"I'm TOTALLY confused on which Slingbox I should get.  HD would be nice but not a requirement."

If you want HD (which you do, trust me) you'll want to pick up the Slingbox PRO-HD. If you're a cable subscriber with a High-Def capable box, then it's the way to go.

"I really want to be able to watch what I want to watch on the Touchsmart and not what is on the host TV."

Here's the deal. You have to think about the Slingbox like it's another TV. In regards to your cable box, if you connected two TVs to the same cable box, you'll see the same thing on both TVs. It's like two people sitting in front of the same TV and both of them have a remote control... chaos ensues. :)

The nice part about the PRO-HD is that it also has a Clear-QAM capable HD cable tuner built in, so it will also be able to receive any unencrypted HD channels your provider offers. Since the tuner is built in for this, you can watch these channels independently of your HD Cable box if it's in use by another person. So, if your spouse is watching something on the DVR, you can watch something from the tuner in the Slingbox. If the cable box is not in use, you can watch and control it from the TouchSmart.

Of course, if you want access to a cable box 100% of the time, you can always get a second HD cable box specifically for the Slingbox.

"Also, is the splitter installed before the Motorola Box  or after?   I'm not sure how the slingbox would receive the HD signal if installed before the Moto cable Box."

In the case of the Slingbox PRO HD, you'd put a splitter before the cable box so you can hook up the cable box tuner and the built in tuner on the Slingbox. You'd also then plug the component video and audio cables from the cable box into the Slingbox so it can grab the signal from the cable box (it has pass through outputs to go to your TV if the component connection is in use).

Then the Slingbox needs to be connected to your home network. If you don't have an Ethernet jack near your HD DVR, then you'd need to run a wire from your bedroom to your router/nearest network switch, get a Wi-Fi to Ethernet bridge (802.11g or better), or grab a powerline network bridge kit. Any of those solutions will work.

You can learn more about the Slingbox PRO HD and how it's set up by reading my full review at the SlingCommunity.com website: http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/30329/Slingbox-PRO-HD-Hands-On-Review/

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.

robdam1001 said: Yes, thanks for breaking it down for me Matt. So by not connecting the slingbox to the Comcast DVR box and just using the splitter, I *should* be able to receive HD channels from Comcast on the IQ via Slingbox? NBC, ABC, CBS, etc as long as they aren't premium channels correct?

I can't vouch for what Comcast sends Clear QAM in any area. Here, I get the locals and a few other basic cable channels. Every area is different though. You can check what channels you receive if you have an HDTV with an integrated Clear-QAM tuner. Plug the cable line straight into the HDTV and run a scan for HD cable stations. What you see is what you get, but all cable operators should expand the number of Clear QAM channels down the road.

Don't think for a second this is an either/or proposition. You can have BOTH the basic cable line AND the cable box hooked up the Slingbox at the same time. You just select what input you want to view in the SlingPlayer software. So if the Cable box isn't available, you change the Slingbox input to the built-in tuner. Again, just like a TV.

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.

If the component video connection is open, then you just need to run it and the audio to the input on the Slingbox. Ignore the outputs.

That being said, some DVRs (yours I'm not sure) will not output HDMI and component signals simultaneously, and others will turn off all outputs if the TV is off since the HDMI port knows if the TV is on or not (HDCP issue). You'll need to experiment a bit to see how your cable box behaves. Ideally, it will always output on all jacks regardless if HDMI is used.

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.

I saw you posted over on the SlingCommunity site too! From one Slinger to another, welcome!

In order to switch between the internal tuner and the cable box, you need to first make sure that you've configured the tuner on the Slingbox.

In SlingPlayer 2.0, Launch the setup assistant (connect to the Slingbox, then select Settings at the top, then Setup Assistant) then go to "Configure Video Sources." Select "ANT IN" and click next at the bottom. Follow the wizard the rest of the way through, and you'll be set up.

Once that's done, to switch inputs hit Connect at the top, then arrow over "Video Input." You'll see the different inputs. Select the input you wish to view and you're all set. :)

Mind Over Matt'er - Technology musings, opinion, and more straight from TechLore's head geek.