What is Slingbox Software, anyway?
Your Slingbox Software (sometimes called firmware) is the brain of your Slingbox. It's the set of instructions that your Slingbox needs to encode your audio/video signal and then send it over the Internet to your computer or mobile phone. From time to time, we update the Slingbox Software to provide better product operation. When that happens, upgrading your Slingbox Software allows you to take advantage of these improvements.
How is that different from the SlingPlayer software that I installed on my PC?
Just to make sure we're all on the same page, there are two kinds of software that we're talking about:
You see and work with SlingPlayer on your PC. But even though you don't see the Slingbox Software that's inside your Slingbox, it's still very important that it be kept up-to-date. Updates to SlingPlayer can often also include updates to the Slingbox Software. So, if you have the latest SlingPlayer software installed, you're good to go. However, updated Slingbox Software is occasionally issued separately from a SlingPlayer desktop release. When that happens, you'll be prompted by a dialog box, and given the option of launching the Slingbox Setup Assistant automatically, and having it update your Slingbox Software for you.
Thanks, I'd rather do it myself: updating Slingbox Software manually
If you want to update your Slingbox Software manually, you can do that, too. The rest of this article explains how.
Note: Slingbox Software updates may not apply to all Slingbox models.
CAUTION: Upgrading Slingbox Software, whether done automatically by the Slingbox Setup Assistant, or done manually by you, must never be interrupted once it begins, or the existing Slingbox Software could get mixed up and make the Slingbox temporarily unusable. If that happens, the fix itself is not a big deal: you just reset your Slingbox by pushing and holding the reset button (on the back of your Slingbox) for ten seconds, or until the lights on the front blink. Then try the firmware upgrade again. But you can't do that unless you're home! So if you're far from home, you can't physically reset your Slingbox unless there's someone there to do it for you. For that reason, you're strongly encouraged to perform a Slingbox Software upgrade only from home (or otherwise nearby your Slingbox) -- not remotely.
Manually upgrading Slingbox Software in seven easy steps
Advanced users might be able to understand the process simply by reading the titles of the steps. Full explanations follow, if you need them.
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Open SlingPlayer.
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Launch the Slingbox Setup Assistant.
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Log in to your Sling Account.
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Enter the Administrator Password for your Slingbox.
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Click the Software Update option within the Setup Assistant.
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Click Advanced Mode.
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Locate the downloaded Slingbox Software update file on your computer.
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Update the Slingbox Software on your Slingbox.
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You're done!!
1 - Download the Slingbox Slingbox Software file
The first step is to download the latest software. You can find all the latest Sling Media software on the Sling Media Support site: http://support.slingmedia.com. To make the process as simple as possible, you should select your Desktop as the download location.
2 - Open SlingPlayer
Launch SlingPlayer. Your Slingbox might open automatically when SlingPlayer launches, if you have chosen that option in SlingPlayer Options.
3 - Launch the Slingbox Setup Assistant
Once your Slingbox is playing, choose Settings > Setup Assistant. SlingPlayer disconnects from your Slingbox, and the Setup Assistant launches.
4 - Log in to your Sling Account
Log in to your Sling Account. If you can't remember your password, click Forgot your password? Otherwise, type your password, then click Enter.
5 - Enter the Administrator password for your Slingbox
Type the Administrator Password for your Slingbox, then click Next.
6 - Click the Software Update option within the Slingbox Setup Assistant (from the left panel)
After you enter your password, you see the main Slingbox Setup Assistant page. The left panel shows you the progression of tasks needed to set up your Slingbox. We're going to jump right to the end: click Software Update.
The Software Update screen displays.
Click Advanced Mode.
7 - Locate the downloaded Slingbox Software update file on your computer.
Next, find the Slingbox Software file that you downloaded. Do that by clicking Browse, then navigating to the place in which you placed the Slingbox Software file.
If you downloaded the file to your Desktop, it should look something like this. Once you have selected the file, click Open.
The Setup Assistant now reflects the proper path to your Slingbox Software update file.
8 - Update the Slingbox Software on your computer.
Once the proper path to your Slingbox Software update file appears in the field, click Apply to get the process going. Don't touch anything until it's done!
CAUTION: Slingbox Software upgrades must never be interrupted once they begin, or the existing Slingbox Software could get mixed up and make the Slingbox temporarily unusable. If that happens, reset your Slingbox by pushing and holding the reset button (on the back of your Slingbox) for ten seconds, or until the lights on the front blink. Then try the firmware upgrade again.
The Slingbox Setup Assistant tells you when the firmware update process is done. | 
