haniboo

what i mean is, if i am watching sb in X country ("slingastan"), can it somehow be interrupted/tampered with by the "slingastan"'s government /FCC-like agency? is there anything illegal in watching it?

Djlawman

Well, if the Chinese government can censor google and other services, I would assume the same could happen to sb.

muddy

They could probably block the port that is used ... but the smart response from slingbox users would be to just reconfigure (software or firmware upgrades) to use a port that can't be blocked (becaused its used by something else like standard websites)

So my guess is that they could interupt it, but probably not shut it down permanently. ... I'm far from being a slingbox expert though ...

SaigonCyclo

My Slingbox connection was blocked at the Sheraton Taipei in December. Haven't had the problem anywhere else.

GUWonder

... could be.

jason8612

Some hotels might block the ports. I know some internet cafes I've been to blocked Skype before... Depends on the hotel and country, anything is possible.

haniboo

how would the country/hotel/cafe know what is being seen on the screen to know to shut it down?

muddy

They wouldnt have to. They would simply block the port that slingbox uses. Browsing the internet, checking email, etc. would still work fine, but the slingbox wouldnt work.

haniboo

so you mean that country would block slingbox totally to all in the country? then how would one move around it, as other posters mentioned could be done?

GUWonder

Working via a VPN or other remote set-ups.

sqwert

Port blocking/filtering is actually quite primitive. The most effective way to block a Slingbox - or any other device/service is to use a traffic shaping device.

Before I get too technical, trust me when I say that this is done every day, to ALL traffic on the web. If you are served via Cable Modem from a major US MSO, you are living in this world now.

Boiled down: all traffic is sniffed and the packet header identifies the traffic type. Using an Ellacoya box or a Packeteer system, a network operator can assign traffic priorities to different packet types - or block them entirely. For those of us in corporate offices who cannot listen so streaming music or launch P2P app's, this is a known evil of the modern world.

One of the deepest secrets in the Data world is this very idea. The average American would scream and fuss if they thought that their packets are being sniffed, but rest assured that they are. The very nature of the system architecture dictates this. If your cable operator uses PacketCable standards, it gets even more intense.

Here's a fun thought for you to chew on:
You have Vonage at home, but your service provider offers VoIP. How do they get you to switch to their services ? Simple - they use packet examination and 802.1p or ToS overrides to assign the Vonage packets to a lower priority.

Legal ? Hmmmmm....

Jim

haniboo

you are right, never ever thought of it. thanks for, uhh, the enlightenment.

my SB is trying to open in remote location now, and can't stream. the Kbps are at about 190. does this measurement reflect what is going on at the remote end or the sling base end? besides the idea of being "sniffed" (uck) and blocked, what else could cause this low Kbps?

anyone with suggestions, how-tos, on checking what this is, or reconfiguring ports, etc. please PM. (now that i am all paranoid). thanks.

stimpy

Well no, it isn't ALL traffic. Maybe the US cable guys have this setup on some (I doubt all) of their outbound links, but most of the rest of the world does not. And it isn't as easy as just turning on a switch. Discerning different traffic types isn't automatic and people can be smart about hiding their applications.