How to Connect a PC TV Tuner to a Cable Box

Connecting a PC TV tuner to a cable box allows you to watch television channels on your PC in real time. You can also record your favorite programs and save them to the computer’s hard drive, where they will be available whenever you want to watch them. You can play the recorded shows on your PC or on your television set.

Things You'll Need

• Analog TV tuner card
• RF coaxial cable adapter connector
• S-Video cable or composite audio / video cable or coaxial cable
• Cable set-up box
• Television

Instructions

1. Insert the analog TV tuner card into the video-card slot on the computer. This slot is located at the back or front of a PC, and on the side of a laptop. Do not insert the card all the way.

2. Attach the video source coaxial cable to the outlet marked “Input” on the back of the cable set-up box.

3. Attach the coaxial cable connector from the outlet marked “Output” on the back of the cable set-up box to the input on the TV tuner-card connector.

4. Push the input connector onto the TV tuner card until it clicks into place.

5. Connect the appropriate audio video cable (S-video, composite audio/video cable or coaxial cable) from the set-up box to the input on the TV. Which cable you need to use depends on the type of television; read the TV manufacturer's instructions or simply look at the connection ports on the back of the set to determine which cable is appropriate.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use this configuration to watch TV on your computer and television at the same time. Use the satellite’s remote control to change channels.

• Before connecting a PC TV tuner to a cable box, make sure the TV tuner card is configured and working properly. Insert the analog TV tuner card into the video-card slot and attach the cable that runs directly to the satellite, bypassing the set-up box. Push the input connector until it clicks into place and check the PC for a cable signal.