Need info on TV tuner

[Fatback]

Well my friend wont's to sale me a 42" plasma TV for $200 which is a really good deal but it does not have cable hook ups WTF. So I was think about getting a TV Tuner for my computer and hooking it up to the TV to get cable but I won't to know how the whole thing works first. Is it like have regular cable will the channels be the same as watching it on a normal tv. Which is the best program to use I heard windows media center is good. Just give me any info you can about them.

 

[Jamin43]

I haven't purchased my TV tuner card yet - but I've done alot of research - and think I have a grasp pretty well.

You have to first choose between Digital and Analog.

If you are using CATV - you have a choice - if you're using Antenna - everything's Digital. So your choice of input in your card would depend on your source.

If you are taking a source direct from a cable line ( Pre-Cable Box ) - you'll order either Analog / or Digital signal from the Cable company to feed to your Television.

CLEAR QAM - is generally needed in order to display your CATV source direct from cable up to about 100 - 125 direct from your CATV company. Source would depend on if you ordered Digital or Analog from you CATV company. Many cards wil take one source - and split it - and give you two tuners to watch 2 separate channels from this source. You can take a source direct from your cable box ( what I'm probably going to do ) for an analog signal if you want to use your cable remote.

ATSC = is analog broadcast signal. I don't think this means much since the digital changeover

NTSC = is digital broadcast. It's the only way you can get a High Def signal to your Television right now - as much as I can understand. But you need an over air antenna to get the signal.

AverMedia looks like the most bang for your buck - from what I have read on NewEgg's reviews - Works well with Vista Media Center and Win 7 - not sure about Win XP so much.
( This is a good price - usually goes for 85 bucks )

White Box = Just a card. ( you may or may not want a Windows Media Center remote with it - they sell for around 20 bucks )

Retail box - usually come iwth Remote / Tuner card / and cheap antenna.

Powercolor ATI-550 looks like the cheapest good picture technology for Analog signal. 25 Bucks on Amazon for White Box version. The technology has been around for a couple years - but from what I was able to gather - the best tech for clear pic Analog signal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815309007

Here's a website that's useful.
http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/

When I asked here - and at Tomshardware - I didn't get many replies on TV tuners.

 

[Fatback]

I haven't purchased my TV tuner card yet - but I've done alot of research - and think I have a grasp pretty well.

You have to first choose between Digital and Analog.

If you are using CATV - you have a choice - if you're using Antenna - everything's Digital. So your choice of input in your card would depend on your source.

If you are taking a source direct from a cable line ( Pre-Cable Box ) - you'll order either Analog / or Digital signal from the Cable company to feed to your Television.

CLEAR QAM - is generally needed in order to display your CATV source direct from cable up to about 100 - 125 direct from your CATV company. Source would depend on if you ordered Digital or Analog from you CATV company. Many cards wil take one source - and split it - and give you two tuners to watch 2 separate channels from this source. You can take a source direct from your cable box ( what I'm probably going to do ) for an analog signal if you want to use your cable remote.

ATSC = is analog broadcast signal. I don't think this means much since the digital changeover

NTSC = is digital broadcast. It's the only way you can get a High Def signal to your Television right now - as much as I can understand. But you need an over air antenna to get the signal.

AverMedia looks like the most bang for your buck - from what I have read on NewEgg's reviews - Works well with Vista Media Center and Win 7 - not sure about Win XP so much.
( This is a good price - usually goes for 85 bucks )

White Box = Just a card. ( you may or may not want a Windows Media Center remote with it - they sell for around 20 bucks )

Retail box - usually come iwth Remote / Tuner card / and cheap antenna.

Powercolor ATI-550 looks like the cheapest good picture technology for Analog signal. 25 Bucks on Amazon for White Box version. The technology has been around for a couple years - but from what I was able to gather - the best tech for clear pic Analog signal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815309007

Here's a website that's useful.
http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/

When I asked here - and at Tomshardware - I didn't get many replies on TV tuners.

You pretty much lost me but after reading it 3 times I think I figured out what your talking about. Right now I have a cable cord going to my TV and it will be the same one going to the tuner so that would mean I need analog right. I already have cable I just new a Tuner to be able to use it with my new TV.


I'M CONFUSED

 

[diduknowthat]

First you run a cable from your walljack to your computer. Then you use a media program such as Windows Media Center to configure the TV Tuner. If your cable doesn't require a cable box, you can directly change the channel via Windows Media Center. If your cable requires a cable box, you need to set up an IR Blaster that relays your remote's signal to the cable box.

Finally you connect your computer to your TV via S-video or w/e your TV tuner supports.

 

[Fatback]

First you run a cable from your walljack to your computer. Then you use a media program such as Windows Media Center to configure the TV Tuner. If your cable doesn't require a cable box, you can directly change the channel via Windows Media Center. If your cable requires a cable box, you need to set up an IR Blaster that relays your remote's signal to the cable box.

Finally you connect your computer to your TV via S-video or w/e your TV tuner supports.

OK I have basic cable no box or anything so all I need to do is get a tuner plug my cable in configure it and I'm good to go. What tuner should I get what does it need to have.

 

[Fatback]

OK I have gave up the Idea of a TV tuner seems like it a lot of trouble plus I don't won't to have to keep my computer on when I watch TV even though I don't watch a lot of TV my computer runs enough as it is I don't won't to put any more stress on it.

I have moved on to I new Idea so now I am looking for some kind of
adapter/converter/gender changer that will convert a coaxial cable into a DVI,VGA,or Component hook up.

Just in-case you don't know what I'm talking about I'm trying to find something that lets me turn this

into this

This

or these

does anybody know of something that does this I can't find anything

 

[WeatherMan]

I reckon a HDMI Cable Tuner will do that (if you have them there?) with a DVI adaptor stuck on the back, (this also depends on your monitor / TV) If you cant program the DVI Source then I don't know what you can do.

Do you not have a HDMI input?

 

[Fatback]

I reckon a HDMI Cable Tuner will do that (if you have them there?) with a DVI adaptor stuck on the back, (this also depends on your monitor / TV) If you cant program the DVI Source then I don't know what you can do.

Do you not have a HDMI input?

Nope it doesn't have HDMI it is not meant to be a TV its called a plasma monitor but I know I can use it for a TV because my friend had cable on it but he does not know what the cable company use to hook it up with.

Here it is http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/Polaroid-PLA-4205.htm