Sling Media Slingbox Solo review

Weaknesses
The Slingbox Solo can only connect to one source. If you're the sort of user that likes to watch video from multiple devices you're better off with a Slingbox Pro, as that can handle up to four. The Solo also lacks an integrated Freeview tuner, so if your standard home setup doesn't include digital terrestrial TV, then the Pro is a better bet.

As with the Pro, the Slingbox Solo doesn't have a wireless adaptor -- it still needs to be connected to a wired router, or to an Homeplug style device (Sling Media actually makes its own brand of these, sold separately) in order to operate.

Perhaps more frustratingly, no model of Slingbox allows you to stream high-definition content over a network, whether from an HD source or from a second PC or server. Video streams are encoded using SlingStream technology, so even if you start with an HD source, it'll compress the bejeezus out of it until it looks like standard definition.

Conclusion
Users should buy the Slingbox Pro if they want to control multiple sources, but otherwise the £179 Slingbox Solo is the model to get. It delivers better picture quality than the old version, has the added benefit of supporting hi-def devices, and is miles better than the Sony LocationFree.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday