Watching tv + pc on same TV

continualdiamond

Title is probably confusing, but basically after much discussion with OH about getting a laptop at which some might remember my thread about it. We decided we couldn't afford a laptop and that money was better spent else where.

Instead we combined the space of where the bedroom tv was into where the pc was, thus turning the bedroom tv into the monitor for the pc as well and got a hide away desk with pull out keyboard etc, so when not using it as pc and watching tv just looks like a tv cabinet.

However is it at all possible to be watching tv whilst also being on the internet?

Can i view programmes online that are currently on tv at the moment or is everything catch up online? Or can i somehow have my tv programme on with an internet window in the background that i can open up?

Asking as a friend and i like watching the same tv programmes whilst chatting to each other on msn commenting about the show.

At the moment i have to flick between source channels to get the tv on and then flick over to pc mode to talk to her.

Thought all you guys would know if anything is possible....


Thanks

scottishblondie

You would have to install a TV tuner in your PC to do this, either an internal card or a USB dongle, and use that to watch TV on your PC. Or you could use a website like TV Catchup which streams live TV (it has a limited selection of channels however), but the quality of this would be lower and dependent on the speed of your internet connection. Give it a go and then consider if you would like a proper TV tuner

Darksun

You could get a USB DVB Tuner, they're quite cheap (just do a bit of research before you buy because some are only compatible with the bundled software, which can be very poor in some cases).

http://www.tvcatchup.com/ claims to let you stream live TV, never used it though so don't know how good it is.

Lokolo

I use TVCatchup and can quite happily watch full screen on a 22" monitor.

continualdiamond

Thanks so much, have signed up and tried the website you both suggested and it works. Not a full screen picture for me but thats cos our bedroom tv is a 26 inch, can't see how i can make it full size to fit my screen (ooo no worked it out, hahaha), but hey good enough to watch tv when my friend and i like chatting about the show whilst watching it at the same time.
You're fab on here for quick replies :beer: