TV-Tuners, how do they work?

[StarSolitude]

Thinking of getting a TV-Tuner for my Windows 7 64bit computer. Never had a Tv tuner before and not sure how they work.

Would I only get the standard UK channels, BBC1, ITV, Channel 4 etc?

And you would need to attach some cable to your computer if you wanted to watch Sky TV and stuff like that, right?

 

[ETNiES]

afaik you'll only get free to air channels, google card sharing.

 

[tmaxxthomson]

you will need to attach a antenna cable to it and you will get all the freeview channels in the area =]

 

[StarSolitude]

you will need to attach a antenna cable to it and you will get all the freeview channels in the area =]

Do you need to buy the antenna seperately? Could you show me a TV Tuner + Antenna thats good for Windows 7, preferably under £50? No idea what to look for.

 

[derkaderka]

Ok , best type to get is a freeview tuner
You can get either PCI card or USB external tuners
I have had several of both kinds , I would recommend that the tuner you get
is a dual tuner ( you can watch 1 channel and record another , or if you use gb pvr
you can watch 1 and record about 6 or more channels at same time)

For freeview its best to use a proper roof aerial if you can (better signal)

Recommended Tuners
For PCI: WinTV-NOVA-TD-500

For USB: WinTV-NOVA-TD Stick (comes with small aerial)
Both from hauppauge , but sadly OCuk dont stock quality cards , just compro ones

 

[StarSolitude]

Does WinTV-NOVA-TD-500 work for WIndows 7 84bit? And do I need to buy an antenna seperately?

 

[derkaderka]

Yep it works fine under win7 , tried it on both win7 32 RC and win7 64bit RTM ultimate

It comes with 2 smallish ants ( I use the feed from my roof aerial myself)

more info here:
http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/site/products/data_novatdstick.html

Note after first installing the drivers you need to use a small supplied util
to switch the tuners into independant mode (by default to uses both amps to
boost signal strength so it only shows as 1 tuner)

 

[MattyJ]

How does this work with the digital switch over? I have a spare Win-TV card around somewhere, but it's a few years old and I guess it'll be made redundant?

 

[derkaderka]

How does this work with the digital switch over? I have a spare Win-TV card around somewhere, but it's a few years old and I guess it'll be made redundant?

IF its an analogue card then when the switch off happens , you have a nice paper weight