TV Tuner cards with Antenna reception

[patplh]

Hi -
I was looking to purchase a portable television for my husband to use while in the airport. Given that portable televisions are still expensive, I thought about purchasing a tv tuner card that he could use with his laptop while at the airport.
Can anyone suggest one or explain what I should look for in a card? He's not looking to capture the images, he just wants to watch tv and since he's at the airport, it has to receive antenna reception.
Thanks in advance for your help! I searched the forums and didn't find a similar topic. If there is one out there, please let me know and sorry for the repeat.
Patty

[junkmalle]

Many capture cards have TV tuners built in. But the problem is the antenna -- they don't have one. He'd have to lug around a set of rabbit ears too!

[ROF]

Avermedia Tv Tuner w/mini Antenna

[patplh]

Thank you ROF - I came across the same card in my research, but wasn't sure if i should buy it - do you have any experience with this card?

[harley2ride]

I've also seen a lot of televisions that just use a coat hanger as an antenna. lol

[ROF]

Thank you ROF - I came across the same card in my research, but wasn't sure if i should buy it - do you have any experience with this card?

Sure do. I got mine from tigerdirect. It comes with all the software you need to view TV or other sources and record these broadcasts (MPEG2). The antenna is quite sturdy which was the reason I purchased it as it is used almost exclsuively while I'm travelling. The included cabling allows you to hook up almost any video source (Composite, S-Video, Coax) to your laptop and record the contents of them. It works with PAL and NTSC broadcasts.

[lordsmurf]

I have been known to use a paperclip as an antenna, and it picked up quite a few VHF channels just fine, sometimes even a couple UHF ones. Most networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS are in VHF anyway.

[patplh]

I was just about to buy this card and noticed that it requires Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. My husband only has Windows XP Professional on his laptop. Will I still be able to use this card?

[patplh]

In looking at the product linked on this forum, it says I can have just XP professional - but when I searched aver.com on my own, I came across this when trying to buy - http://www.aver.com/2005home/product/tvtuner/cardbus/cardbusmce/cardbusmce_spec.shtml It says xp media center edition only. I think they are the same product, right?

[otpw1]

It says it is supported.
AVerMedia AVerTV CardBus MCE Tuner Card
Dongle Input Connectors (S-Video, Composite Video, Left & Right RCA audio)
Earphone to F-Type/IEC Cable
USB Power Cable
Mini Mobile Coaxial RF Antenna
User Manual/installation Guide
Driver CD and AVerTV PVR software for Windows XP Home/Profession edition