a friend's house, this Slingbox appears in your Slingbox Directory automatically.
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If you connect to this Slingbox, then it's also added to your Slingbox Directory (and your Sling Account) permanently ... or at least until you remove it.
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If you don't connect to this Slingbox, then it isn't added to your Slingbox Directory (or your Sling Account) and it doesn't appear in your Slingbox Directory once you leave that network.
Away from home, connecting to your home Slingbox; or at home, connecting to an Internet Slingbox
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Specifying the Slingbox ID
The Slingbox ID is the unique number assigned to each Slingbox. This works best for an already-installed Slingbox, as the only way to get a Slingbox ID is from a Slingbox Directory where that Slingbox is already installed.
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Specifying an IP address or domain name
If you know your home network's IP address (the unique number that identifies your router to the Internet) or if your home network also has a domain name, you can also connect using either of them. (This method is for advanced users, so it's okay if you don't understand what these things are.) A static IP address, which doesn't change periodically like a dynamic IP address does, make it easier to connect using an IP address.
To connect to a remote Slingbox using the Slingbox ID or an IP address/domain name:
- Choose Slingbox Directory from the Connect menu.
- Click Add.
- Under Slingbox ID, enter the Alias (any descriptive name you'd like) for this Slingbox.
- If you're specifying which Slingbox you want to connect to by using the Slingbox ID, then enter it below the Alias.
- If you're connecting to your Slingbox by using your IP address, click to select the box in the Direct Connection box. Enter your IP address, then enter the port number your router has assigned to your Slingbox. (Unless you've changed it, it's probably port 5001.)
- Click OK, then try connecting to your Slingbox.
About static versus dynamic IP addresses
Connecting to your Slingbox using an IP address works much better if your Internet service provider (ISP) has provided you with a static IP address (one that doesn't change from session to session). By contrast, a dynamic IP address can change each time you use your computer. (For more information on what these are, and how to get them, contact your ISP.)
An IP address is a unique number that identifies your computer across the Internet. It's in a format like "12.34.56.78," where any of those four digit groups can be 1-3 characters in length.
If you can just power up your computer and immediately bring up a web page or check your email, then you could have a static IP address. However, if you have to "log in" or launch software your ISP gave you before you can access the Internet, you probably have a dynamic IP address. Each time you "log in" you're probably being issued a different IP address from your ISP.
With a dynamic IP address, if you can figure out what your current IP address is, you might be able to connect remotely to your SlingPlayer at first, but the next time your ISP issues you a different IP address, SlingPlayer won't be able to find your Slingbox. For that reason, accessing your Slingbox using an IP address isn't very useful if your ISP account uses a dynamic IP address. In that case, it's much better to use the Slingbox ID method. If SlingPlayer knows your Slingbox ID, it can connect to your Slingbox no matter what IP address your ISP issues. |
