How to Hook Up Cable TV to a Computer
A computer is becoming more useful every day, including now being able to watch cable television programming. A computer is not generally set up to watch television programming.To do this, it will require adding additional equipment to the computer. There are high-end computers that already come installed with Windows Media Center and the capability to watch television programming. However, these computers can be fairly expensive and there are cheaper alternative available. Cable television programming can be connected to a computer by following some basic instructions.
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Instructions
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See if your current computer is capable being connected to a cable television source through a coax cable. Look on the back of the computer and see if there is a coax cable connector. A quick glance in the manual can provide this information as well.
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2
Purchase a TV tuner card to install in the computer. A TV tuner card can be found online at sites such as Newegg or at a retailer such as Best Buy (see link in Resources). Open the computer case and see if the motherboard uses a PCI or an AGP connection. The manual for the computer can also provide this information.
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Insert the newly purchased TV tuner card into an open slot on the motherboard. A screwdriver will be needed to remove the cover and to attach the new tuner card. Close up the computer case and the installation of the TV tuner card is complete.
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4
Attach the coax cable from the wall or cable box to the TV tuner. A cable box can be connected to the TV tuner by a coax cable or by audio/video RCA cables. Plug one end into the "Audio and Video Line-out" of the cable box. Plug the other end into the "Line-in" connection on the TV tuner card and "Line-in" on a sound card or a computer's on-board audio.
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Install the computer software that came with the TV tuner card. All TV tuner cards require software to watch video from the TV tuner on the computer screen. Double click the icon on the Desktop to open the software and run a scan to detect a video signal.
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Tips & Warnings
A 1/8-inch mini jack adapter may be needed so an RCA cable can work with a computer's on-board audio if that is the only input.
Most digital cable systems require a receiver which means channels can't be changed through the TV tuner card.
