Remote TV viewing allows a person to view and control their home television set from remote locations. Broadband Internet access is required along with a laptop or video-enabled cell phone, and a remote-viewing product such as a Slingbox, by Sling Media.

To enjoy watching TV remotely, one must first setup a network at home, interfacing a remote TV viewing device with the network and home entertainment system. The device connects to the home entertainment center by RCA cables or, preferably, through an available S-Video port. The outgoing audio and video signals from the cable box, personal video recorder (PVR) or digital video recorder (DVR), are routed to the incoming port(s) on the remote TV viewing device.

This part of the setup brings your television signal from the entertainment center to the network router. Next the remote TV viewing device is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable so that the television signal can be sent over the Internet. This stage of the setup requires that the router’s firewall be configured to allow the use of a designated port. This port will be the gateway through which the streaming media or television signal will be broadcast.

On the receiving end, remote TV viewing software is required, normally bundled with the product package. If viewing the television remotely from a laptop, the software is installed and configured there. Once the laptop has broadband Internet access, the remote TV viewing software can access your home network’s port to receive the streaming television signal. It only requires that your home network be up and online.

Remote TV viewing software displays a video interface that resembles a TV screen where you can view your television programming from anywhere in the world. It also features a fully functional remote control allowing you to change channels, access your DVR, set your TiVo, or perform other functions as if you were sitting in front of your television in the comfort of your home.

Remote TV viewing is perfect for business travelers, vacationers, and even the office. Monitor everything from your favorite shows to cable news channels, HBO, Showtime, or other programming. If your television at home has it, remote TV viewing can bring it to you.

Remote TV viewing devices come with automated software that should make setup fairly easy, though a little knowledge of networks can come in handy. Remote TV viewing products will stream your television signal to nearly any device with broadband access that can process live streaming video. While this includes handheld portable devices, it would be a good idea to confirm that the package will work with the remote device you have in mind.