Some organizations use firewalls to protect their networks from unauthorized (and therefore potentially harmful) access from the Internet. Unfortunately, in some cases, this can also prevent you from using the SlingPlayer software to watch your TV away from home. If you're having trouble using your Slingbox (from the office, for example) this could be the reason.
You might see this error message:
Unable to connect to the Slingbox Finder. Please check your Internet connection and firewall.
What the heck does that mean? Well, there are two ways that the SlingPlayer software can connect remotely to your Slingbox:
- Using using your Slingbox ID. Your Slingbox ID is a unique number, assigned to your Slingbox, that SlingPlayer can use to find your Slingbox.
- Using your router's IP address (Internet protocol address). This is the unique number, assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and associated with your router. It identifies your router on the Internet.
Normally, SlingPlayer uses Method #1 (above) ... it uses the Slingbox ID to find your Slingbox. However, firewalls can prevent this from working properly. There are two possible alternatives:
- Use Method #2 (above) and have SlingPlayer connect to your Slingbox using your router's IP address, instead of the Slingbox ID. However, this requires a permanent, or static, IP address (an IP address that doesn't change each time you power up your computer and connect to the Internet). Usually only advanced users have static IP addresses, and ISPs often charge more for them. Most people have the alternative, a dynamic IP address, which changes every time you connect to the Internet. But that makes it unsuitable for this method: you set SlingPlayer to use today's IP address, and it'll work fine ... for today. Come tomorrow, when your ISP assigns you a new IP address, SlingPlayer won't be able to find your Slingbox, and you can't watch or change settings. Contact your ISP for more information about whether you have a static or a dynamic IP address.
- Set up proxy information. If possible, a better solution is to use a network proxy, if one is available to you. A network proxy is a special part of your organization's network that allows an application (such as SlingPlayer) to bypass a network firewall. For more information, check with your organization's IT department—they would be the only ones to have this information. When you get proxy info from your IT department, within SlingPlayer, choose SlingPlayer Options from the Settings menu, and click on the Connection tab. The network proxy info goes there.
To configure your SlingPlayer connection using your home router's IP address
If you'd like to try accessing your Slingbox by using the IP address that's assigned to your router, first determine your router's IP address by looking at the administration pages for your router, or by going to www.whatismyip.com using a computer that's on your home network. The website displays and identifies your router's IP address. This method won't work if your network has more than one router.
- Start SlingPlayer.
- Select Slingbox Directory from the Connect menu.
The Slingbox Directory opens.
- Click Add.
- In the Direct Connection section, select For remote connection, I prefer to use a domain name or IP address ...
- Enter the IP address of your router (determined above) and the port number (often 5001) that your Slingbox is using.
Note: The IP address assigned by your ISP is not in the format 192.168.1.XXX. IP addresses that start with those numbers are only used internally within your network.
How can I tell if my Slingbox is set up correctly for remote viewing before I leave my home network?
The best way to know if you everything is working is by running the Slingbox Setup Assistant. Even if you've already used it to set up your network, you can run the Setup Assistant again whenever you like—and it concludes the setup process by testing your network for you. |
