Can cable tv be watched on regular comp screen?

[videohelp]

Can a regular cable tv be watched on computer screen? I want to hook up a coax cable from wall to somewhere in the back of the computer and watch as if I am watching a regular tv. Can it be done? How? Also how would I change channels? What do I need to install in my computer? New to all this so please be specific. Thanks.

[DarkFaith]

I use an ATI All In Wonder series video card which allows me to make a coax cable connection as well as Composite/S-video.
I use the ATI Multi Media Centre software to watch cable on the computer just as you ask and it works quite well.

[videohelp]

Does all these cost alot? You mention ATI for card as well as software -does it mean ATI card comes with this software also or is it a separate buy?

[edDV]

To do this with a computer tuner card you are limited to the analog channels on your cable service. On many cable systems these are the two digit channels 2-99.

To get the "digital" channels you need a cable box. A cable box is best connected to the computer over S-Video or composite rather than coax.

[edDV]

If all you want to do is view TV (analog cable channels), PCI tuners start around $20. Read the reviews for potential cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=PRICE&Page=1&Category=38&N=2010380...SubCategory=47

[videohelp]

No, I only have channels from 2-99. So I guess computer tuner card or what a previous responder mentioned as ATI video card and some software I need -right? Can I get it at fry's at good price? What must should I look for in such cards? Any particular type/model I should look for -cheaper the better as it will be used only occassionally.

[edDV]

Close to best prices and user reviews are available at the site linked and others.

Never buy anything at Fry's unless you are sure you know more about the product than the salesman. In most cases this is easy to do with basic research.

[videohelp]

Wow, thanks edDV and DarkFaith. I only quickly glanced at the choices in the link edDV sent me and it seems this will require some reading and making choices. thanks for help.

[DarkFaith]

I do a lot of VHS to DVD conversion and my all in wonder works great for that.
It sounds like you're not looking for anything fancy...you just want to watch regular cable occasionaly? edDV is probably right, a regular TV tuner card would probably be better for you. Cheaper, easier to set up, etc.
Keep reading reviews and comparing prices. This stuff is fun to play around with

[rkr1958]

Before you buy and if you have USB2, you wish to check out Win-TV-PVR-USB2 external tv tuner and capture card. http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116627

The quality is excellent and you can pause or record live TV. It comes with a remote. Also, since it's external you can use this with other computers and there's no need to crack open your computer to install.

However, it costs more than some of the other internal TV tuner cards. Newegg had it listed for $90, but I've see deals with rebates for < $50.

[videohelp]

Guys, thanks a lot for your help. Appreciate it. Now I atleast have some direction/pointers to look for. Thanks.

For rkr1958, this external card is tv tuner as well as capture -meaning I can capture from vcr or camcorder thru this card? That would be great as I like to convert my old vcr tapes into dvds.

[videohelp]

rkr1958 - I looked at the link you gave ( .../data_pvrusb2.html) and it has two pics of back part of the unit! Are they different units? Seems like it.

[rkr1958]

rkr1958 - I looked at the link you gave ( .../data_pvrusb2.html) and it has two pics of back part of the unit! Are they different units? Seems like it.

The pic on the left is the back (power, coax-in, coax-out, usb2 out to pc) and the one on the right is the front (composite RCA in (i.e., L/R audio & video), s-video in, ir detector for the remote).

For rkr1958, this external card is tv tuner as well as capture -meaning I can capture from vcr or camcorder thru this card? That would be great as I like to convert my old vcr tapes into dvds.

Yes, it captures. I use it all the time to capture from cable TV (coax-in). While I haven't done so myself, it can capture from a vcr (or such device) via the composite (RCA) and / or s-video inputs (or even the coax if you so desired).

Now I have defintely NOT confirmed this personal but I read in a post over at doom9.org that the WIN-TV-PRV-2 card also removes Macrovision. AGAIN, I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THIS. It'd be nice if someone from here could confirm or refute this.

P.S. I just did a quick 2-minute capture via VCR to PRV-2 card via RCA cables of Walt Disney's Pinochhio (60th anniversary edition). Seems to have worked ... assuming this type had MV ...

[vertical]

I use Sony monitor with the built-in TV tuner. It recieves whatever either basic channels (from 2 to 99, on its own, without cable box) or the package with RogersCable I have if conncted to the box.

Just as one of the options.

[videohelp]

Thanks guys for all your help. All have provided quite a good info. Macrivision info is good as it could come handy but normally its only home videos I might capture.

To vertical : you already have a monitor with build-in tuner but mine is a regular comp screen hence I will need some sort of a tv card but ya -its an option.

Thanks again.