Out of the Box

For a basic wired connection into a home router or switch, the Slingbox comes with everything you'll need to get started. The box contents include:

• The Slingbox


• AC adaptor


• 1 Ethernet Cable


• 2 RCA Composite A/V Cables


• 1 S-video Cable


• 1 RF/Coax Cable


• 1 Dual IR Emitter Cable


• 1 Quick Start Guide


• 1 SlingPlayer Software Installation CD

The packaging for the Slingbox is pretty slick. It's a transparent plastic box with the Slingbox mounted horizontally to show off what it looks like. All of the accessories are located in a separate box underneath the Slingbox. Kudos to the marketing guys over at Sling Media for creating an effective presentation.

If you're going to be connecting wirelessly to your home router, you'll need to also invest in a Wi-Fi to Ethernet Bridge, which usually cost between 50 and 80 bucks. Building in Wi-Fi would have been a smart idea since the majority of Slingbox owners probably won't have a wired network jack near their home theater system. I would have easily paid an additional 25 to 50 bucks for the built in convenience, and I'm probably not the only one who feels this way.