By adding a USB TV tuner (or TV tuner card) to your laptop or PC you can watch and record TV on your computer. USB TV tuners are compatible with over the air broadcasts, cable TV and satellite TV. Tuners are available that are compatible with analog, digital and high definition signals. Currently, HDTV signals that USB TV tuners are compatible with are from over the air signals.
You can record shows from any source (over the air, cable, satellite) and in any quality (analog, digital, Clear QAM cable, and high definition) on a computer hard drive using a USB tuner and Windows Media Center (free with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7) or another software program.
Cable TV
To watch cable TV with a USB TV tuner you must be capable TV subscriber and the coaxial cable must be connected to the tuner.
All USB TV tuners are compatible with analog cable TV and most tuners are compatible with digital cable signals. Some tuners are capable of receiving “unencrypted” Clear QAM digital cable signals. Clear QAM channels typically consist of the channels that come with “basic cable”. A set top box is not required to watch Clear QAM channels, just connect the coaxial directly from the wall to the tuner. These are the same channels that you can watch on a TV with out having a set top box.
USB TV tuners are compatible with premium cable TV channels as long as you are subscriber for a particular channel. This includes channels included in upgraded cable packages or bundles as well as movie channels such as HBO and Showtime and Pay Per View events and packages such as the MLB package or NFL ticket. To watch premium channels you must connect the coaxial cable from the wall to a set top box and then connect the box to the TV tuner.
Satellite TV
You can watch satellite TV with USB TV tuner. Requirements and capabilities are similar to those for cable TV.
Over the air TV
USB TV tuners are compatible with analog, digital and ATSC (hi def) over the air TV signals. Most, but not all, tuners are capable receiving HD signals and some, like the Hauppauge 950Q, are even capable of 1080i so check the specs on a tuner if you want to watch HDTV to be sure you get one that is compatible with what you want to watch. Over the air programming is limited, when compared to cable and satellite, but all over the air channels are now broadcast in digital
Over the air picture quality is a function of the signal strength of the particular broadcast and since each station is broadcast from a different antenna, picture quality will vary each channel. To watch over the air signals you must have an antenna and be in range of the signal.
Some USB TV tuners have a built in antenna but most come with a small portable antenna. The included antennas are generally good if you live within 10-20 miles of the broadcast antenna. Reception is also affected by where the antenna is located (i.e, second floor near a window is better than in a basement). If you plan to watch a lot of over the air channels an upgraded antenna, which are available for under $50, is recommended.
See the post on watching over the air signals with a USB TV tuner for more information and for resources to determine with digital and HD channels are available in your area and help determining if you need an upgraded antenna.
Note about watching HD signals
The monitor (computer or television) you watch the signal on must have a resolution of at least 720p (ideally 1080i or 1080P) to show the benefit of a high resolution signal.
To watch cable or satellite channels you have to connect the cable from the satellite or cable signal to the tuner. To watch premium channels such as HBO you must subscribe to these channels through your cable or satellite provider and will need a cable or satellite converter box and connect a cable from the box to the laptop TV tuner.
