TV-Tuner Substitute

[GimpyFuzznut]

I recently moved my computer into my bedroom and want to setup a TV signal on my computer so I can watch while in bed or doing work or whatever. The deal is I have digital cable that requires a set-top box. I've looked into the alternatives and here in Montreal, OTA HD is scarce (until Vermont gets their crap together and puts up some freaking antennae) and unencrypted QAM is just a pipe dream. Unfortunately my current monitor doesn't have a svideo input so the easiest solution is ruled out.

So for now, I was going to pick up an extra set-top box for 30 bucks. Would I be able to plug it into svideo input and use some sort of software for watch TV on my PC live or is this video input only good for capture? I would still tune the channels on the STB (not a problem I guess). Any software that would make this work easy or am I better off picking up a dedicated tuner card? My video card is a ATi x800.


Thanks!

 

[Peter]

Digital cable wouldn't require a set top box if the US TV suppliers got their act together ... anyway, any old PCI TV card will get you the SVideo input you desire, and so do graphics cards with "VIVO" feature.

 

[GimpyFuzznut]

Canadian TV companies are even worse. No sight of Cablecard anywhere in our future. I'm going to try this with the regular VIVO of the card and see how well it works. Any idea on the software that will let me view the Svideo input?

Found an ATI TV Wonder PRO with remote for 70 bucks CDN so I might try using that instead just so I can get MCE functionality.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: GimpyFuzznut
Canadian TV companies are even worse. No sight of Cablecard anywhere in our future. I'm going to try this with the regular VIVO of the card and see how well it works. Any idea on the software that will let me view the Svideo input?

Found an ATI TV Wonder PRO with remote for 70 bucks CDN so I might try using that instead just so I can get MCE functionality.

It should come with software that lets you watch or record the feed.

You can also get IR blasters that will enable the PC to change channels on the STB (useful if you want to set up automated recording, etc.)