Customer Reviews

Sling Media SlingLink Ethernet Connection Bridge

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The SlingLink is an ethernet bridge which will allow you to connect ethernet-capable devices via your home electrical wiring. It uses the HomePlug Powerline 1.0 standard, which is well-established. (You can Google the term homeplug to learn more.) Note that this standard only provides a data throughput of 14Mbps even if your home LAN is 100Mbps-capable. But this is not necessarily a bad thing if you have multiple users sharing your home network - in addition to having the ability to cap the bandwidth utilization via the SlingPlayer software, the SlingLink itself will also be throttled so as not to hog your entire home internet access pipe.

As another reviewer has noted, you must also connect both SlingLink boxes to outlets on the same circuit. SlingMedia technical support confirms that this latter requirement is one of the more misunderstood issues involving the device.

So, check your home wiring first (i.e. which outlets are connected to which circuit breakers) before buying to ensure that you can place the SlingLink where you want it. (But this is good practice for homeowners anyway).

With those limitations in mind, most users will encounter no problems with the device. Setup is easy and with the above cautions in mind, it works as advertised.

This product works well. Just plug it in, and go. But if you have a large house like I do, your transfer speeds might not be suitable. Not an issue with the product as much as my house.

To get around this, I went another direction. I bought a wifi game adapter. It's targeted to getting your XBox or Playstation on your network, but works just the same for the Slingbox, and it's half the price - under $50. You plug your slingbox into the game adapter, and the adapter connects wirelessly to your existing wifi network. I think the one I picked up was from Linksys.

The Slinglink arrived with the two boxes that plug into the electrical outlets, two cables, and little documentation. Having jumped through multiple hoops and pulled out a lot of hair in the process of setting up my wireless network, I was more than a little doubtful that it would work. However, it was up and running as quickly (2 minutes!) & easily as my slingbox. I had no problems at all getting a connection. I'm getting a second unit to help cover longer distances for my other devices rather than extending my wireless coverage.

I purchased the SlingLink to use with the Slingbox and have not been disappointed with either. Installation requires no software (unless passwords are desired) and is as simple - and quick - as plugging in two Ethernet cables and plugging the devices into a wall outlet. The installation guide recommends that both devices be plugged directly into an electrical outlet - do not use UPS or extension cords - so that could take some pre-planning as free outlets are at a premium for some of us! I installed as recommended and the Slingbox has excellent video on my wireless laptop running Windows XP.

If you live in a larger home, your home may have been wired in two or more sections. Half the outlets in the house may be on one circuit (not an electrician, so I don't know the technical term), while the rest of the outlets are on a completely different circuit. As long as both the outlets you are using are on the came circuit, your Slinglink should work well. This is the same issue with the wireless home intercoms. If you try it in one outlet and it doesn't work, try another outlet, maybe another room.

The SlingLink boxes are great out of the box -- truly plug and connect. However please note that, as other reviewers have mentioned, you have to be on the same circuit to connect the SlingBox and your router. In addition, the quality of the circuit is a big variable as well. I have noted that the top conection speed between my PC and the SlingBox is around 600kps using the SlingLinks, whereas when connected directly with a Cat 5 cable the connectivity is double the speed. I am not suprised by the lower quality of my wiring based on other problems I have had in my condo (poor quality from the builder). Due to the speed limitation with the SlingLinks, there is a time delay between my PC and the SlingBox, but its bearable (about 2 secs). However, I have decided that if I am going to travel, I will extend a cable through my living room, hallway and den so I can fully utilize the 2mbps upload speed from my ISP to connect remotely.

Agree with the reviewer who called this a 'Perfect Product'. It is.

a) Take it out of box
b) Plug it in
c) You're networked

Elapsed time - approximate 15 seconds.

Compared to the pain I went through trying to get my SlingBox working with a Linksys game adapter, installing SlingLink renewed my faith in technology. Awesome.

I purchased this to use with my newly acquired Slingbox Pro. All I had to do was plug these into wall outlets and connect the Lan wires. Worked like a charm...couldn't believe it was that easy. Great performance and good price from Amazon.

I use it with my Slingbox with a little bit different configuration (it is not what was described in the User's Manual): the Slingbox and one Slinglink are connected to my router. Another Slinglink is connected to the NIC port of my laptop. This configuration started to work right away when I turned everything on.

I think they could be used for LAN or Internet connection also (instead of the wireless network).

Don't have any need for a sling box and don't own one. Do have need for a bridge for DSL internet. House I own is 1915 built with solid oak and can't get signals to carry far with any strength. Bought first set, worked immediatly with no effort on my end. Bought another set, next day.
All 3 computers and 1 slim device for wireless internet audio work flawlessly. Highly recommended.