Can someone explain slingbox to me?

How exactly does a slingbox work?

• My friends and I tailgate at every LSU home game and we'd like to be able to bring a television out there and watch other football games during the day. It seems like a slingbox allows you to "re-route" your cable service to any location. My question is: How exactly does this work? What other equipment is required besides a TV and a slingbox? Does it require an internet signal? If so, can it be tethered from a phone? Does it work much better with a laptop? Could someone explain the setup, equipment and working conditions required step by step? Thanks!

• Answer:

  In a nutshell, it lets you watch the TV you receive at home, from elsewhere in your home or outside your home. A Slingbox kind of acts as a TV set to your cable or satellite box, and has a system to control said box remotely. It basically streams the TV input to it, to the web browser on your computer, or with a Sling Catcher. In any case, both ends need a rather decent broadband internet connection. You might be able to get it to work with one of those high-speed cellular internet modems, but you need an unlimited data plan for it to be practical. It might be just as economical to get satellite TV service, which is what many people do. If the programming you want is broadcast, you can get an antenna and if need be, a converter box.