How To Watch HD TV On A Computer

By Dorothy Grant

Have you ever considered using you PC to watch HD TV, well it couldn?t be more easy. In order to watch HDTV on your computer then you most choose one of two methods. You could either opt to watch TV over the internet by using one or more of the many websites that provide TV services. Alternatively you could buy a PC TV tuner and effective transform your PC into a television.

The fist way of turning your PC in to a TV requires the purchase of a PC TV tuner. This is a piece of hardware that takes a TV signal and displays it on your TV. They come in the form of a PCI card or a USB adaptor. Both do the same job and are easy to install. If you have a desktop PC then either type of adaptor should be suitable. However if you have a notebook or laptop then USB is the way to go.

HDTV adaptors come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. They have different capabilities and features, the most important thing is to make sure they are capable for use with the TV signal that you will be using (ie satellite, cable, RF etc). Some have features which you may find useful like ? live pause, recording timer and radio tuning.

Some models have a receiver built in to receive the television signal, if the signal is too weak then most models allow you to plug you aerial or satellite cable into them. Once connected and receiving the signal then you will have to use the software that comes with the adaptor to tune and store the channels that are available. The software will then allow you to view the channels.

TV tuner adaptors do not cost much (you can pick them up for less than $60). They are readily available online from most computer retailers. Makers of HDTV tuners include Creative, Leadtek, ATI and Pinnacle. When choosing the adaptor be sure to choose one which is HD capable if you require to watch high definition broadcasts.

Your second option for watching HD TV online is by watching television broadcast which are streamed over the internet by various providers. These providers take the TV channels and stream the data over the internet which your computer can display using a software viewer.

The advantages of using this method to watch HDTV online are that if you are already on the internet then more than likely you have everything you need to watch TV online. You do not require a fast internet connection or high specification computer.

There are many options when it comes to watching TV online, there are many websites and providers of these services. Some are totally free, some involve and regular subscription fee and others a one off fee (which you usually involves downloading some software to view the broadcasts with). Obviously if you want better channels and better video quality then the paid services might be for you.

If you are happy to watch TV online you could find yourself ditching the expensive subscription services that you pay your satellite or cable provider. You don?t need to purchase any hardware either, as opposed to splashing out $1000 or more on a high definition TV. - 30542

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