Using an LCD monitor as a television

[PhoneMatt]

Could someone please point me in the right direction? I am trying to use an LCD monitor as a televisoin for my nephew, separate from the computer. (Hooking it up to the computer would be too easy.) As far as I know they do not have digital cable, just basic analog cable. I know that I will need a tuner of some sort, but how do I connect everything together, without a digital signal? Or can it be done?
I've tried searching the forum, but all of the messages that I've seen refer to using a digital cable box. I'm trying to bring this in under $250. Any suggestions?

Matt

[bendixG15]

Just get an old computer and stick a tuner card in it..(e.g. Hauggaugge sp?)
Can make the 250 budget,

[edDV]

Something like this would work but you also need an audio amp and speakers.
http://www.avermedia-usa.com/2005home/product/tvtuner/standalone/tvbox7/tvbox7.pdf

[bendixG15]

Why need amp..?
just a sound card and computer speakers

[edDV]

Why need amp..?
just a sound card and computer speakers

A sound card and computer speakers don't do much without a computer

But a set of amplified computer speakers could be used with that tuner.

[PhoneMatt]

Thanks for all of the answers, but I am trying to do this without using a comoputer. The monitor will be in his room, but the computer is in the family room. (He's only 13.) I realize that this complicates things a bit.

Matt

[painkiller]

PhoneMatt,

I do believe that is what edDV is actually telling you.

I looked at that link and it appears to be a device that doesn't NEED to be hooked to a PC (although it can be) in order to send the received video (antenna, camcorder, vcr, etc.) to an LCD monitor.

A nice cheap solution to your question, it caught my interest as well.

It appears to support audio out connector(s) - perhaps for headphones, but to get better sound you could likely adapt some larger speakers. If they are powered themselves, you wouldn't need an amp to boost the audio strength to room filling extravaganza.

Hope this helps.

(Although, speaking for myself, I'd be REAL interested to find out if Avermedia can/will make such a device for sending -OTA-HDTV to an LCD monitor..... Now THAT would be cool, too.)

[painkiller]

(ooooohhh, I'm glad I looked into this some more.)

Here's the link that takes you to AVerMedia's own page for this product.

http://www.aver.com/2005home/product/tvtuner/standalone/tvbox7/tvbox7.shtml

The paragraph describing the product (below the picture) clearly says - no PC needed!

It appears they have a slightly different model, the TVBOX 9 - which is around $50 more ($179.99) - - if you want to connect component video inputs AND have a widescreen format picture. (Maybe closer to what I'd like myself.)

Hope this answers your concerns, and puts less of a dent in your wallet.

[PhoneMatt]

Thanks, Painkiller. The first link didn't open for me, but, yeah, this box looks like it will work well. Gonna check around and see if I can pick one up locally. Thanks, everyone for the pointers. My nephew really busted butt in school this year and I wanted to help my sister do something really special for him. He's gonna be one happy kid. Thanks again.

Matt

[neomaine]

Actually, that does look like a sweet cable box alternative. Though the upfront cost is a little bit more the idea seems quiet sound. I'd be interested to see what the quality is.

The only other thing I can think of, is to get a cable tuner box from the cable company (probably pay a rental fee) and get an LCD with composit inputs. Then a simple compsite RCA cable from the cable box to the monitor would do the trick.

I've got satelitte, and therefore a pretty clean picture, and things look OK. Not sure what a messy cable signal would look like.

[edDV]

...

The only other thing I can think of, is to get a cable tuner box from the cable company (probably pay a rental fee) and get an LCD with composit inputs. Then a simple compsite RCA cable from the cable box to the monitor would do the trick.

I've got satelitte, and therefore a pretty clean picture, and things look OK. Not sure what a messy cable signal would look like.

The problem is rented cable or satellite boxes seldom support VGA or computer monitor compatible DVI-D. This was done on purpose by the cable and DBS companies.

Like a TV, the tuner above will only tune the over the air NTSC and analog cable channels. A separate box will be needed to get DTV over the air, cable MPeg2 or DBS.

[handyguy]

Just get a VGA box, Planer & Viewsonic both make them. But they cost as much as a small tv.

[neomaine]

edDV,

That's why I said to get a monitor that accepts composit in. Not the best solution but still gets things working. Just can't sit 2ft away from the monitor like you normally would at the pc. Once you back up 5-6' its not so bad.

Its by far the cheapest. You've got the cabel (rental or purshase) box from the cable company and $250US will buy you a pretty nice 19" (comparible to 21" tube TV) LCD monitor with good viewing angles and nice response times.

[edDV]

Yes, but PhoneMatt was asking how to connect to an existing computer LCD.

[neomaine]

edDV,

I didn't read like that. I read it like he was trying to get the solution together, new LCD as well, for under $250. Guess that it was implied though since they already have the computer.

[greymalkin]

this would be awesome for people who are building their own lcd projectors as well.

dlv