If you're using your Slingbox PRO-HD to stream high-definition (HD) content to SlingPlayer 2.0 for Windows, and the quality of the video isn't what you'd like, here are a few things you can check.
- Verify that your computer meets the optimum system requirements for SlingPlayer 2.0 for Windows.
While the minimum system requirements for your Slingbox PRO-HD (printed on the box) are good for many setups, in some cases more power is necessary. Upgrading processor speed, RAM, and so on, can make a big difference in video quality. See the Related Information section of this page to learn more.
- If you're viewing with a laptop computer, check its power settings.
Laptop computers, as well as some desktop PCs, have a collection of energy-conservation settings (sometimes called a "profile"). These low power usage settings are intended to conserve battery life, but they also can lower the computer's processing power and reduce image quality. Check the documentation that came with your computer to find out more about what these energy settings do, and how you can turn some or all of them off ... at least while you're streaming your TV programs.
- Make sure your computer's drivers and BIOS are up to date.
Your computer uses files called drivers to enable and control audio and video functions, as well as many other things. If your computer's audio and video drivers aren't up to date, then multimedia performance can be affected. Similarly, your computer's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) controls how your computer manages the data it works with. If your computer's BIOS isn't the latest, it's a good idea to update it. Procedures for obtaining and updating drivers and system BIOS vary widely by computer manufacturer. Check with your computer's documentation to find out how you can obtain and install the latest driver and BIOS files.
- Try the manual encoding settings that are within SlingPlayer.
SlingPlayer features SlingStream Optimization, a proprietary way to maximize video quality while minimizing the necessary network capacity. Normally, it's best to leave SlingPlayer on and let it do its thing. However, you might find you prefer the video quality that you get if you manually change some of the SlingPlayer Encoding settings.
To manually change SlingPlayer Encoding settings: choose SlingPlayer Options from the Settings menu, then click the Encoding tab.
See the Related Information section of this page to learn more.
- Try turning off the Live Video Buffer.
The Live Video Buffer is a feature in SlingPlayer 2.0 for Windows that lets you pause live video, as well as rewind/fast-forward through video that's already been broadcast. However, slower computers (including laptops with slower hard disk drives) may perform better if the Live Video Buffer is switched off, so they're not required to save the video needed for this feature.
To shut off the Live Video Buffer: choose SlingPlayer Options from the Settings menu, then click the Preferences tab. Select Disable the video buffer.
