Slingbox. Questions from someone who cut the cord.

[bakahump]

So i know a bunch of you use SB.
 
Here is my setup and my hopeful intention.
 
I have cut the cord. I have NetFlix and Amazon Prime and a Home server which has 300 hours ripped movies.
I have experimented with an Antenna to allow watching Football on the locals.  Service is spotty.  (generally what I do/did is order cable (no contract) with just the basic channels Sept-Jan to watch Footbal).
 
I would like to have Nesn.
 
IF I bought a Slingbox, And installed it at a Friends/Siblings/Parents house Assuming they had Cable (including NESN) I could then watch the games Correct?  I could also watch Football on the local channels from the Slingbox.
 
Would the tv that has the Slingbox on it (at the Friends house) Have to be tuned to Nesn?  Would it "Tie up" that TV?  Would I be able to change the Channel from my house?
 
Right now I have a Server running Windows Home Media Server, which in turn Serve 2 PS3s.   The PS3s can access NF, AP or anything stored on my Server.  (never tried live content from the server...)
Anyone know how Slingbox would work in this config?  I suppose I could connect to it with my Server....then simply figure out a way to watch the live content via the PS3s on my TVs (???).  Hell I guess I could connect to the Slingbox with the PS3 Directly. (though I detest the PS3 Browser....)
 
Just curious if anyone has used this type of setup.

 

[ElcaballitoMVP]

From my limited experience: 
 
IF I bought a Slingbox, And installed it at a Friends/Siblings/Parents house Assuming they had Cable (including NESN) I could then watch the games Correct?  Correct.  I could also watch Football on the local channels from the Slingbox. Correct. You could watch anything they have access to: NFL Network, Red Zone Channel, ESPN, FOX Sports, History Channel, Nickelodeon, HBO, anything. If they pay for it, you can watch it. 
 
Would the tv that has the Slingbox on it (at the Friends house) Have to be tuned to Nesn? Yes. Would it "Tie up" that TV? Yes. Would I be able to change the Channel from my house? Yes. 
 
Right now I have a Server running Windows Home Media Server, which in turn Serve 2 PS3s.   The PS3s can access NF, AP or anything stored on my Server.  (never tried live content from the server...)
Anyone know how Slingbox would work in this config?  I suppose I could connect to it with my Server....then simply figure out a way to watch the live content via the PS3s on my TVs (???).  Hell I guess I could connect to the Slingbox with the PS3 Directly. (though I detest the PS3 Browser....) Not sure, I know the slingbox has to be connected to the cable box and to your model (either via cable or wireless, I use a wire to avoid worrying about spotty wireless). The way the Slingbox works is you can either watch for free via a desktop app or you pay $15 for an app that works on ipad/iphone/android and syncs up with an Apple TV/Roku/Similar device (maybe PS3?) to be able to watch on a tv. 
 
Just curious if anyone has used this type of setup.

 
Basically, you need to have a dedicated cable box for your Slingbox. It doesn't have to be hooked up to a TV, but if it is, anything you watch will be able to be seen on the other end. Mine is just hooked up in the corner of my parents basement and I pay them $15/month for a DVR box. You can have it hooked up to a regular cable box or a DVR and you have access to a "remote" that controls the box from the device you're using to watch tv. You can setup recordings, turn the box on/off, change channels as you wish, etc, just as you would with a regular remote. 
 
And it will obviously only be as good as the internet connection it's connected to, on both ends. If both sides can handle streaming live tv/sports, you should be fine. 

Hope that helps. 

 

[bakahump]

Thanks ECab!
 
That helps.
 
I will have to do some research to see how the WHS/PS3/SB play together.