Free HDTV on Your PC - Comments Page 1

Bob, interesting article. What is really a shame is that your attention is most often directed at PC users. For us Mac fans - the numbers are increasing, they are of little value. Watching TV on a a Mac has been around for if I recall correctly at least a couple of years. How about broadening your audience by including Mac information.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I do try to include Mac-specific info when I can, but the reality is that 9 out of 10 computers still run Windows. When I was researching the article, I couldn't find an HDTV tuner for Macs. But here is one: http://www.cwol.com/pc-tv/tvmini-hd-miglia-mac.htm

In your article on H.D.T.V. you should mention that the government is going to issue a $40 credit for one t.v. in your household. You can only use it to buy an adapter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, that's for the analog to digital converter. I mentioned that in the "Goodbye to Analog TV" article. See http://askbobrankin.com/goodbye_to_analog_tv.html

Bob, My pc (winxp pro (sp2)) is connected via DVI=>HDMI to a 42" tv set, capable of showing HDTV. Can I transfer HDTV to my tv set through my pc?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, if you have an HD tuner, and your TV is the monitor, it should work.

Are there any of these (USB particularly) which can take an input via an appropriate hard connection (HDMI, ASI, other); allowing the computer / monitor to double as an HD monitor?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I think you're on the wrong track. Why not just connect the video-out from the back of your TV to a computer monitor? You might need an HDMI to DVI converter, but I think it should work.

1. A *slight* correction to your article not all analog signals will be going bye-bye the day after the Superbowl, in 2009. All "Full Power" US TV stations must switch to DTV but there are 2,100 lower power TV stations that are, for now, exempt. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html

2. In terms of the HDTV PC cards, keep in mind that antennas are critical. Many stations under DTV have had their actual (RF) frequency relocated to the UHF band. www.antennaweb.org can tell you what antenna that you need for your address. Simple whips and/or VHF rabbit ears may not produce good results, esp. if you are more than 20 miles from the transmitter.

And in Canada........?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would assume HDTV works the same in Canada as it does in the USA. Any HD tuner should work fine in Canada. Unless you're talking about the switch from analog to digital... If so, I haven't heard anything about Canada going all-digital for TV. Check with the Canadian CRTC for info on that:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/welcome.htm

Hello Bob! A few months ago, I purchased a tv tuner, I installed it my cpu, and had cable tv. My house tv's are Directtv. I loved that pctv more than life itself, it was grand, and I could record shows on it as well. I had a modem problem, and the guy came out to replace the modem, and told me I was stealing cable, even though I pay for it on my computer. He then put something on the green box outside, and that was the end of my pctv, now it doesn't work anymore, I am heartbroken, and wondered what I can do to again see tv on my pc. What do you think? Thanks Bob, and you have the BEST newsletter out there.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The cable company should treat your PC+TV tuner as just another television set. Some do charge per TV, so that may be the problem. If not, complain to the cable company and tell them they are charging you for service you cannot receive.

Bob have you found out if this is to good to be true? the 2008 elite edition which claim you get 3000 Stations for a small one-time fee!

EDITOR'S NOTE: YES... it's a nasty scam. Avoid it like the plague.

My wife was told that we need to buy two converter boxes for our analog TV. One for the TV and the othrt for our DVD/VCR player conected to the same TV. Is this true?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't think so. The box converts the digital TV signal from the air to an analog signal that your TV can understand. You'll put the converter on the line that comes FROM the antenna, regardless of whether it plugs into the TV or the DVD/VCR. Your video player will continue to send an analog signal to the TV.

I have no questions at this time. But I do want to say, I LOVE your website!

Hi, How many channels can you get from a converter?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't see why the answer wouldn't be "all of them."

One more question for you...Do you have to have an Internet connection for this to work? Like at the airport, where they charge for service, can you watch TV for free?

EDITOR'S NOTE: No Internet connection required! It's just over-the-air broadcasting.

How do I record a digital program on an analog VCR?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I dohn't think it's even something you need to think about. Just plug the output of your TV into your VCR and press record. The digital-to-analog conversion will be done by the VCR.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I assume you already have a working TV. Why not get the converter and antenna and use that to get the over-the-air signal on your already-paid-for big-screen TV instead of trying to watch something on a tiny computer monitor?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Well, yes... you are assuming that there is a big-screen TV in the room. HDTV on PC lets you watch TV anywhere you can take your laptop.

Is there any particular reason you offer to use these non free DVD recording programs? (Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 and Nero 7 Ultra Edition)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Is there any reason you didn't mention comparable free alternatives? :-)

If Mark has a separate converter for the DVD/VCR and the TV, he can watch one channel while recording another. If he has only one converter, he can only record the signal he's watching.

Do we have to install a tuner for a samsung 375 in order to record? we have a digital flat screen tv, not being very electronically savvy I am at a loss as to what I need and why.

If you just purchased a computer with a built in HDTV Tuner, can you go right ahead and start getting HDTV or is there something else you need to purchase or download?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You'll need some sort of software that acts as a TV Tuner interface, to switch channels, etc. If you have a "Media PC" then Windows Media Player *might* do that, not sure. Something like SageTV will do the job.