Watch Cable TV from United States on Slingbox

Expats tired of dealing with too few choices among local Cable TV providers in Costa Rica should consider another option, which is to simply receive cable television service from the United States via the Internet. The concept should come as no surprise as high speed Internet has for years provided an alternative to expensive long distance rates. Adding streaming video and 300 or more channels in English, however requires a bit more than simply plugging a Magic Jack into an old computer.

The setup requires a Slingbox and a friend or family member in the United States with high speed Internet and a cable subscription to host the device. On the local side a flat panel television with a dedicated computer and Internet connection provide the best setup.

The Slingbox Solo retails in the United States for under $200, and once installed the device allows a viewer to access their cable programing via the Internet. A virtual remote control appears on screen and the viewer is able to change the channel or access the cable guide. A second digital cable receiver is advisable unless two people want to share the remote. While it is now possible to also access the slingbox via the Andriod smartphone the Kolbi 3G service in Costa Rica is unable to deliver the necessary bandwidth. Viewers in Costa Rica are limited to home based setups with ADSL or cable modem.

The Internet connection must be dedicated exclusively to the streaming video setup. Anything less than 2Mbps download on broadband, such as dialup, WiMax or 3G Kolbi service will prove totally inadequate.

The best approach is to order a second fixed telephone line and add a $42 per month ADSL service on that line just for the slingbox. Internet bandwidth on the U.S. side of the connection is rarely a problem as households on average enjoy 5 Mbps of connection speed. Going with ADSL also tends to be more reliable for Internet access in Costa Rica and having a slingbox makes it possible to totally disconnect service with Amnet or Cable Tica.

The above setup uses a $400 mini computer with HDMI port to deliver both audio and video to a 32 inch flat panel display. Most mini computers come with a wireless keyboard and mouse to allow for easy web surfing or channel selection from the bed or easy chair.

The cost of the flat panel is now just $350 in the United States, and an enterprising expat can manage to import both items in their person baggage and avoid customs charges. Just remember to keep the receipt from the flat panel to prove a customs value under $500 and unpack the minicomputer or substitute with a cheap laptop as a personal item.

Access to a slingbox is especially rewarding to expats who want to watch their favorite teams in U.S. competetions of baseball, basketball and football. While the local cable television providers in Costa Rica provide ESPN the Latin American version is especially lacking with respect to U.S. tastes in sports, and tends to focus on worldwide soccer competitions. Having access to hundreds of channels in the United States is also a far cry more enjoyable than watching movies with dubbed Spanish audio and hoping to find the original in SAP.

Filed Under: Expat Living • Featured