PC monitor as a TV?
- Thread starter jsmoke
- Start date
Look at the August DVB-T210 for a cheaper DVB-T2 tuner. It's only 25 quid as opposed to 40 quid+ for the PCTV one mentioned a few times above. I have the cheaper 11 quid DVB-T (freeview, not HD) model and it works perfectly with WMC. I have no reason to suspect why their HD variant shouldn't work just as well.
I'm not sure what you mean by "converting", but basically it would be like this:
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> Freeview STB >> HDMI cable >> Monitor
If I understood your question correctly, then the Freeview set-top-box is indeed the one doing the conversion process. And even if you attached the STB to a TV, then it would still be the STB doing the conversion, (unless you plugged the coaxial cable straight to the TV, of course).
If you went with a USB TV tuner, then it would be like this:
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> USB TV tuner >> Computer >> HDMI cable >> Monitor
But in any case, if you haven't yet bought anything, but intend to purchase a new display device for the computer, and don't mind going for a bigger screen, then you should definitely give a thorough consideration for an HDTV.
There is no hassle with those, and you won't need a separate tuner/box (or any other device, for that matter) for it to work, as the tuner is already built-in inside the TV. In such case, your setup would be like this:
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> TV
And you can additionally use the HDTV as if it were a regular big PC monitor, as well.
BUT:
If you have no immediate need for a new display device, then the USB TV tuner is certainly the cheapest way out.
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> Freeview STB >> HDMI cable >> Monitor
If I understood your question correctly, then the Freeview set-top-box is indeed the one doing the conversion process. And even if you attached the STB to a TV, then it would still be the STB doing the conversion, (unless you plugged the coaxial cable straight to the TV, of course).
If you went with a USB TV tuner, then it would be like this:
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> USB TV tuner >> Computer >> HDMI cable >> Monitor
But in any case, if you haven't yet bought anything, but intend to purchase a new display device for the computer, and don't mind going for a bigger screen, then you should definitely give a thorough consideration for an HDTV.
There is no hassle with those, and you won't need a separate tuner/box (or any other device, for that matter) for it to work, as the tuner is already built-in inside the TV. In such case, your setup would be like this:
Wall socket/Antenna >> Coaxial cable >> TV
And you can additionally use the HDTV as if it were a regular big PC monitor, as well.
BUT:
If you have no immediate need for a new display device, then the USB TV tuner is certainly the cheapest way out.
Thanks, so dongle it is then. I'm out of touch. Amazing how a tiny piece of plastic and metals can receive and display invisible waves of data, broadcast miles away, on your screen. Tech is bizzarre stuff.
We should have an electromagnetism day of appreciation once a year.
We should have an electromagnetism day of appreciation once a year.
So I have my USB tuner up and running, to a degree. It came with a tiny aerial with magentic base. I read if you put it on the radiator it helps the signal which turns out to be correct. I get no signal otherwise.
First scan I got 11 channels found, all were very good quality, no lag, good picture. The aerial is about 1/5 up from middle bottom of radiator. Radiator size is about 1.2m * 0.8m.
Second time I moved it a bit to left, now I get 35 channels but the new channels found are a big laggy, stutter etc, the first 11 channels are still good. I think freeview has about 60 channels, so missing a few.
As it takes a while to scan channels, I was wondering it there is any theory behnd where on the radiator is the best place to put the aerial to get the best signal. Or am I just left with trial and error, could take a while.
Just curious.
First scan I got 11 channels found, all were very good quality, no lag, good picture. The aerial is about 1/5 up from middle bottom of radiator. Radiator size is about 1.2m * 0.8m.
Second time I moved it a bit to left, now I get 35 channels but the new channels found are a big laggy, stutter etc, the first 11 channels are still good. I think freeview has about 60 channels, so missing a few.
As it takes a while to scan channels, I was wondering it there is any theory behnd where on the radiator is the best place to put the aerial to get the best signal. Or am I just left with trial and error, could take a while.
Just curious.
I have a feed coming from the roof aerial which has LOS to the transmitter so naturally the signal strength is very good.
If you are stuck using a portable aerial then yeah trial and error but it might be worth getting something a bit bigger than the tiny things that come with it
If you are stuck using a portable aerial then yeah trial and error but it might be worth getting something a bit bigger than the tiny things that come with it
Trial and error.
All depends on your geographic location and to a certain degree, where in the house you are to get a good signal.
To be honest, Freeview made internal aerials pointless in some situations.
TO save the hassle...
http://www.tvcatchup.com/
Less channels, but it works.
All depends on your geographic location and to a certain degree, where in the house you are to get a good signal.
To be honest, Freeview made internal aerials pointless in some situations.
TO save the hassle...
http://www.tvcatchup.com/
Less channels, but it works.