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By Matthews, David
A simple TV card could end arguments over what to watch, says Dr David Matthews
In a previous issue (GP, 14 April) I looked at the possibility of watching TV on the move using the Cinergy Hybrid USB tuner. Ultimately, programme quality with the USB tuner depended on the signal you could capture with the tiny aerial. Now, for a more robust solution, we examine the options for your home - or work - PC.
You cannot have failed to notice the media revolution large flat- screen TVs, highdefinition TV, media centre PCs with DVD and remote control, media streaming, iTunes and so on.
The number of TV channels available to the average household grows continually. More channels equal more choice, and more choice inevitably means more arguments: should it be Friends, Big Brother, the news or Mega-Machines!
With video and DVD recorders you can always watch one channel while recording another. However, another option is to watch one of the free digital channels on your computer.
Combined solution
My daughter was due to start university and was taking her PC with her. 'What about a TV/DVD unit for Uni?' she enquired.
'Play DVDs on your PC and I'll install aTV card to give you 30+ channels of TV and digital radio,' was my response. Problem sorted.
Computer TV cards and USB devices range in price from 20 upwards. More money often buys more features. Low-end cards are analogue and only provide terrestrial TV channels. They might also have an FM radio.
You pay more for digital technology. Typical features of digital video broadcast (DVB) cards will be digital terrestrial TV coverage similar to a settop 'digibox'. This means over 30 channels of TV and numerous digital television broadcasting (DTB) radio stations. All units require a good aerial so forget the bent coat hanger.
The beauty of an external USBTV unit is that you don't need to open up your PC to fit it, making it ideal for use with a laptop. Internal devices are peripheral component interface (PCI) cards that require physical installation inside the PC. All devices come with a CD-ROM containing drivers and software to watch the TV.
Typical features include time shifting, scheduled recording and multi-channel preview (see box. below).
PCI cards
Some cards have S-Video and Audio-In, allowing collection from DVD players and camcorders. For convenience, most have remote control with infrared receiver.
Installation is straightforward for USB devices. Simply plug into a USB port. For PCI internal devices, open the PC, insert the card into a vacant PCI slot, close the PC, connect the aerial and remote receiver and fire up your PC. Next, pop in the CD-ROM and install the drivers and software. After a restart, start up the TV software and it will autoscan to locate all available channels.
Image quality is fantastic, and it scales well from a small window to the full screen.
I have now installed a number of different cards without problems.
You can get dual-tuner cards that allow you to record one programme while watching another. I have also installed two cards in the same PC but I found this caused problems.
Specification
Most modern PCs and laptops have enough power and specification for these devices. It is a good idea to check on the manufacturers' website for PC requirements before purchase.
From my experience. I would recommend at least a 2GHz processor (1.6 GHz for a laptop) and 512MB or RAM because TV cards consume a lot of processing power, plus a large hard disk; recording uses as much as 2GB per hour.
One last thing - you will need a TV licence.
So, you can turn your PC into a digital TV. radio and recorder simply and cheaply - an easy way to have a lot of fun.
Typical features from a TV card
Time shifting: if you are interrupted, start recording and when ready, go back to the PC and click play to watch the programme from where you stopped it. Meanwhile, the PC continues to record the programme as you watch.
Scheduled recording: if you are going to miss a programme, set the personal video recorder and the software will record the programme to hard disk. Recording uses compression to save hard disk space.
Still images: take a snapshot of the screen.
Multi-channel preview: fills the screen with lots of small windows of live TV; click on one to choose a programme.
Picture in picture: watch TV in a small window on top of whatever other program you're using at the time.
The beauty of an external USB TV unit is that you don't need to open up your PC - ideal for use with a laptop
* Dr Matthews is a GP in Thames Ditton, Surrey
Copyright Haymarket Business Publications Ltd. May 5, 2006
(c) 2006 GP. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
