TV Cards for the PC

Sully

Hey,

Can someone explain to me about TV Tuner cards, where to get them, and if they receive local stations aswel as Sky Digital?!

Cheers in advance.

Anti

You can buy them from www.komplett.ie

Some cards will work with ntl/sky others wont. They will pick up local tv if you use the standard cable you plug into your tv.

Your best bet is if this is moved into the home entertainment forum, you will get a better response there.

Sully

So the card isnt wireless so? The main reason why I wanted to switch was to save the hassle (and wait) for the chap to come and wire in a point for the TV. I thought that these things were wireless?!

Posted here as its a computing devise Tho, Home Entertainment is another sound catagorie I must say. Mods can decide which they think is better!

Anti

Im not really that knowledgable about tv tuner cards, but i dont think there is such a thing as a wireless one.

Tom Dunne

Time for an explanation, methinks.

There are two types of cards - analogue and digital.

Looking at analogue first, they can take a signal from the "Rabbits ears" so technicaly, are wireless. However, you need a very strong signal. I have my TV tuner card connected to a booster, connected to the rabbits ears and the picture is unwatchable. It is perfect on my normal TV.

These cards can also take a signal from a Sky/NTL/Chorus box, along with camcorders, playstations, etc. But of course you still need a Sky/NTL/Chorus box and account to get these on your TV card.

Turning to digital, there are two types - terrestrial and satellite. We have no terrestrial service in Ireland (though trials are under way). Freeview is the terrestrial service in the UK. Satellite cards need, surprisingly, a satellite dish. They act as your set top box (like a Sky box). Because Sky use encryption, you generaly cannot recieve your sky subscription on digital satellite cards.

So there.

shamcfc

Want to get a tv tunner card as well for the pc and have a chorus box in the same room...anyone recomend a a card to get as i dont know much about them

also looking to get Freecom Network MediaPlayer or something of the sort which is the best and cheapest one of these to get?

cheers

Sully

tom dunne wrote:

Time for an explanation, methinks.

There are two types of cards - analogue and digital.

Looking at analogue first, they can take a signal from the "Rabbits ears" so technicaly, are wireless. However, you need a very strong signal. I have my TV tuner card connected to a booster, connected to the rabbits ears and the picture is unwatchable. It is perfect on my normal TV.

I take it then, that analogue is the best type of card to go for? And I assume if I get someone to wire in a point for a coax cable, that will work also?

How do I know in advance if the "rabbits ears" would be of use?

These cards can also take a signal from a Sky/NTL/Chorus box, along with camcorders, playstations, etc. But of course you still need a Sky/NTL/Chorus box and account to get these on your TV card.

Without any cable attached, will this work? ie Using rabbits ears. I have Sky Digital in the main house, but my room is in a bungaloo just across the way.

Turning to digital, there are two types - terrestrial and satellite. We have no terrestrial service in Ireland (though trials are under way). Freeview is the terrestrial service in the UK. Satellite cards need, surprisingly, a satellite dish. They act as your set top box (like a Sky box). Because Sky use encryption, you generaly cannot recieve your sky subscription on digital satellite cards.

So there.

Digital would be more expensive then its worth if a dish is required. I assume none of the dishes I have at present would be of use, for normal MMDS / Sky Digital TV?

Im still undecided on the whole matter. Get the TV guy to wire in a point, and use the PC as the "TV" or just buy a TV and use that instead of the PC. Any comments?

Tom Dunne

Sully04 wrote:

I take it then, that analogue is the best type of card to go for?

It depends on your circumstances and how you currently get your TV signal. But generally, yes.

Sully04 wrote:

And I assume if I get someone to wire in a point for a coax cable, that will work also?

It depends on the card, if it can take coax (a lot don't).

Sully04 wrote:

How do I know in advance if the "rabbits ears" would be of use?

Well, what do you use currently?

Sully04 wrote:

Without any cable attached, will this work? ie Using rabbits ears.

I'm not sure I understand this question. Rabbits ears will get you the Irish, non-sky channels.

Sully04 wrote:

I assume none of the dishes I have at present would be of use, for normal MMDS / Sky Digital TV?

MMDS is not technically a dish, it is an ariel, but it still needs a decoder box, which needs to be connected to the tv-tuner card. The Sky box can be used with a satellite card, but you will only get free channels, you can't get Sky sports, for example.

Sully

tom dunne wrote:

It depends on your circumstances and how you currently get your TV signal. But generally, yes.

Currently use MMDS wired in and connects to TV with a COAX cable. Then we have the Sky Digital, not to sure what type of connection that is but I assume its similar?

It depends on the card, if it can take coax (a lot don't).

I wasn't aware of other methods of receiving signals besides Coax Or Wireless (Bunny ears job). I guess ill look out for it when buying (if I buy).

Well, what do you use currently?

All TVs we just wired them in using Coax. Dont use any aerials.

I'm not sure I understand this question. Rabbits ears will get you the Irish, non-sky channels.

OK so I need some sort of cable to get the Sky Channels from the Sky Digital box in the other building?

Tom Dunne

Sully04 wrote:

Currently use MMDS wired in and connects to TV with a COAX cable. Then we have the Sky Digital, not to sure what type of connection that is but I assume its similar?

Ok, gotcha now.

MMDS->TV = coax. Sky->TV most likely SCART.

Sully04 wrote:

I wasn't aware of other methods of receiving signals besides Coax Or Wireless (Bunny ears job). I guess ill look out for it when buying (if I buy).

I am talking about the physical connection from the decoder box to the TV. Usually, it is coax from the ariel to the decoder box. From the box to the TV can be a range of inputs,including SCART, coax (or RF), s-video and one or two others.

Sully04 wrote:

OK so I need some sort of cable to get the Sky Channels from the Sky Digital box in the other building?

Right, what you need in this case is a wireless digisender. The only problem with this is it will only transmit the one channel to the destination room. So, for example, if you are watching Sky sports in the sitting room, the digisender will transmit only Sky sports to the other room/building. You can't watch different channels in each room. The only way to watch different channels is to get Sky multi-room (i.e. another Sky box).

Sully

For the Sky "wireless digisender" - is it possible to be able to switch the channel from the room, no? (not the room the box is in, but the room the PC is in)

Tom Dunne

Yes, you can.

There's a little infra-red gadget that sits over the Sky/NTL/Chorus box and takes the signal from the digisender and carries the remote control signal.

Here's one that's in Lidl this week. I can't vouch for how good/bad it is, I got mine in Argos.

Sully

Got back to the reply to late..

Whats the range like? Also, can you link to another site as the one on Lidl is gone!

Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated!!