Watching Fios TV on a PC

[Fis]

I just got Fios cable TV and am stunned to learn that getting the signal onto a PC is not that easy. I ordered a separate SD cable box just for my office. I'm now paying $5.99/month for this box, but I don't have a TV in my office -- just a computer. I assumed I'd be able to watch TV on my PC using a tuner card. I was advised that the best tuner card was the WinTV-HVR, so I picked one of those up.

Now I am about to set it up and I read that it will only work with the basic local channels --not all of the channels I'm paying for. Is this true?!?. Heck - I have a digital antenna I can use for local channels, so why am I paying for this cable box?

I am hoping that somebody here can shed a little light on how do get this to work, or what I need to buy to get it to work. Thanks.

 

[mnewsham]

All channels that aren't local are encrypted (that's why you have to pay). Something like this and a CableCARD from verizon (you must rent one) is the best think for trying to do this. But for that price you might as well buy a new tv.

 

[taltamir]

forget the PC, just plug your cable box directly to the monitor, there is an "input change" (most likely) button on your monitor, if there isn't, get a video switch (or KVM switch and don't plug keyboard and mouse via it)... just switch from displaying your PC's output to displaying the top box.

Capture cards are for CAPTURING, that is, recording shows into a digital format. And with the industry looking for scapegoats they are doing everything in their power to keep it illegal.

 

[flexcore]

Check out this thread for a start. Cable card is a great idea if you pay for cable.