T.V. Tuner Card

camoxiong · Dec 10, 2011

I have a question about a TV Tuner card, I am going to build a HTPC and I have questions about a tv tuner card. If I cancel my cable subscriber and buy a tv tuner card, do i have to pay monthly? How many channels would I get for a tv tuner card?

TheLaughingMan · Dec 10, 2011

camoxiong said:
I have a question about a TV Tuner card, I am going to build a HTPC and I have questions about a tv tuner card. If I cancel my cable subscriber and buy a tv tuner card, do i have to pay monthly? How many channels would I get for a tv tuner card?

A TV has a small device built into it called a tuner. Some have digital HD tuners that can sometimes work with your subscriber's premium channels without the use of an external box. A TV tuner card for your PC is just that device. So if you discontinue your cable service you will not get any channels other than the free ones that use to be analog, but were finally forced to switch to digital broadcast. Depending on your area this could be anywhere from 11 to 100 channels.

Please note the broadcast lineup will not be NBC, ABC, etc. it will be local networks, college broadcast, the weather, news, etc.

So in the end, no cable service, no cable. You may have some TV, but I don't think it will be anything you want to watch on there.

camoxiong · Dec 10, 2011

TheLaughingMan said:
A TV has a small device built into it called a tuner. Some have digital HD tuners that can sometimes work with your subscriber's premium channels without the use of an external box. A TV tuner card for your PC is just that device. So if you discontinue your cable service you will not get any channels other than the free ones that use to be analog, but were finally forced to switch to digital broadcast. Depending on your area this could be anywhere from 11 to 100 channels.

Please note the broadcast lineup will not be NBC, ABC, etc. it will be local networks, college broadcast, the weather, news, etc.

So in the end, no cable service, no cable. You may have some TV, but I don't think it will be anything you want to watch on there.

ok. for an example, i have comcast cable tv(which i pay too much for) and my friend have analog tv. he have over 100 channels, if i switch it to a tv tuner card and cancel my comcast cable, would i have the same thing like him?

Jetster · Dec 10, 2011

It depends on your reception. I live next to a moutian and I get about 3 channels. By the way there are no analog channels. The three channels I get are NBC, CBS and the local public broad casting channel. All digital All HD.

Your LCD should have a digital tuner. Put a cheap antenna on it from radio shack and have it scan and see what it gets. This will givce you an Idea.

camoxiong · Dec 10, 2011

Jetster said:
It depends on your reception. I live next to a moutian and I get about 3 channels. By the way there are no analog channels. The three channels I get are NBC, CBS and the local public broad casting channel. All digital All HD.

Your LCD should have a digital tuner. Put a cheap antenna on it from radio shack and have it scan and see what it gets. This will givce you an Idea.

what if i live in Fresno,CA, would I get like up to 100 channels? btw i still have the old fat tv.

Jetster · Dec 10, 2011

No your probably get 15 or 20 but I'm not sure.

Your old fat analog TV is obsolete. It will receive nothing

Back in June 12, 2009 a law when into affect requiring all over the air TV broadcasting to be digital. This was to free up radio frequencies. For a while the government offered free converters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television_transition_in_the_United_States

Just buy a cheap USB tuner from New egg on sale and see what you can get. You should be able to get one for about $25. If it works and you like it then get and $100 one that will work even better. Then sell the cheap on on Craig s List

camoxiong · Dec 10, 2011

Jetster said:
No your probably get 15 or 20 but I'm not sure.

Your old fat analog TV is obsolete. It will receive nothing

Back in June 12, 2009 a law when into affect requiring all over the air TV broadcasting to be digital. This was to free up radio frequencies. For a while the government offered free converters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television_transition_in_the_United_States

Just buy a cheap USB tuner from New egg on sale and see what you can get. You should be able to get one for about $25. If it works and you like it then get and $100 one that will work even better. Then sell the cheap on on Craig s List

ok

TheLaughingMan · Dec 10, 2011

camoxiong said:
ok. for an example, i have comcast cable tv(which i pay too much for) and my friend have analog tv. he have over 100 channels, if i switch it to a tv tuner card and cancel my comcast cable, would i have the same thing like him?

If you have an LCD, go in the control panel and switch from Cable to Air and see what it finds. If you get enough channels to make you happy, cancel your service and just keep using the TV. If you want the TV tuner as well, go for it.

kalstrand · Dec 10, 2011

Keep in mind you will probably need some kind of antenna to get much of anything. If you are close to the transmitters and pick up an exceptionally strong signal you might get something with no antenna but probably not.

camoxiong · Dec 11, 2011

TheLaughingMan said:
If you have an LCD, go in the control panel and switch from Cable to Air and see what it finds. If you get enough channels to make you happy, cancel your service and just keep using the TV. If you want the TV tuner as well, go for it.

kalstrand said:
Keep in mind you will probably need some kind of antenna to get much of anything. If you are close to the transmitters and pick up an exceptionally strong signal you might get something with no antenna but probably not.

ok thanks for your help

twilyth · Dec 11, 2011

If you end up staying with your cable tv company, get a Ceton Infinitv4. Ihave the PCI version but they now have a USB version. You pop in the cable card and can record 4 shows simultaneously. It might also work with OTA broadcasts but I haven't looked into that. If not, they might have another product with the same features that can be hooked up to an HDTV antenna.

camoxiong · Dec 12, 2011

twilyth said:
If you end up staying with your cable tv company, get a Ceton Infinitv4. Ihave the PCI version but they now have a USB version. You pop in the cable card and can record 4 shows simultaneously. It might also work with OTA broadcasts but I haven't looked into that. If not, they might have another product with the same features that can be hooked up to an HDTV antenna.

ok, thanks

1freedude · Dec 12, 2011

Go here...http://antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

Jstn7477 · Dec 12, 2011

Getting a CableCard is useless unless you want to use your PC as the TV, as the CableCard just lets you access Comcast's digital cable stream without Comcast's set top box. You still have to pay the cable bill like you would with the set top box. Over the air digital is free but you'll only get the local channels (likely not all of them even). If you want decent TV service you'll still have to pay up.

1freedude · Dec 12, 2011

I just got the cheapest cable my area offers...18 bucks a month. I used rabbit ears, worked well in the attic. But, when it gets windy, the transmitter tower shakes and the signal turns to shit (mid atlantic nor easters, t-storms, etc). I still get hi def digital with the cheap service, and no tuner box required. I pay for a reliable local signal, for news and weather. Look into the bare bones basic package they offer and decide if that content will suit you.

And my two cents on the tuner...I have two dual tuners that work well, but don't have them installed. Not even in the htpc. If we want to watch a show or movie, we find a web site that will play it.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Dec 12, 2011

http://www.shawdirect.ca/english/default.asp

Problem solved C:
(Im with these people atm, it's pretty good if you're in canada. If you plan to sign up with them, please tell me because I can get a free month C

camoxiong · Dec 20, 2011

thanks for you guys for telling me

white phantom · Dec 20, 2011

i have a pci dual digital tuner from peak in my pc use it as a main freeview reciever to watch tv on my pc instead of a separate telly. Just a heads up but mate

if you purchase one (like this one i did around 2008), on the box it states it is "HD ready" this however is not the case as some lets say penis of a person...decided they would change the chips required to pick up the hd channels, therefore i am stuck with standard def on a card that was supposedly HD ready when i purchased it

camoxiong · Dec 21, 2011

white phantom said:
i have a pci dual digital tuner from peak in my pc use it as a main freeview reciever to watch tv on my pc instead of a separate telly. Just a heads up but mate

if you purchase one (like this one i did around 2008), on the box it states it is "HD ready" this however is not the case as some lets say penis of a person...decided they would change the chips required to pick up the hd channels, therefore i am stuck with standard def on a card that was supposedly HD ready when i purchased it

ok

System Name	LS Vtec B18B1 Bolt Ons
Processor	AMD Phenom ii 1045t x6 @ 3.5Ghz OC
Motherboard	ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 AM3+
Cooling	CM Hyper 212 EVO Push Pull
Memory	CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) Black 1600Mhz
Video Card(s)	Sapphire 7950 Dual-X
Storage	Samsung EVO 250gb SSD/Samsung 500gb 7200 rpm/WD Cavirar Green 1TB
Display(s)	Acer H236HLbid IPS
Case	NZXT Gamma (Powder Coated Champion White)
Audio Device(s)	Creative Lab SB0460
Power Supply	NZXT HALE82 V2 550W
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit SP1
Benchmark Scores	Vtec

System Name	ODIN
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Motherboard	Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite AX V2
Cooling	Dark Rock 4
Memory	G Skill RipjawsV F4 3600 Mhz C16
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ventus 3X OC LHR
Storage	Crucial 2 TB M.2 SSD :: WD Blue M.2 1TB SSD :: 1 TB WD Black VelociRaptor
Display(s)	Dell S2716DG 27" 144 Hz G-SYNC
Case	Fractal Meshify C
Audio Device(s)	Onboard Audio
Power Supply	Antec HCP 850 80+ Gold
Mouse	Corsair M65
Keyboard	Corsair K70 RGB Lux
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	I don't benchmark.

System Name	LS Vtec B18B1 Bolt Ons
Processor	AMD Phenom ii 1045t x6 @ 3.5Ghz OC
Motherboard	ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 AM3+
Cooling	CM Hyper 212 EVO Push Pull
Memory	CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) Black 1600Mhz
Video Card(s)	Sapphire 7950 Dual-X
Storage	Samsung EVO 250gb SSD/Samsung 500gb 7200 rpm/WD Cavirar Green 1TB
Display(s)	Acer H236HLbid IPS
Case	NZXT Gamma (Powder Coated Champion White)
Audio Device(s)	Creative Lab SB0460
Power Supply	NZXT HALE82 V2 550W
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit SP1
Benchmark Scores	Vtec

System Name	Juliette // HTPC
Processor	Intel i7 9700K // AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z390X-A // ASRock B550 ITX-AC
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12 Black // Stock
Memory	Corsair DDR4 3600 32gb //G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX4070 OC// GTX 1650
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO NVMe 1Tb, Intel 665p Series M.2 2280 1TB // Samsung 1Tb SSD
Display(s)	ASUS VP348QGL 34" Quad HD 3440 x 1440 // 55" LG 4K SK8000 Series
Case	Seasonic SYNCRO Q7// Silverstone Granada GD05
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 // HDMI to Samsung HW-R650 sound bar
Power Supply	Seasonic SYNCRO 750 W // CORSAIR Vengeance 650M
Mouse	Cooler Master MM710 53G
Keyboard	Logitech 920-009300 G512 SE
Software	Windows 10 Pro // Windows 10 Pro

System Name	LS Vtec B18B1 Bolt Ons
Processor	AMD Phenom ii 1045t x6 @ 3.5Ghz OC
Motherboard	ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 AM3+
Cooling	CM Hyper 212 EVO Push Pull
Memory	CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) Black 1600Mhz
Video Card(s)	Sapphire 7950 Dual-X
Storage	Samsung EVO 250gb SSD/Samsung 500gb 7200 rpm/WD Cavirar Green 1TB
Display(s)	Acer H236HLbid IPS
Case	NZXT Gamma (Powder Coated Champion White)
Audio Device(s)	Creative Lab SB0460
Power Supply	NZXT HALE82 V2 550W
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit SP1
Benchmark Scores	Vtec

Processor	Intel I7 4770k
Motherboard	Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
Cooling	NZXT Kraken X60
Memory	Gskill Sniper 2x8GB 2400 MHZ
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GTX 780Ti GHZ Edition
Storage	Samsung 240 Pro 256 GB
Display(s)	Asus PB287
Case	NZXT Phantom 840
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Core 3d on Motherboard
Power Supply	Corsair HX750
Software	Win 7 Pro

Processor	Xeon x5650
Motherboard	SABERTOOTH X58
Cooling	Fans
Memory	24 GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card(s)	GTX 1060 3GB
Storage	small ssd
Display(s)	Dell 2001F, BenQ short throw
Case	Lian Li
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	X750
Software	Mint 19.3, Win 10
Benchmark Scores	not so fast...

System Name	Awesomesauce 4.3 \| Laptop (MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro-023)
Processor	Intel Core i7-5820K 4.16GHz 1.28v/3GHz 1.05v uncore \| Intel Core i7-6700HQ @ 3.1GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-X99-UD5 WiFi LGA2011-v3\| Stock
Cooling	Corsair H100i v2 w/ 2x EK Vardar F4-120ER + various 120/140mm case fans \| Stock
Memory	G.Skill RJ-4 16GB DDR4-2666 CL15 quad channel \| 12GB DDR4-2133
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX 1080 Ti Hybrid SC2 11GB @ 2012/5151 boost \| NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB +200/+500 + Intel 530
Storage	Samsung 840 EVO 500GB + Seagate 3TB 7200RPM + others \| Kingston 256GB M.2 SATA + 1TB 7200RPM
Display(s)	Acer G257HU 1440p 60Hz AH-IPS 4ms \| 17.3" 1920*1080 60Hz wide angle TN notebook panel
Case	Fractal Design Define XL R2 \| MSI
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster Z \| Realtek with quad stereo speakers and subwoofer
Power Supply	Corsair HX850i Platinum \| 19.5v 180w Delta brick
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64 \| Windows 10 Home x64

System Name	The SwagMachine / The Sister
Processor	Core i5 3570K @5.2ghz 1.3V/ 1100T
Motherboard	ASUS P8Z77-V / ASUS M5A99X EVO
Cooling	Phanteks PH TC14PE / Corsair H40
Memory	M379B5273DH0-YK0 2X4GB + PVI316G213C1QK 2X4GB / 2x4GB Patriot 2133
Video Card(s)	PNY 780Ti /Windforce 7950
Storage	2xSamsung 840 EVO 250gb+WD10EZEX + WD30EZRX/ 1x WD1500 Black
Display(s)	AOC Q2963PM+Acer S200HL / Acer S200L+ LG 22LD350
Case	Fractal Define R4 / NZXT Trinity
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar DG / Asus Xonar DG
Power Supply	Seasonic 750X / ROSEWILL RG630-S12 630W R
Mouse	Razer Deathadder Chroma / Roccat Kone+
Keyboard	Razer Blackwidow 2013 Stealth / Roccat Isku
Software	Windows 8.1 Pro / Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores	one time I scored a 3 on 3dmark 11

System Name	White Phantom
Processor	i5 2500K @ 4.4ghz = 1.360-1.368 vcore
Motherboard	asrock p67 pro (not pro3)
Cooling	prolimatech megahalem with 2x nocuta in push pull (thanks to the 54thvoid) ;) , stock phantom fans
Memory	16gb Kingston hyper x ddr3 1600mhz
Video Card(s)	Asus strix 970 ocd 1.5ghz core
Storage	240gb ssd , 1tb Western digital Black, western digital 320gb
Display(s)	samsung syncmaster p2450 via DVI @1080p 60hz
Case	White and blue NZXT Phantom (carbon fibred sides/door)
Audio Device(s)	onboard , philips AMBX pro speakers 80watts rms
Power Supply	Xfx750
Mouse	Rat 3
Keyboard	Act cheapo "gaming"
Software	windows 10
Benchmark Scores	world record for most amount of times machine has pissed me off ....