Is It Possible To Watch TV On Your PC?

[Vanchatron]

I was just wondering if it's possible to watch TV on your PC. For example, is there a program or anything that allows you to watch the standard TV channels on your PC in the corner of the screen or something like that?

I only ask because my PC & TV use the same plug socket and to be able to watch TV I have to turn off the PC. It would be a hell of a lot easier to be able to watch TV in the corner of my screen.

I've heard it's possible but don't know how or what I'll need to set it up.


HK

[Cuc Tu]

You could get a 3-way outlet splitter and plug them both in.

But yes, you can buy a TV card for your PC and watch TV. If your PC if fast enough, you can do something like TiVo and pause live TV (with the right HW/SW), record shows, and even set up your PC like a VCR to program recordings. You can also edit videos, chop commercials, add special effects to home video, etc...

[rond36]

There are 5 ways to accomplish what you want:

An AGP or PCI-E video card with a TV tuner. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000380048+1129909765&Subcategory=48&description=&srchInDesc=)

A PCI TV Tuner card. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000380047+1148510222+1148410218&Subcategory=47&description=&srchInDesc=)

An USB TV tuner. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000380047+1148510222+1148410234&Subcategory=47&description=&srchInDesc=)

A set top box TV tuner that hooks up between your PC and monitor. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000380047+1148510222+1148410220&Subcategory=47&description=&srchInDesc=)

A monitor with built in TV tuner. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000190020+1289717890&Subcategory=20&description=&srchInDesc=)

It doesn't matter how fast your PC is for watching TV if the video card/ tuner card has a hardware decoder, but it does for recording it. If you use one of the last two options your PC can even be turned off and still watch TV on your monitor.

All of the PCs that I have built since 1998 have had a video card with a TV tuner including my current ATI All-In-Wonder X800XT which has a TV tuner and FM radio tuner.

[Whyzman]

ATI All-In-Wonder... I'm there with ya rond! ;) I love my All-In-Wonder...

[OrbitzXT]

Not to hijack the thread but reading this got me curious too. If you use a PCI TV Tuner card do you get all the channels you would like you were watching it on your TV? Also does the cable remote still control everything from the box and displayed on the monitor?

[juniper]

Yes you will get all the TV stations, Its just like a TV, If you use a cable box with its remote then you keep using it, if you have direct cable to PC ATI and others also have a remote controll for us lazy peaps (looks nice on my 27" widescreen LCD hehe) Been using ATI all-in-wonders since SLI monsterII days LOL! 3 video cards in a PC took up alot of room back then.

[Whyzman]

Juniper, are you using the 27" WScreen for your computer monitor?

[johnny_quest]

so... i know it was mentioned earlier, but why don't you just get a coax splitter?

[chrisling]

I just got a software, P2Pstream, which can let you watch quite many channels of over world. A freeware, containing no spyware and adware.

[Fred Forsythe]

Not to hijack the thread but reading this got me curious too. If you use a PCI TV Tuner card do you get all the channels you would like you were watching it on your TV? Also does the cable remote still control everything from the box and displayed on the monitor?

I have a TV wonder card which I used that way when we had Comcast cable. The PC would receive all the stations I could get WITHOUT the cable box, i.e., the same lineup I would get with a cable ready TV. Note that if you have premium channels, (HBO, Showtime, etc) these generally require the cable co.'s cable box to receive. You could get these on your PC, but just like with a television, you need a cable box enabled to display these channels between the outlet & your tuner card. Also note that dish networks (Direct TV, anyway, which we now use) WILL DISPLAY NO CHANNELS either on a cable ready TV OR on a tuner card equipped PC w/o the satellite receiver box.

Fred

[juniper]

I always forget what threads I post in hehe!

Juniper, are you using the 27" WScreen for your computer monitor?


resolution sucked it freeked out at 1280x1024 but TV looked good though, now using 23' Widescreen Sony SDM-P232W very nice! These are not TVs just LCD computer monitors.

[-Tyler-]

Tyler has returned!

been busy with school and band and stuff, havent been here in a while.

Yes it is possible to watch TV. You could get Windows Media Center Edition, but I don't recommend it. First off, it is Windows. Enough reason for me not to get it. Secondly, a 30 minute show takes up a whole 1.5 gigs, and they are recorded in the god-awful .dvr-ms format, which is basically bad, because almost no programs can convert or edit these. I recommend MythTV if you have Linux, or some other prorgram (I forget the name) for Windows.

[MaDoGreg]

Well the answer to your question is sure.... However there are some caveats..
Your computer will need to either have a TV Tuner Card installed, or an external USB Tuner...
Your Computer/System should have a fast enough processor and sufficient RAM available to run the TV software.. etc etc
With enough money- anything is possible !;)
Seriously tho' - If power is an option, why not fork out 10 to 20 dollars for a reliable surge protector/ power strip?
To fully answer your query as to whether you can watch TV on your PC requires that you provide specific info about your PC..:confused:

Good Luck,
MaDoGreg

[Whyzman]

Using an HDTV as a monitor:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/PC-HDTV.html

[refridginator]

^whyzman, ty for that link. i was about to ask about using a tv for a moniter, as we have a 40", y-pb-pr input widescreen w/hd, though i dont know the exact model.

and i always wanted to play half-life 2 on bigscreen ;)

[Whyzman]

You're welcome! :) If you have any questions, please note that RAM has a tech-support number and the techs will be happy to listen to what you are attempting to do and provide solutions. RAM Electronics was a long time sponsor of the PC GUIDE...they are good folks! ;)