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PC TV Tuner

skintscotsman
skintscotsman Posts: 671 Forumite
500 Posts
in Techie Stuff
Hello All,

Hope someone might be able to help me with this.

I'll be looking to move out of the folk's place in the next 6 months hopefully (mortgage acceptance pending!)....

trying to think of Money Saving ways to make my life as comfortable as possible.....

I have a fairly powerful PC which is only a few months old so should hopefully last me for the 4+ years my old laptop lasted me!

So, instead of buying a TV, is it possible to receive TV through your PC?

I am sure I have seen tuners that pplug into USB sockets.

Can anyone help?
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain.

Comments

  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes lots of people watch tv through their pc. Just keep in mind you still need a tv license.
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • Bad-Boy-Button
    Bad-Boy-Button Posts: 117 Forumite
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freecom-Digital-Stick-Freeview-receiver/dp/B000ALAWQ6/sr=1-1/qid=1159705654/ref=sr_1_1/026-4981539-4767611?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
    It may not be the cheepest but there a plenty around, and with these you get freeview channels included.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You can get 40% off here but you will need to good aerial for these devices to work.

    :eek:
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • skintscotsman
    skintscotsman Posts: 671 Forumite
    500 Posts
    so, you plug this tuner into a USB socket, and an aerial plugs into the tuner??
    A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes but the set top type aerials often supplied will not usually work unless you are in a very strong signal area.
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • skintscotsman
    skintscotsman Posts: 671 Forumite
    500 Posts
    i am definitely not in a strong signal area

    could you advise what type of aerial i'd need then?

    cheers in advance!
    A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Basically a standard rooftop aerial. Digital TV is different to analogue where the picture degrades with lack of signal strength, compared to digital, which either has enough signal to work or it doesn't. This site will give useful info about suggested a aerial for your transmitter.
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • llol_slim
    llol_slim Posts: 405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Iam not in a very good reception area, I recently bought one from Ebay and I use it with a oneforall aerial from Dixons that cost 9.99
    THe software it came with (Blaze HDTV viewer or something) really struggled with choppy pictures and all the channels didnt have their names but I was advised to download terratec which works brilliant.
    I quote the forum post
    Hi
    This driver also works with AF9005 sticks, and after your stick will be recognized as CINERGY T USB XE.
    Also incuded in the download is the Terratec home cinema app, which works.
    I think this is a newer driver than the Afatech one, so maybe someone can get it working with GBPVR.
    Cheers.

    http://supportuk.terratec.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&r eq=getit&lid=1335
    from the forum thread http://forums.gbpvr.com/showthread.php?t=17333

    Hope that helps somewhat
    Laurie
    embarrassed to say I used to work for barclays..sorry
  • New_world_3
    New_world_3 Posts: 4 Newbie
    superscaper wrote:
    Yes lots of people watch tv through their pc. Just keep in mind you still need a tv license.

    Couldn't have said it better my self :)

    (terrific first post and its a typo! some things never change :rolleyes:)
This discussion has been closed.
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