With so many aspects of the computing and entertainment world
colliding, many people are now looking to run one single device - a home
theater PC. Most people know it is possible to run a PC as a media
distribution center for movies and music, but now they would like to
know if it is possible to use the same system for television viewing and
recording. The short answer is yes, and it may even be easier than you
think.
In order to watch TV through a PC, you need to have input and output. Most modern PC's are already able to output through a connection and format compatible with HDTVs (DVI or HDMI), leaving only the input to cover. Input requires both a physical connection, which will allow the coaxial cable from the wall to connect into the computer, and a decoder.
For standard cable (or satellite) television subscribers, the cable box handles the decoding. This is simply translating the signal received from the cable subscriber into something your television set can interpret and display. For a home theater PC, this can be done in one of two ways:
1. Tuner card with coaxial inputs plus a cable box
For very little money, you can purchase and install a TV tuner card, which will allow for coaxial input into your PC. However, you will still need to use the cable box from the cable provider to act as the decoder. The signal will travel from the wall to the cable box to be decoded, then into the PC, and is then viewed out through the television set.
This option is cheaper, but not necessarily ideal, because it requires you to keep the cable box from your subscriber. However, this is a good option if you want to set your PC up to act as a DVR, recording digital video without the monthly DVR cost most subscribers charge.
2. Tuner card with internal decoder
New for 2010, PC tuner cards are available with internal decoders. This allows you to connect the coaxial cable directly from the wall to the PC, and then out to the television. Using this option, you can also use the PC as a DVR, and completely bypass the monthly cost for a cable box, if applicable.
The downside to this option is higher cost. These cards are new technology, which always carries a premium price.
What cards to buy?
There are many different brands of tuner cards available. The most popular, and probably the best name in the business is Hauppauge. Other brands to check out are Sabrent and Diamond Multimedia. You can find tuners from these brands available on most major online retailers.
In order to watch TV through a PC, you need to have input and output. Most modern PC's are already able to output through a connection and format compatible with HDTVs (DVI or HDMI), leaving only the input to cover. Input requires both a physical connection, which will allow the coaxial cable from the wall to connect into the computer, and a decoder.
For standard cable (or satellite) television subscribers, the cable box handles the decoding. This is simply translating the signal received from the cable subscriber into something your television set can interpret and display. For a home theater PC, this can be done in one of two ways:
1. Tuner card with coaxial inputs plus a cable box
For very little money, you can purchase and install a TV tuner card, which will allow for coaxial input into your PC. However, you will still need to use the cable box from the cable provider to act as the decoder. The signal will travel from the wall to the cable box to be decoded, then into the PC, and is then viewed out through the television set.
This option is cheaper, but not necessarily ideal, because it requires you to keep the cable box from your subscriber. However, this is a good option if you want to set your PC up to act as a DVR, recording digital video without the monthly DVR cost most subscribers charge.
2. Tuner card with internal decoder
New for 2010, PC tuner cards are available with internal decoders. This allows you to connect the coaxial cable directly from the wall to the PC, and then out to the television. Using this option, you can also use the PC as a DVR, and completely bypass the monthly cost for a cable box, if applicable.
The downside to this option is higher cost. These cards are new technology, which always carries a premium price.
What cards to buy?
There are many different brands of tuner cards available. The most popular, and probably the best name in the business is Hauppauge. Other brands to check out are Sabrent and Diamond Multimedia. You can find tuners from these brands available on most major online retailers.
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