PC monitor as a TV?

The receiver will need to be able to support the monitors resolution and have the option to output to external speakers if you want audio.

What monitor will you be using and receiving equipment,
 
Through HDMI port connected to decoders

Or use the PC and connect to it USB decoders for eg Freeview and you plug the decoder on the antenna.
 
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RJC said:
The receiver will need to be able to support the monitors resolution and have the option to output to external speakers if you want audio.

What monitor will you be using and receiving equipment,
Click to expand...

What receiver, is this some kind of setup box?

Just looking for a new monitor atm, read somewhere your monitor needs to be HD compliant?

So what do I need?
 
jsmoke said:
What receiver, is this some kind of setup box?

Just looking for a new monitor atm, read somewhere your monitor needs to be HD compliant?

So what do I need?
Click to expand...

Your receiver has HDMI cable? Is your monitor 1080p?
 
I don't have the monitor yet, is the monitor the receiver?

It seems at least the monitor needs to have HDMI, what other things do I need?
 
It would be easier to get a TV or a TV card for a PC as you will needs a external output for audio.
 
You have three options, with pros and cons:

1) HDTV
++ ease of use
++ designed for TV usage, so they excel at it, naturally
++ possible to easily go over 32" sizes
-- the good ones are usually 40" at minimum
-- might have huge input lag (so you need to know which ones are good)
-- might have poorer image quality (so you need to know which ones are good)
-- usually come only with HDMI ports (but sometimes with one analog VGA port)

2) Monitor/TV combo
++ ease of use
++ built-in tuner
++/-- as they have been made with computer usage in mind, they have fairly reasonable input lag times ON AVERAGE, but will probably lose to the better HDTVs
++/-- better on image quality when compared to an average HDTV, but worse than monitor
++/-- sometimes have DVI or DisplayPort connections, as well
-- small selection and fairly rare, and therefore hard to find stock (or reviews, for that matter)
-- jack of all trades, master of none

3) Regular monitor with a separate add-on tuner (usually PCI slot or USB port)
++ you can use your computer to capture/save the channel feed
++ if you already have a monitor, then this is the cheap "upgrade" option
++ computer monitors have a huge selection of low input lag models
-- you need to keep the computer on if you want to watch TV
-- if your OS provider changes its driver design, it's up to your tuner manufacturer to provide support
-- ...which they probably won't, as it's more lucrative for them if you purchase a new tuner, as you now have to (do you remember the Creative sound card debacle?)

Examples of the first two:
1)
Sony KDL42W705B (still the current input lag king in HDTVs, I think) (review)
Sony KDL40W705CBU (apparently the spiritual successor for the above?)

2)
Samsung T32E310EW
LG Electronics 27MT77D-PZ
 
jsmoke said:
What do I need to this, what ports does the monitor need, any other devices needed etc, I am pretty sure you can do this.
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Hi, I'm kinda getting the impression that you just want to hook up your free view box in to the monitor? If that's the case then you all you will need is a HDMI input on the monitor and your good to go, nothing else required if the monitor has sound, if not then I used to connect my surround system through the optical on the sky box to sort the sound, I used to run my sky box in that way and my p.c into the DVI and flip between the 2 with the source button, hope this helps
 
you need a monitor that accept hdmi input
and it needs to accept a minimum of 50 to 60 hz which is pretty much all monitor
best to have a monitor with speaker already built in
if not make sure your freeview box has an audio out put ie rca red white or digital
rca would be easiest cause you can get cable to convert rca to 3.5mm jack for normal pc speakers

your tv freeview set top box must have an hdmi output
most tv set top box would be able to adjust output resolution ie 1080p, 720p or 576p 480p
if you want to watch tv in full 1080p make sure your monitor has a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 etc etc
 
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jsmoke said:
OK thanks, so I just need FV box with HDMI out, so what is a TV tuner card and why shouldn't I get one?
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a tv tuner card is a card to install into your pc
you will need to switch on your pc to watch tv
and you will need to run a software to watch tv
if you ok with that then tv tuner card is great
tv tuner card is on the expensive side tho compare to a freeview box
especially hd ones
a tv tuner card is good idea if your monitor has only 1 input so the monitor input is not taken up by your tv box
a tv tuner card is also a good idea if you intend to record lots of tv programs, since you will have unlimited hard drive space on pc.
 
With regards to computer TV tuners:

You can get a cheap USB TV stick for around £10, but if you want Freeview and HD, then you're looking at £40. Like the PCTV TripleStick 292e, which supports DVB-T/T2/C (homepage).

Then there are the more serious contenders ("TV tuner cards"), which use PCI connection (or PCIe for the newer ones). They cost upwards from £50.

But, few clarifications would be in order:
1) From what I understood, you don't have a Freeview tuner device of any kind, yet. Is this correct?
2) From what I understood, you have a computer and a monitor, but you are apparently now looking at getting a NEW monitor, and would like to use it to watch TV, as well. Is this correct?

But from the looks of it, this is the opposite of what other people understood the situation as, so now I'm starting to doubt my own interpretation...
 
The main issue with TV tuners for pc that no one has mentioned is the software used to actually watch TV. After dabbling with many apps over the years, nothing comes close to windows media centre. If you're on windows 7, then fine - no problem. Windows 8/8.1 only support it as a paid upgrade if you have the Professional edition which most people don't. Windows 10 dropped support completely. All 3rd party software I've tried is buggy as hell, super slow switching channels, has channel orders all over the place and baffling setup procedures. People laugh at WMC for it's other media capabilities but for live tv, it is unrivalled.
 
aatu said:
With regards to computer TV tuners:

You can get a cheap USB TV stick for around £10, but if you want Freeview and HD, then you're looking at £40. Like the PCTV TripleStick 292e, which supports DVB-T/T2/C (homepage).

Then there are the more serious contenders ("TV tuner cards"), which use PCI connection (or PCIe for the newer ones). They cost upwards from £50.

But, few clarifications would be in order:
1) From what I understood, you don't have a Freeview tuner device of any kind, yet. Is this correct?
2) From what I understood, you have a computer and a monitor, but you are apparently now looking at getting a NEW monitor, and would like to use it to watch TV, as well. Is this correct?

But from the looks of it, this is the opposite of what other people understood the situation as, so now I'm starting to doubt my own interpretation...
Click to expand...

Yes, I am going to buy a new monitor and free view box, both need HDMI ports and unless the monitor has speakers I think efre view box will also need audio out, this is what I gather. Monitor also needs high res 1080p etc.
 
I use a PCTV DVB-T2 USB stick myself - I like the ability to watch on my PC, move around monitors, windowed vs max screen, use PC headphones/speakers etc.

I do agree that software is an issue though so if not up for a faff I'd get a decent TV instead :)
 
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