Author Topic: What do i need to run TV through my monitor (Read 422 times)

Furball · « **on:** July 14, 2005, 03:43:39 PM »

Is it just a TV Card?

How good is it compared to a normal TV (i have a normal 19" monitor)

Anything recommended?

Thanks in advance

Chairboy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2005, 03:52:54 PM »

If you want to bring the reliability of Windows to television and the picture quality of broadcast televsion to your computer (two great tastes that don't necessarilly taste good together), a TV card is all you need. There are even USB TV tuners worth checking out.

The quality? Well, your high resolution computer monitor will make apparent that which you only intellectually knew before, that TV signals are teh crap. If you watch TV on your monitor at normal computer distances (eg, 3 feet) at full size, you will need to aggressively control your gag reflex, as it will be truly terrible. If you watch the monitor/TV from the other side of the room, however, then it'll look fine, but ymmv.

Better question from me: What is your expected use? Will this be to avoid needing to buy a TV for a cramped college dorm? Or do you have another reason for it? The answers will help with suggestions.

Furball · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2005, 03:59:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy

Better question from me: What is your expected use? Will this be to avoid needing to buy a TV for a cramped college dorm? Or do you have another reason for it? The answers will help with suggestions.

I just hoped to get rid of my TV and use the monitor instead to save space!

Although that does not sound the best idea from the above... might stick with my tv

gatso · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2005, 04:03:40 PM »

Are you looking to have a standalone box that plugs into your monitor or are you looking for something that plugs into your PC then shows up in windows?

Theres a bunch of digi-freeview pc usb box/pci cards floating around, I used one for a few months at the start of the year.

Hauppage is OK but the software is crap. (Nova-T, PCI or USB, around £50). Ebay is probably the best place to look, there are a bunch of other brands too that are probably better by now.

Cheers

Gatso

Chairboy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2005, 04:10:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Furball
I just hoped to get rid of my TV and use the monitor instead to save space!

Although that does not sound the best idea from the above... might stick with my tv

If you watch a lot of TV, you might not be wild about it. Some of the packages have remotes and whatnot that try to make the experience less painful, but your TV probably doesn't occasionally bluescreen during Jeopardy (well, actually, bad example, there's a lot of blue on that show, but I digress) and, as Gatso said, most TV tuner software is real crummy.

If you only watch occasionally, meh, it's fine, but don't 'kill your television' until you've had some time to use it and figure out how much you like it or not.

mora · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2005, 05:02:40 AM »

Get a DVB-T tuner with a VGA output and hook it to your monitor via a switch box. No need have your computer on while watching and the quality is likely better.

Here's one:
http://www.averm.co.uk/avermedia/products/tvtuner_AVerTV_STB3.htm

Stringer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2005, 08:23:03 AM »

A Bowling Ball.

boxboy28 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2005, 09:03:18 AM »

I've used a few TV tuner cards. There are some out there now that say they are HDTV ready, (Never used one) I didnt think they were too bad. I used a ATI ALL IN WONDER 9700 pro, nice card with remote, you could use it for all multi media stuff.( TV,MPEGS, MP3, DVDS...etc.) al so i had a PCI one from Leadtek (same thing with remote and all media)

I thought the Leadtek was better vewing quiality, but i t all comes down to preferance.

Most card prices are from 50 to 100 US dollars.