topic Re: TV ON PC in PCs & Accessories

TV ON PC

sue13 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:20:42 GMT

I have heard that it is possible to watch tv on your pc. Is this true?

Re: TV ON PC

Blencogo — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:30:11 GMT

Hi Sue and welcome to Club Vaio.

You will need one of these Please Click Here

This one does both normal and Freeview channels. If you just want Freeview it will be cheaper at about £25.

It comes with software that will allow you to record TV programs on your hard disc as well as watch TV live.

Re: TV ON PC

seb21__ — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:48:26 GMT

Ewww, this Freecom device is a pain. I did use one of these.
Anyway, the cardbus is probably the best way to add a TV card to a notebook. Better than the USB port.

example

Re: TV ON PC

MattWilson — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:52:16 GMT

I got the digital one and it works perfectly (well at least when the vista drivers were released!)

Re: TV ON PC

sue13 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:31:43 GMT

Hi
Thanks for your help - I thought that because the 301 comes with a built in tv tuner that I wouldn't need anything else - I am going to need a lot of advice!
Sue

Re: TV ON PC

sue13 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:35:21 GMT

Oh - I just thought - there was a thing that looks like an aerial . It is about 5 inches long and it has a wire that has a bolt thing with a thread on it - do you know what this is and what to do with it?

Re: TV ON PC

Blencogo — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:08:30 GMT

Whoaaaaaaaaaa!

Let's start again Sue. What model Vaio do you have?

It sounds like a XL301. You don't need another tuner if you already have one! The little ariel sounds like the wireless LAN ariel to connect wirelessly to other equiplent/internet.

You need a normal TV ariel to plug into the Vaio and you need a HDMI cable from the Vaio to your TV.

Re: TV ON PC

minksy — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:13:33 GMT

As a newbie owner of a VAIO VGN-C1S with Windows XP MCE, I am shopping around for a digital tv tuner.

What should I be looking out for?

Do I need to worry about processor speed?

Should I buy something specifically targeted for use with MCE, such as an upgrade package with remote control? I was wondering about this as I dont want to clutter the laptop with loads of (useless) programs as I've made that mistake before!

There are so many more choices than I first thought!! I would just like a good, easy to use tuner. [:">]

Re: TV ON PC

MattWilson — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:46:01 GMT

Just have a look at these and see which one you fancy.

They are all basically the same really. Usually all come with a remote and MCE does all the channel finding leg work for you.

Re: TV ON PC

millsy417 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:17:45 GMT

hi it millsy yes its possible a little pain but easyly done, i got mine working as im a sky enginer lol

Re: TV ON PC

sue13 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 16:52:37 GMT

OH! Yes it is a 301 - Um.... what is an HDMI cable? My Tv is 34 feet from my Vaio if I run the cable along the walls or about 18 feet as the crow flies - can I get cable that long? I still am not sure where the aerial goes - some instructions in the packaging would have really helped!
Sue

Re: TV ON PC

sue13 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 16:54:57 GMT

And another thing - my TV is a Samsung and I have heard that there are issues connecting a Samsung to Vaio - is that true?

Re: TV ON PC

PMed — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:04:47 GMT

You may watch tv on your pc, though this depends on whether it is built in or not. If not you may by freeview cards for pcmcia sockets or usb adaptors. These are available from many places such as maplin electronics (www.maplin.co.uk).

Re: TV ON PC

MattWilson — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:10:16 GMT

And another thing - my TV is a Samsung and I have heard that there are issues connecting a Samsung to Vaio - is that true?

There are some issues with VAIO and Samsung but give it a go because you may be one of the lucky few that manage it.

Re: TV ON PC

MattWilson — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:14:52 GMT

OH! Yes it is a 301 -  Um.... what is an HDMI cable? My Tv is 34 feet from my Vaio if I run the cable along the walls or about 18 feet as the crow flies - can I get cable that long? I still am not sure where the aerial goes - some instructions in the packaging would have really helped!
Sue

This might be what you are looking for. Hopefully it is just long enough and incredibly cheap. (Usually about £10 a metre).

Re: TV ON PC

Blencogo — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:54:38 GMT

Sue,

Download your User Guide by clicking here: -

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Manuals/Desktops/XL3/XL3_H_EN.pdf

It will take a little while to download.

How do you use the computer at the moment? It is designed to sit under your TV!

Re: TV ON PC

sue13 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:58:57 GMT

Well, I work from home so I need to use Office progs and I need to be based at a desk because of all the paperwork involved. I have a Flatron screen and have the CPU under the desk and all of this is facing away from and diagonally opposite, in the room, to the TV. I thought I would be able to get TV on the screen, which is on my desk.
I can put the CPU under TV. The modem will reach - but the screen needs to be pluged into the CPU and it only has short leads so I couldn't then use it at my desk. If I did get longer leads - would the wireless key board work, so far and facing away from, the CPU? Ditto the wirless mouse - Id be facing in the wron direction unless I got extended wires all over the place. Did I buy the wrong computer?
Sue

Re: TV ON PC

MattWilson — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:50:07 GMT

Well, I work from home so I need to use Office progs and I need to be based at a desk because of all the paperwork involved. I have a Flatron screen and have the CPU under the desk and all of this is facing away from and diagonally opposite, in the room, to the TV. I thought I would be able to get TV on the screen, which is on my desk.
I can put the CPU under TV. The modem will reach - but the screen needs to be pluged into the CPU and it only has short leads so I couldn't then use it at my desk. If I did get longer leads - would the wireless key board work, so far and facing away from, the CPU? Ditto the wirless mouse - Id be facing in the wron direction unless I got extended wires all over the place. Did I buy the wrong computer?
Sue

You can get the TV to show on your desk screen just by using the tuner.

A wireless mouse and keyboard will work upto about 10M and it doesn't matter which direction it is because it transmits the signal in a radial field.