Computer TV tuner devices work best if your television has video inputs. Older televisions may only have an input for cable. More recent TVs will include RCA and S-Video inputs. Newer HDTVs will have a wide variety of input options. If your TV only has a cable input, you can still use a TV tuner with your computer, but you won’t be able to view programs recorded to your computer on your television. If this feature is important to you, consider upgrading your television to a newer HDTV model.
To record television programs on a computer, you need both a TV tuner and enough hard drive storage available to accommodate the large files created by the video recording software. The best solution to expand disk space on your computer is to purchase an external hard drive that plugs into your computer’s USB port. Also consider what kind of video output your computer has. While laptops normally include video outputs, older desktop models may not. In order to connect your computer to your television, both will need the same kind of connector. RCA and S-Video are the two most popular inputs. Newer computers may feature an HDMI digital video port. Another advantage of a laptop computer is the ease with which it can be moved. No doubt you may need your computer for something other than recording television programs. Furthermore, the TV programs you record on your laptop can be viewed wherever you go.
The TV tuner will allow you to receive TV programs through a normal broadcast antenna or cable, and record these programs onto your computer as digital files. The most popular models simply plug into your computer’s USB port. Once connected, many TV tuners include software to manage and schedule what programs you want to record and when. The software provides an easier to use interface than the awkward methods VCRs used to program recording functions. TV tuners can record programming from HDTV broadcast channels or cable television. Using a computer TV tuner, you can watch, pause, and record live television. Depending on your cable connection, you may also record one program while watching another
To get your newly computerized entertainment center functioning, you will need to first plug your antenna or cable into the TV tuner, then plug the TV tuner into your computer. Lastly, plug your computer into your television.