Initial reaction on Sling Adapter

[Tony S]

I just received my Sling Adapter yesterday and tried it for the first time just now. Installation was a snap and I had it playing on my home computer in no time. I wasn't expecting too much in the way of video quality because I have DSL. (My uplink bitrate maxes out at about 400K).

I knew that when I was away from home that the video quality would not be that good, but I was surprised that even when I am at home and using my internal network, that the video still had to uplink through Dish's web site! As I said, this limits the bitrate to about 400k, and the video quality is really bad on all of my home computers/laptops. Why is Dish doing that. When you are at home, there is no reason to be stuck with DSLs crappy uplink bitrates. If it would let me use my internal network, I would be able to stream HD quality throughout my house! I think that is a very serious limitation of the device.

Everything worked correctly for about 2 hours. Now, every time that I try to view video, I get an error message: "Your computer was able to connect to your device, but the connection was interrupted. (Error 36) (2). Try connecting again". WTF. Is there any way to correct this error, or do I just have to wait and try it later?

On the good side, the video looked OK on my iPhone, but I can't think of too many occasions when I would ever want to view video on my iPhone.

I am really glad that this thing was free (with the gift card). If I had actually had to pay for it, I would not be happy.

 

[pabeader]

how is the receiver connected to your home network?

 

[Tony S]

The receiver is connected by a wire to a linksys WRT54G which has been flashed with DD-WRT firmware and is in wireless bridge mode. I also have a WD Live Plus connected to the wireless bridge and that has no trouble playing Netflix videos at DVD quality, so I am pretty sure that the wireless bridge is working correctly. The main wireless router in my home is a Netgear 3700. I have several computers connected to the 3700 by wire, and I also have several wireless devices that also connect with the 3700.

 

[DustoMan]

I just received my Sling Adapter yesterday and tried it for the first time just now. Installation was a snap and I had it playing on my home computer in no time. I wasn't expecting too much in the way of video quality because I have DSL. (My uplink bitrate maxes out at about 400K).

I knew that when I was away from home that the video quality would not be that good, but I was surprised that even when I am at home and using my internal network, that the video still had to uplink through Dish's web site! As I said, this limits the bitrate to about 400k, and the video quality is really bad on all of my home computers/laptops. Why is Dish doing that. When you are at home, there is no reason to be stuck with DSLs crappy uplink bitrates. If it would let me use my internal network, I would be able to stream HD quality throughout my house! I think that is a very serious limitation of the device.

Except that isn't at all how it works. Yes, you still need to log into the DISH site, but your video stream when on your home network does NOT go up and back down though the Internet. If you are having performance issues when connected to your home network, it's either your network or the device you are using to stream video that is causing the problem.

Everything worked correctly for about 2 hours. Now, every time that I try to view video, I get an error message: "Your computer was able to connect to your device, but the connection was interrupted. (Error 36) (2). Try connecting again". WTF. Is there any way to correct this error, or do I just have to wait and try it later?

Depending on how your receiver is connected to your home network, you most likely need to either reset your connection on the receiver by going into the broadband setup menu. Or if you use some kind of wireless bridge device to get your receiver onto the network, you need to reset that. Finally a reboot of the receiver all together might be necessary.

 

[Tony S]

OK. Thanks a lot for that information! If you are correct that will chage my initial impression of this device. I will troubleshoot my network. Thanks again for that information!

 

[DustoMan]

The receiver is connected by a wire to a linksys WRT54G which has been flashed with DD-WRT firmware and is in wireless bridge mode. I also have a WD Live Plus connected to the wireless bridge and that has no trouble playing Netflix videos at DVD quality, so I am pretty sure that the wireless bridge is working correctly. The main wireless router in my home is a Netgear 3700. I have several computers connected to the 3700 by wire, and I also have several wireless devices that also connect with the 3700.

I have the exact same router that you do. It's your WRT54G in bridge mode that's causing the problem. DISH receivers are very flaky when it comes to wireless bridges. I constantly had to reset my bridge about once a week in order for my 922 to keep a "green" broadband light connection. While my Roku isn't nearly as picky. The easiest solution is to get the $30 wireless adapter and connect it directly to the router. That's what I've done and now I don't even have to touch anything anymore. Otherwise getting an N bridge would be the more expensive option or trying differnt channels to see if you can get more throughput would be the more time consuming one. At the very least, that Netgear 3700 is an awesome router for streaming video, I give mine a workout.

 

[pabeader]

if at all possible, try a direct connection to the receiver. even if you have to string wire across the floor. i have mine set up using the Homeplug feature and it streams at alomost 3000kbp. so your 400 doesn't make sense. I bet you are running into a problem with the wireless bridge setup.

 

[Tony S]

OK, this is really getting weird. I connected my 722k to the 3700 wireless router with a wire. I tried to view live TV on my home computer (which is also wired) and I kept getting the same error: "Your computer was able to connect to your device, but the connection was interrupted. (Error 36) (2). Try connecting again". I tried resetting the router a number of times and I tried resetting the 722k (front panel reset) and no matter how many times I tried, I kept getting the same error message. However, every time that I tried it with my iPhone, everything worked correctly.

I remembered reading online about some devices disconnecting from the 3700, so I tried flashing an older firmware to the 3700 (1.0.4.68). Immediately afterwards, I was able to view video on my home computer and it looked really good with bitrates as high as 7100K! Thinking that the problem was solved, I tried to change the channel, but when I did that I got the error message again: "Your computer was able to connect to your device, but the connection was interrupted. (Error 36) (2). Try connecting again". I tried my iPhone and it worked with no problem. Then I tried one of my laptops and I got the same error message I got on my desktop computer.

The only thing that works is my iPhone, and it works every time with no problems. None of my other wired or wireless computers will work. I only get the error message. The main computer worked the first time that I tried it, and it worked the first time after flashing an older firmware on the router. Does anyone have a clue as to what might be happening here? I am running Windows XP professional and IE8 on my computers.

DustoMan, what version of firmware is on your Netgear 3700? I was using version 1.0.7.98 prior to flashing with 1.0.4.68, however I get the same results with either version.

Also, I should mention that I am able to view the contents of my DVR and external hard drive on the computers that are not working (I can view the guide, not the videos). I also tried the dishconnectivity.sling.com diagnostic web site and it told me that everything was connected correctly and that I should be able to watch video on my computer. Does anyone have a clue what the problem might be?

 

[DustoMan]

DustoMan, what version of firmware is on your Netgear 3700? I was using version 1.0.7.98 prior to flashing with 1.0.4.68, however I get the same results with either version.

Also, I should mention that I am able to view the contents of my DVR and external hard drive on the computers that are not working (I can view the guide, not the videos). I also tried the dishconnectivity.sling.com diagnostic web site and it told me that everything was connected correctly and that I should be able to watch video on my computer. Does anyone have a clue what the problem might be?

I'm using V1.0.7.98NA.

Maybe there was a setting that was OFF on the new firmware that was ON on the old one? Do you have UPNP turned on? My receiver also has an address reservation, but you shouldn't have to do that.

 

[redelephants]

if at all possible, try a direct connection to the receiver. even if you have to string wire across the floor. i have mine set up using the Homeplug feature and it streams at alomost 3000kbp. so your 400 doesn't make sense. I bet you are running into a problem with the wireless bridge setup.

Homeplug also fixed my problems. For some reason the vip receivers do not like wireless bridges.

 

[theoak]

Does the sling adapter have built in wireless?

I have a USB wireless adapter that I use for my 722. Works great. Unfortunately there is only one USB port, which I would think the sling adapter would need too.

Would I be forced to look for a wired network solution when using a 722 and sling adapter?

Edit:

I will add having only one USB port kind of sucks as if I want to use my external hard drive, I need to disconnect my wireless.

 

[navychop]

The sling adapter only talks to the ViP722 so "wireless built in" is not applicable.

There are TWO USB ports, one on front one in back. I use the back one, with a pass thru, to run a laptop cooler and an EHD. I use the front for my sling adapter.

USB hubs work too, so long as only one EHD is powered up at any given time.

I have a strong preference for wired solutions. I only use wireless for a laptop and the iPhone.

 

[Oceanic]

Just a suggestion that worked for me. By elimination, I finally discovered the USB port on the back of my 722 to be flaky, even using a powered USB hub. When I connected to the front USB port, the sling adaptor has worked great. I have a powered hub on the back one, with an EHD and little USB fan connected to enhance airflow through the 722.

 

[theoak]

I forgot about the front one! Duh! Do you know if a USB hub would work with the wireless adapter and EHD?

Edit: Just searched the forum and learned that the 722 seems to support a powered USB hub. Folks have had a wireless adapter, EHD and Sling Adapter all hooked up with success. Now I'm tempted to get the sling adapter

 

[dlsnyder]

I just got the Sling adapter too and have had a similar experience. For some reason when I connect through dish.sling.com the streaming quality on my home network is great, even given the fact that I am using an older Linksys router. When I connect through dishonline.com the video quality is much lower, looking like the stream is being uploaded to the server and sent back to me. I just wrote it off as yet another bug with dishonline.com, but now I am not so sure. I got the adapter because (1) it was free (after rebate) and (2) so that I could watch "HD" quality TV on a laptop anywhere in the house. So far I have been somewhat disappointed with the results.

Forgot to mention, my 722 has a hardline connection to my router. My laptop is wireless so that I can move about the house freely. Video quality, so far, is decent. Not really happy with the interface.

 

[gadgtfreek]

My 722k is connected to a ethernet 4 port hub underneath my ent center, which is then connected to a powerline adapter. The other powerline adapter is in the bedroom connected to a DSL modem, with 5.5 down and around 400 up. I only use it on our phones, and it does quite well.

 

[Tony S]

I am still having trouble, as described in my previous post. I have the receiver connected by a wire. I have tried both the front and back USB ports on the receiver. My iPhone works fine, I can view video on it and it looks very good. However, every time that I try my home desktop computer (also connected by a wire) I get the same error message: "Your computer was able to connect to your device, but the connection was interrupted. (Error 36) (2). Try connecting again". I can see the guide and program my receiver with my desktop computer, but I cannot get the sling adapter to work with it. I guess it is time to call Dish. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Tony S]

Just got off the phone with Dish Technical Support. They did not have any answers at all. Only ideas they had were to try deleting the Sling Acitve X control and try reinstalling it, and to try a different browser rather than IE8. I already tried deleting and reinstalling the Active X control and that did not help. I guess I will try installing Firefox and see if that helps. Should I try Firefox 5.0 for Windows? Anyone out there using that browser? Does it work with the Sling adapter?

 

[chibi]

Just got off the phone with Dish Technical Support. They did not have any answers at all. Only ideas they had were to try deleting the Sling Acitve X control and try reinstalling it, and to try a different browser rather than IE8. I already tried deleting and reinstalling the Active X control and that did not help. I guess I will try installing Firefox and see if that helps. Should I try Firefox 5.0 for Windows? Anyone out there using that browser? Does it work with the Sling adapter?

I think you will need to run Firefox 4. On my window machine I am using Firefox 4 and its work great. On my linux box which is running Firefox 5.0, sling
is not yet compatible.

 

[oryan_dunn]

I've had a similar experience. The night I first got it working, put it on Best/HD, it was streaming ~8Mbps, looked ok, then it switched to HD mode and it looked awesome. Since that night, I've only been able to get best, and not HD. In the best mode, picture is passable, but everything looks like it has a vertical screen, diagonal lines are aliased (jagged) and onscreen text is not smooth. I had started a thread on this issue in the tech forum http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-technical-discussions/258614-sling-not-slinging-hd-lan.html

Also, chibi, I doubt the issue is with FF5 (could be I guess), but rather with Linux. I've got Ubuntu Lucid with FF3.5, and got a message saying sling wasn't available.