Ok, this is an excellent device. I am pretty sure it is limited to 1080p but otherwise it works very well.
It has two tuners. So it can display on two devices at the same time, on the same or different channel for each. It uses Unicast IP networking to display to it, so each tuner can only display on one device. Given the complexity and potential problems with multicast IP for the home user, this is a desirable design.
1080p sends up to 5Mb/s of traffic on your internal network and this supports 2 streams, so it will send up to 10Mb/s As one reviewer said, he got very reliable streams using the wired ethernet interface. I recommend you use that instead of wifi, that is what I did and I have an excellent wifi set up (6 access points to cover almost 3000 sqft). I also have a very decent router for a home (a Netgate 3100). I am convinced that most of the people having problems with this device have a very basic networking setup in their house. The all in one router/switch/wifi devices provided by Cable/Telcos or low end Linksys or Netgate routers: for one thing, usually have a very limited CPU, and you can swamp these easily with just a limited number of devices using it, even if they are not using a lot of bandwidth. And two, the single access point in these not only contains an underpowered CPU, you are not going to get strong 5GHz wifi to every room in a house from one of these. 5Ghz does not penetrate solids very well at all. Well, enough with the networking lecture.
Also keep in mind that what it can tune to is only as good as your antenna and your location from the transmitters for the stations your are trying to receive. I live almost 40 miles for most of mine, and I have an antenna that is rated for up to 60 miles. I have it aimed so I can pick up all of the main networks. I had to sacrifice two stations because of their locations from the ones I want to get. This is not the fault of this device, this is reality of picking up radio signals.
The two streams it produces is excellent. I watch them on my AppleTV2's or on our phones. Using their app. You can watch it inside or outside your house. When watching on your wifi, it appears the traffic is local. When watching it off your house's network, traffic does go out to the Internet. It has a setting to limit the traffic when it sends outside your network (which you need to do if you have limited Upload speed...remember up to 5Mb/s for each feed!) I don't recommend watching local TV on your device off your network, it will chew through your data on your phone's plan.
The app works well. And setup was easy and straight-forward. You need to use the app to set-up or reconfigure the device.
A negative, the DVR functionality only works if you subscribe and pay for Sling. If you switch to Sling, you will actually have to reconfigure the device with the Sling App. (And I suspect if you quit Sling, you will have to use the AirTV app again to reconfigure it). I find this rather annoying.
However, if you want to have antenna, in the location that is out of the way and best place to position to get signals and then send that to two devices inside your home, without having to run Coax everywhere. This is an excellent device for that job.
| Brand Name | Sling Media |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 7 x 4.3 x 1.7 inches |
| Item model number | 214877 |
| Batteries | 1 AA batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
