How to Watch Live TV Broadcasts on Your PC
Personal computers have evolved from mere work machines to multimedia entertainment centers. Computer systems also function as televisions, carrying over-the-air, cable, high-definition and streamed live programs. Manufacturers have developed cards, connections, adapters and software to allow antennae or cable connections to a computer. As a result, a relatively small outlay of funds can add a television set to your home. The portability of laptop computers allows users to watch live television from any location
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Things You'll Need
- Personal computer
- Television tuner software
- Universal serial bus (USB) cable
- Television tuner card
- IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
- Digital television antenna
- Internet
Instructions
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Obtain a television tuner software or tuner card that receives over-the-air digital stations or allows you to connect to a cable service. Connect your antenna or cable wire to the coaxial connection on the USB adapter or card that came with your software or hardware package. Insert the USB or FireWire connection or the card into the appropriate slot on the computer.
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Click on the Windows symbol at the bottom of your computer screen. Select "All Programs" and find Windows Media Center in the program list. Open Windows Media Center. Scroll to "TV+Movies." Choose "Live TV" from the menu or press "Live TV" on the Windows Media Center remote control. If you use a program other than Windows Media Center, install and open the software that came with your tuner hardware.
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Set up your channel list. Scan for over-the-air television stations or cable stations if you use a program other than Windows Media Center. Type in the station's physical channel (1 to 69), if you know it, to tune into a specific channel.
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Select the desired channel, using the up-and-down arrows on the computer keyboard, the remote that came with your tuner software, or by typing in the station's physical channel. In Windows Media Center, go to the "start" screen and click on "TV+Movies," then "guide." Choose the desired program. Press the up-and-down keys on the keyboard or remote to change channels in Windows Media Center.
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Tips & Warnings
Digital television stations have a physical channel, which is the frequency assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. The physical channel typically has no relation to the broadcaster's analog, or old, channel number. Most broadcasters will use a virtual channel and sub channels, such as 4.1, 4.2, corresponding to the former analog channel.
Windows Media Center finds digital television channels in your area through the internet and automatically creates a channel list. Also, go to the "guide" feature of Windows Media Center and select the desired program. The guide displays programs by station, date and time.
Some cable channels, especially shopping channels such as Home Shopping Network, QVC and ShopNBC, provide live streaming of their programs. You can also watch Home Shopping Network live through Windows Media Center. Choose the Online Media option on the Windows Media Center menu. Certain stations stream live local newscasts.
Digital television signals provide "all-or-nothing" reception. Poor digital signals result in a blank screen. Adjust the location, height and position of your antenna to maximize reception.
Scan for channels periodically since the physical channel numbers might change or stations may add new subchannels. Digital television allows broadcasters to multicast by carrying different programs on channels in addition to the primary channel.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pc monitor image by Jorge Casais from Fotolia.com
