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watching tv on your pc

I found this at maplin and i am still confused.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48873&doy=2m3&criteria=Sale

does this mean my computer then can be used as a tv even if not connected to broadband or does it just download shows somehow?
is this a good way to use the computer as a tv and would it work on a laptop?
(as you can see-i'm not very technically minded)

Comments

  • crox
    crox Posts: 371 Forumite
    It's a bit like a freeview box, just plugs in to your computer. the arial it comes with is probably useless. Because it's usb it should work on a laptop, having said that I soon gave up with the one I bought. Maplins are good with returns though, that's where I got mine from and I just told them it didn't work and I wanted a refund, job done.
  • BillScarab
    BillScarab Posts: 6,027 Forumite
    Once you plug this in, your PC is effectively a TV. It will pick up the freeview signal just like a freeview setup box does. You don't need to be connected to the internet. Yes it should work on a laptop.

    You need to make sure you have a USB 2 interface not USB 1. Other than that it should work, there re quite a few of these devices available for around £30, I've not used one so no idea if they're any good. It would be a good idea to check if you can get freeview where you live before purchasing.
    It's my problem, it's my problem
    If I feel the need to hide
    And it's my problem if I have no friends
    And feel I want to die


  • Icon_3
    Icon_3 Posts: 96 Forumite
    From what I have read some of these are rubbish and some are very good.

    Ebuyer have quite a few of them.......look at the customers comments to see which is the best, unless someone here can recommend a good one!!
  • wolfman
    wolfman Posts: 3,225 Forumite
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freecom-Digital-DVB-T-Freeview-receiver/dp/B000ALAWQ6/ref=pd_ka_1/026-0971010-3448441?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1172862062&sr=8-1

    There are BDA drivers available for it, although I don't think they work in Vista yet. It does however work very well in XP and Linux. And have BDA drivers (for Windows) you can run whatever media software you prefer. I'd recommend, the free and very good, GbPvr.

    The aerial isn't the best, but you'll find that with any of the USB DVB-T's. I'm in London and mine works fine, but I'd imagine in areas with poorer signal it may be a problem. If it is, just get a proper booster type aerial from Argos and hook it up to that.

    I'd avoid the cheaper unknown models (the MSI one looks ok though, would need to google it) as you don't know what you're going to get. Especially if there aren't any BDA drivers available. It means you're restricted to using the software that comes with the USB stick, which is often only average.
    "Boonowa tweepi, ha, ha."
  • crox
    crox Posts: 371 Forumite
    BillScarab wrote:
    You need to make sure you have a USB 2 interface not USB 1.
    I know this was true for analogue, but I'm under the impression that it's not the case for dvb, something to do with the broadcast being in mpeg format and not needing so much bandwidth.
This discussion has been closed.
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