Future-proofing for a TV tuner

[JohnJSal]

This is sort of two questions. First, what exactly does a TV tuner card do? From my reading, it seems like it allows you to watch TV on your PC, but how does this work? Does it require you have a certain kind of cable TV service to work?

Secondly, I'm not a big media person, so I don't plan to do anything toward this end when I build my PC, but in the future, if I want to add this type of card, is there anything I need to know now when picking components (compatibility, etc.)? Or is it simply a card you buy and plug into the mobo, like a graphics card?

Thanks.

 

[Gareth]

Hello there, yes, a TV card requires a cable to be plugged into the back of the card, just like a television. Basically, the more expensive, the better, as in graphics cards, but if all you want to do is watch TV, a $50 will be more than perfect.

It can watch the television from either Windows Media Centre or with the software they provide.

 

[Shane]

dude just get something like this

Its a usb digital usb reciever.

i just got myself one (not that particular one) it cost me £20 and aslong as you have an ariel your set to go.

the ariel they provide is no good as its not strong enough so you will need to get a proper ariel that is fixed to the outside of your house or something.
mine picks up 32 digital tv channels,28 radio stations and i can even record live tv to my hard drive or set it to record at certian times.

its brilliant.

 

[dznutz]

fuureproof?

in the u.s. if you go analog (cheap ones) you'll have to buy a digital to analog converter on feb of 2009.