Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Choose a website that will bring "live" TV programming from all over the world to your desktop. See the Resource list below for links to a few of them. This eliminates any additional expense or the need to install new hardware. Hint: These are free because they rarely offer stations that are available from your cable or satellite provider.
Step2
Purchase a TV tuner card, DVR or TV interface to link your cable or satellite service to your PC. These usually come with software that will allow you to watch and record programs. Just attach your cable to the cable input on the card or box, and connect them to your PC. Using the cable card will require you to take the top off your computer and insert the card into an empty slot, but it's less expensive than using an external interface.
Step3
Use the software that came with the tuner card or interface box to record or watch your favorite TV shows. If you have a media center PC, your computer probably came with Microsoft media center software, which means you won't need to install or use any other software to use any viewing or recording features.
Step4
Attach the video interface or tuner card directly to your cable service for analog stations, which are those not in the so-called digital tier. This is fine if you only get basic service from your provider. But, if you want to receive all of the digital and movie stations you subscribe to, you have to attach the cable from your interface to your cable box. This could also mean that any channel changing done on your PC will also change on the box, using a cable that links the remote control capabilities of the external interface or TV card to an infra-red remote sensor on your cable box.
Step5
Call your cable company to have them install a cable connection close to your PC. You may also want to lease another cable box if your viewing habits differ from someone else trying to watch TV. This is also a good way to avoid stringing a long line of cable from your PC to another room.
