You can use a USB TV tuner to transfer VHS video tapes from a VCR to your computer very easily. Once the videos have been copied to your computer you can burn them to a DVD using a DVD burner. Even if you never burn them to a DVD it is still a good idea to transfer VHS tapes to a computer to preserve them. VHS tape quality degrades over time. DVD’s have approximately a 100 year life expectancy.

You can convert VHS to DVD in a number of ways, including:

1. Transfer VHS tapes to a computer and then burn a DVD
2. Connect your VCR to a DVD recorder
3. Pay a service to do it for you

All of the above methods work just fine. The best choice depends on the equipment you already have, the number of VHS tapes you want to convert, how much editing you would like to do before recording them to DVD, your technical skills and your budget.

Transfer VHS tapes to a computer

Converting your VHS tapes to a computer file is by far the best option. Once the analog video has been converted to digital its is saved on the computer’s hard drive as a video file (mpeg, avi,wmv, .mov). Now that the video is digital you can edit it to create a much better video. You can cut out boring parts (or parts where someone left the lens cap on the camcorder while filming), combine parts of different tapes into the same movie, add dates and titles (great for birthdays, vacations, etc.), improve the video and audio quality, add special effects and add music or other audio. When you are done editing you can keep the movie on your hard drive or burn a copy of it to a DVD.

There a number of free video editing software programs available that are easy to use and let you create a professional looking DVD with a menu to select scenes, add text, add photos, add music, etc. Windows Movie Maker comes free with Windows computers and iMovie comes with Apple computers. If you want to create spectacular professional quality DVD movies the top video editing software programs are Sony Vegas for Windows operating system and Final Cut for Mac.

Below is a video showing how to import and edit a video using Windows Movie Maker

Transferring the video to your computer can use a lot hard disc space, depending on the quality you record the the videos at. The highest quality can require up to 14GB or hard disc space per hour of video. If you plan to store a copy of the videos on your hard drive and you have a lot of movies you may want to consider adding an external hard drive. You can get a TB hard drive for close to $50 on Amazon.

VHS tapes are recorded in analog and must be converted to digital in order to be recorded on a computer or DVD. You can convert analog video to digital and transfer it to a computer in a number wasy.

Video cards

Many new video cards that have coaxial, composite (RCA), S-Video, component or hdmi inputs. If have a newer computer and or your video card with one of these inputs you can connect your VCR directly to your computer. The video card acts as the analog to digital converter. You can use video editing software to import the video from the VCR to your computer.

USB TV Tuner

Another reason why USB TV tuners are such a great gadget is that they are compatible with sources other than TV signals. They can be used as a video capture device to transfer your old VHS tapes to your computer. All USB tuners accept a coaxial inputs, many accept composite (RCA) cable inputs and some accept S-Video inputs. To transfer a VHS tape to a computer you connect either a coaxial (the wire that connects your TV or cable box to your cable jack, antenna or satellite dish), composite (the wire with red, white and yellow plugs) or S-Video cable from your VCR to the USB TV tuner which plugs into a USB port on your computer.

The USB TV tuner will convert the analog video from the VCR to digital. You will need a software program or video editing program to record the video on your hard drive.

Video capture devices

There are numerous video capture devices and video capture cards on the market. These are essentially the same as USB TV tuner but without the TV tuner technology. Most come with some video editing software and probably have better instructions for transferring VHS to DVD because that is all they are designed to do. However, the video editing software is much better than free editing software and they cost about the same as USB TV tuner.

If you want to transfer VHS tapes to DVD yourself but are intimidated by the process, a video capture device is a good option. One of the best is Easy VHS to DVD by Roxio. Roxio is a trusted brand and this product is very solid. You can read about other video capture devices at Amazon.

If you are going to buy video capture device and you have at least a little bit of computer knowledge you might as well get a USB TV tuner instead. When you are done transferring your VHS tapes to your computer you can use the tuner to watch and record TV on your computer. USB TV tuners are super easy to install and set up so why not turn your computer into an HDTV and a DVR.

Camcorders

If you have a digital camcorder you can use the camcorder to convert the analog video from a VCR to digital so it can be recorded on a computer. An analog camcorder won’t work for this. Basically, you plug the VCR into the camcorder and then plug the camcorder into your computer. The video below does a pretty good job of explaining how to do it.

DVD recorders

If you already have a DVD recorder then you can use this method without having to purchase anything additional. Simply connect your VCR to your DVD recorder, push play on the VCR and record on the DVD player. The biggest drawback to this method is that what is on the VHS tape is exactly what gets recorded on the DVD. You can’t create an index so you can choose the scene you want to start at, cut boring parts out, combine bits of several tapes into a montage, add still photos, improve the quality, add dates and titles, music or other audio, etc.

VHS to DVD services

There are many services out there that will convert VHS tapes to DVD for you. There are online services, local professional video editors and retailers like Costco and Walmart that will convert VHS videos to DVD. All of these services create a very professional product (most will even create a case with pictures, titles, etc. for the DVD) but they can get expensive if you have very many tapes to convert ($10 per tape).

If you want a customized DVD movie your best bet is to find a local video editor you can work with. This is especially helpful if you want to combine parts from several tapes into one movie, add a lot of special effects or enhance the audio or video.

iMemories will also convert film in various formats (8mm video, 8mm film, Hi8, Super 8, 16mm and MiniDV) to DVD as well as pictures, slides and negatives. They also offer online storage for your movies making it easy to share with others, they will record your videos on a USB stick drive or portable hard drive, they can produce professional music videos and can even repair damaged VHS tapes. They offer two levels of service. One where they convert your tapes to digital format and then you edit and create your own movies and one where they do all the work. Prices for self edited versions start at about $10 tape and $20 if they create the movie.

You can learn more at iMemories.com

The SiliconDust HD Homerun is similar to USB TV tuners in that it allows you to watch over the air and cable or satellite TV on your computer but it works differently and that is what makes this the BEST COMPUTER TV TUNER ON THE MARKET.

The SiliconDust HD Homerun is a network based tuner. Rather than plugging into a computer, this tuner connects to your home network and can used by all computers on your home network to watch live or recorded TV. This is one of those that products that once you have it you will wonder how you ever did without it or why you used a different tuner, especially for the price. It really is THAT GOOD.

Newest model

SiliconDust HD Homerun HDHR3 is the newest model and was released in March 2011. There were minor changes to the previous model, including changing the color from black to white (the Mac version remains white) and the shape – it now has a sleeker appearance.

One noticeable change is the HDHR3 has one coaxial input whereas the previous version had two. With two inputs you could connect one to a cable TV source and the other to an over the air source. I guess SiliconDust felt that not many people used this feature and they are probably correct. If it is important to you, you can probably find previous versions still for sale. Users have reported improved tuner performance with the HDHR3.

Product highlights

• Watch, pause, rewind and record live TV or watch previously recorded programing
• Accessible by any network enabled device
• Dual tuners
• Full HD compatible (up to 1080i)
• Compatible with Windows, Mac & Linux
• Compatible with over the air HD signals
• Compatible with Clear QAM signals (unencrypted cable channels)

Devices it works with

• Any computer on your home network
• Any TV connected a Media Center extender… such as an XBox 360
• Apple iPhone and iPad (requires the EyeTV app)
• Projectors
• Works over wired or wireless networks

How it works

The SiliconDust HD Homerun sits between your TV signal (over the air (ATSC) or unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM) television signal) and your home network. Once you install the software on a computer, you can easily access the tuner to watch, pause or record live TV on that computer.

Although the SiliconDust HD Homerun works over wired and wireless networks performance is best over a wired network as you performance will not be affected by other wireless network traffic like your kids downloading iTunes while you watching the game. If you want to use a wireless network, a wireless N router (under $100 at Amazon) provides the best performance.

If your signal is weak you may need to boost it with a powered amplifier. They cost about $30 at Amazon. If you install more than one HD Homerun you will almost certainly need an amplifier due to signal degradation from splitting for 4+ tuners. Some users have said the HD Homerun’s tuner is less sensitive (meaning it has a harder time recognizing available signals) than other tuners or TV’s in their house but after adding an amplifier that it was the best tuner in their house.

Download the SiliconDust HD Homerun product information flyer here.

The benefits of dual tuners

One of the limitations of typical USB tuners and PCI tuner cards is they only have one tuner. This is the biggest difference between typical tuners and a DVR.

The dual tuners in the SiliconDust HD Homerun allow you to:

• Watch live TV while recording another channel
• Record two channels simultaneously
• Watch two channels simultaneously on different computers
• Use one tuner for over the air signals and one for cable signals

If you want or need more tuners just add additional units to your network.
NOTE: Some other tuners have dual tuners, but unless they are powered, performance is often lacking and the cost is comparable to the SiliconDust HD Homerun but without all the extras of the HDHomerun.

What others say about the SiliconDust HD HomeRun

When they say this box is easy to install and set up, “they” aren’t kidding! Astonishing simple to get rolling and connected to Windows Media Center……THANK YOU for a phenom of a product at a super price point. – J. Cochinni from Amazon.com

I have been using this device for over a year now and feel safe suggesting that is a great product for OTA recording via Windows Media Center. I tried a TV tuner card, but that didn’t work with my hardware…… – M. Frank from Amazon.com

HD Homerun is great. The ease to which it was setup and connect via any computer in the house was nice. Works great with Media Center and Myth. I was surprised at how easy it was to setup with both Media Center and Myth. I have a 2nd one on order already so I can record up to 4 shows simultaneously I hope. – Cristov from Amazon.com

If you have always envisioned cutting the cord to expensive cable or satellite TV services this is the ticket you have been waiting for. We have now spent the past month without any of those expensive bills and haven’t regretted it for a moment……It should be mentioned the the signal sent to the TV is of a far higher quality that that associated with Netflix or ESPN3 streaming via Xbox Live. It appears to be pure HD broadcasting,(720p or 1080i) regardless of whether its live TV or recorded. We did try the streaming using a Wireless G router and that would occasionally stumble or stutter. We then tried it with a Wireless N router is it worked flawlessly. We were truly impressed! I would highly recommend the HD Homerun to anyone interested in cutting the Cable or Satellite cord. – carplips from Amazon.com

We cannot say enough about this product. It’s better than the cards you install into the boxes, both by price and easy of scaling. – R. Poulton from Amazon.com

I own three of these. I am very pleased with them. Outstanding sound and video clarity. They connected very easily to my Windows Media Center Machines (Windows 7 and Vista). – J. Richards from Amazon.com

Read more reviews of the HDHR3 and the previous HD Homerun at Amazon.

Additional notes

If you are curious what channels are available in your area that you can watch on the SiliconDust HD Homerun checkout SiliconDust’s channel guide.

Since the SiliconDust HD Homerun works over your home network, its performance is dependent on your network and factors such as how much other traffic is on the network and its speed (a Wireless N router is optimal for wireless networks).

Because it is so easy to record all your favorite TV shows and you can watch recorded shows from any computer or TV (if network enabled) in your house you may find yourself recording a lot of TV. You may also want to start a digital movie library since you can now watch movies anywhere in the house. Recording shows in Hi-Def can use up 5GB per half-hour so you can fill up a hard drive pretty quick. To be sure you have enough room to record any show or movie you want and keep it as long as you want you may want to get an external hard drive.

Compatible with the following Media software programs

• Windows Media Center
• Myth TV – DVR for Linux
• Elgato Eye – DVR for Mac
• SnapStream Beyond TV – DVR for Windows
• SageTV – DVR forWindows, Linux & Mac
• MediaPortal – DVR for Windows
• VLC
• TSReader

Countries it is known to work in

• Australia
• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• United States

Requirements

• Dual core processor recommended for HD playback
• 1 GB of RAM (2 GB if you are using with a Mac)
• An antenna if you want to watch over the air signals (the Terk Flat Omni Directional antenna is a great indoor antenna)

Pros

• Great picture and sound quality
• Crisp switching between channels
• Comes with software that shows the signal strength in bars for all channels so you can fine tune your antenna position
• Easy installation – no opening your computer case to install it
• Easy set up

Cons

• Not portable like a USB TV tuner
• Does not work with encrypted cable or satellite channels (premium channels)

Summary

The SiliconDust HD Homerun beats out any other TV tuner for computers on a number of fronts including: picture and sound quality, value, functionality and coolness factor – any computer in your house becomes an HDTV and a DVR. This is truly the future of TV, having one tuner in your house that lets you stream live and recorded to TV to any network enabled device – computer, TV, iPhone and iPad.

Best Place to Buy the SiliconDust HD Homerun

• Amazon has the best prices, great return policy and free shipping.

SiliconDust HD HomeRun Reviews

SiliconDust HD HomeRun for Mac – using Elgato Eye TV
(including iPhone app)

Installing the SiliconDust HD Homerun

In January 2009, Avid, makers of the Pinnacle line of TV tuners for personal computers sold that line of business to Hauppauge. Hauppauge now markets Pinnacle tuner products under the name PCTV separate from its Hauppauge line USB TV tuners.

Pinnacle TV tuner reviews are now located at PCTV USB TV tuner review.

In January 2009, Hauppauge (see Hauppauge USB TV tuner review) bought the Pinnacle line of TV tuners for personal computers from Avid. Hauppauge now markets the former Pinnacle line of tuners under the name PCTV which is separate from its Hauppauge line.

PCTV offers three versions of a USB TV tuner:

• HD Mini Stick 80e (PC version) and the 80eM for Macs
• HD Pro Stick 801e – premium level
• HD SE Stick 801e – entry level model

I will review the HD Mini and HD Pro Sticks together because they share the same functions and components. The HD SE Stick is an entry level model and you are much better spending a little more for either the Mini or Pro Stick.

PCTV Mini Stick and PCTV HD Pro Stick Review

The only difference in the PCTV HD Mini and Pro sticks is size. The Mini is designed for mobile use and with ultra small notebook computers. If you intend to use the tuner primarily for traveling or away from home (the yard, beach, tailgating, etc.) the Mini is perfect. If you intend to use your tuner in one place to simply be able to watch TV on your computer as a replacement for your DVR you are better off with the Hauppauge HVR 1950.

The strong suit of the Mini and Pro sticks is their over the air reception. A number of things likely contribute to this. The sticks have an integrated signal booster which improves reception sensitivity for weak signals which improves both picture quality and lets you receive more channels. The sticks also have an on-screen signal strength monitor to help you position the antenna for the best reception. These tuners have perhaps the best over the air signal reception of any USB TV tuner and if you plan on watching primarily over the air signals they are perfect.

They also come with VideoSpin video editing software which offers one click uploading to YouTube and easy to use basic video editing such as shortening the length of a show, cutting out commercials or “best of” type videos.  Windows Movie Maker (you can download it for free from Microsoft) is a better free video editing program. Finally, the set up instructions are weak and may be challenging for persons not super comfortable with computer settings.

Features

• Supports ATSC HD digital TV formats,  including 1080i
• Supports analog NTSC TV
• Supports digital over-the-air ATSC TV
• Supports clear QAM digital cable TV (where available)

Ships With

• Antenna
• Remote
• Carry pouch
• USB cable
• Analog adaptors (S-Video and composite)
• Quick start guide
• Pinnacle TVCenter Pro software (on CD)
• VideoSpin video editing software

Pros:

• Great reception for over the air signals
• Excellent antenna – telescoping and magnetic

Cons:

• Uncertainty related to the sale to Hauppauge
• Poor set up instructions
• No FM radio tuner

Summary

If you plan on using your tuner primarily away from home, which also means you will most likely be watching primarily over the air signals the PCTV HD Mini Stick USB TV tuner is my top choice. It’s compact size, excellent antenna, on screen signal strength meter and signal booster combine for excellent over the air signal performance. The included carry pouch is also convenient for travel.

However, the acquisition of the PCTV line of tuners by Hauppauge who produces its own excellent line of tuners (see Hauppauge USB TV tuner review) raises some concern as to the future of the line as it relates to support, software upgrades, etc. As a result, if you intend on using your tuner primarily as a replacement for your DVR or to replace your cable or satellite TV I recommend either the Hauppauge HVR 950Q (stick tuner) or Hauppauge HVR 1950.

Where to Buy

I recommend buying either the PCTV HD Mini or Pro Stick USB TV tuner from Amazon for the best price, return policy and free shipping.

>>More information on the PCTV HD Mini for Windows and for Mac

>>More information on the PCTV HD Pro for Windows and for Mac

PCTV HD Mini Stick Review Video

PCTV HD Pro Stick Review Video

Hauppauge is one of the most respected and trusted names in the TV tuner market. Hauppauge is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ symbol: HAUP) based in Hauppauge, N.Y. (hence the name) that since 1992 has focused solely on TV functionality to computers so you can buy with confidence knowing that they are a stable company that is not going to abandon the USB TV tuner space. Expect warranty and product support to be superb.

Hauppauge offers a full line of products to enable viewing TV programs on computers. All Hauppauge tuners are compatible with Windows Media Center but come with their own software interface.
Hauppauge WinTV HVR 950Q (#1191) USB TV Tuner Review

The HVR 950Q is Hauppauge’s most popular USB TV tuner and with good reason. It offers a ton of value, performance and features for the price. It comes with a credit card remote control and a portable antenna.

Overview

The picture quality, audio quality, compatibility and flexibility are second to none. The 950Q supports analog NTSC TV, digital over-the-air ATSC TV for North America plus clear QAM digital cable TV (in areas where available) and satellite signals. It also supports all 18 ATSC high definition digital TV formats for North America, including the highest definition 1080i format.

The included remote control is fine for occasional use at short range and for travel but if you plan on using Windows Media Center, highly recommended, which is designed to be used with a remote control or you will be watching TV from more than a few feet away upgrading the remote control is advisable. The Windows Media Center remote control works great, costs less than $15 and is well worth the money.

The included remote control is fine for traveling or occasional use but if you plan on watching a fair amount of over the air programming, especially HD channels, or live more than 10 miles from the broadcast antenna an upgraded antenna is needed. I recommend the Terk Flat Omni Directional antenna.

Recording TV on Your Computer

Like all USB TV tuners, you can use the Hauppauge HVR 950Q to turn your computer into Digital Video Recorder (DVR) (sometimes called a Personal Video Recorder or PVR). You can watch, pause and rewind live television, record your favorite shows on your hard drive and play them later.

Windows Media Center is free with all Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems and provides a very functional and attractive interface to all TV and DVR functions and includes a free online program guide to make scheduling recordings a breeze. Be warned that recording hi def typically uses about 10 GB of hard disk space per hour of programming so be sure you have adequate hard disk space.

Compatibility

• Works with 64 and 32 bit Windows 7, Vista and Windows XP operating systems
• Certified for the Windows Media Center
• Cable and satellite channels (set top box needed for premium channels)
• Over-the-air high definition broadcasts

Flexibility

• Supports all 18 ATSC HD digital TV formats,  including the high definition 1080i
• Supports analog NTSC TV
• Supports digital over-the-air ATSC TV
• Supports clear QAM digital cable TV (where available)

Ships with

• Remote control
• Portable antenna
• Installation CD ROM
• USB extension cable
• Quick installation guide
• Hauppauge’s WinTV v7 application for TV watching and recording

Pros

• Price
• Hauppauge reputation
• Flexibility and compatibility
• Performance

Cons

• Remote control is small with limited functions
• Antenna has limited range
• No FM radio tuner
• Only one tuner – cannot watch one channel while recording another or record two channels at the same time

Summary

The combination of price, flexibility and manufacturer reputation give the Hauppauge WinTV HVR 950Q gets my highest recommendation. It is hard the complain about the remote and antenna when with a feature set and price like the 950Q has. Besides, they are no worse than what comes with other tuners, are better than nothing and are nice have in case you don’t want to spend the money to upgrade. In my opinion you can’t go wrong with this tuner.

Best Place to Buy

I recommend buying the Hauppage WinTV HVR 950Q from Amazon for the best prices, return policy and free shipping.

• More information the Hauppauge 950Q
• Read user reviews of the Hauppauge 950Q.

Videos about the Hauppauge 950Q

Factors to consider when choosing a laptop TV tuner or USB TV tuner include:

• Do you plan on using the tuner with different computers?  If so, a “stick” style USB TV tuner is probably best

• Primarily cable or satellite — no need to pay more for a tuner that can process over the air high definition (HD) signals. TV tuners cannot process cable and satellite HD signals and only some are compatible with over the air HDTV signals.
• Primarily over the air signals (i.e., with an antenna) — consider getting a tuner that is compatible with over the air HD signals (see #3 and #4 below)

• If you won’t be using your tuner in a location with over the air HD broadcasts there is no need to pay more for a tuner that can process HD signals
• If you will be watching over air programming more than about 10 miles from a transmitter you will most likely need an upgraded antenna so it is not necessary to choose a tuner with an antenna included

• Not all tuners are compatible with Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 or Macs
• The processor speed, memory, etc. of your system. Tuners have minimum system requirements
• Do you have a monitor and video card capable of viewing HD. If not, you can save  money by not buying a tuner capable of HDTV

• On your laptop or desktop  — probably no need to get a tuner with a remote control
• Connected to a flat screen TV/monitor — consider a tuner with a remote control
• If you plan on using Windows Media Center (highly recommended) to watch TV and record TV a remote control is a great accessory. Although Windows Media Center works with a mouse and keyboard, it is designed to be used with a remote control and a remote makes it much easier to navigate.

• Consider a tuner with a built in FM receiver

Next Step
Once you have answered the above questions, you are ready choose a TV tuner. I have recommended TV tuners in the following categories:
Most popular laptop TV tuners
Best overall laptop TV tuner
Bargain laptop TV tuners

A USB TV tuner is essentially an HDTV tuner for your computer. If your computer has a decent monitor and video card the picture quality and sound quality are very good. A USB TV tuner also turns your computer into a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Tuners work with laptop, notebook and desktop computer systems and you can watch, or listen, to television while you work by letting it play in the background or in a minimized window or you can enjoy it in full screen mode.

You can pause, rewind and record live television to your hard drive. It has a super slick interface that makes it easy to select live TV program, watch a previously recorded program and schedule future recordings. Windows Media Center is free and is included with all Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers and includes free access to an online programming guide.

The video below shows how easy it is to set up a USB TV tuner and record television shows using Microsoft Windows Media Center. The video demonstrates Windows Media Center using Windows 7 but it also works with Windows XP and Vista.

USB Tuners vs. Tuner Cards

USB TV tuners have become much more popular than TV tuner cards that are installed as a PCI card. TV tuner cards require you to open your computer case to install it into your motherboard. USB TV tuner installation is as simple as plugging it into a USB port. This makes moving a the tuner between computers very easy and also makes them very easy to use with laptop computers.

USB TV Tuner Choices

USB Tuner Styles

USB TV tuners are available in stick format (very similar in size to a USB memory stick) and in desktop versions (about the the size of a paperback book). Desktop versions have their own on-board processor so they use less processing power from your personal computer. If you plan on using the tuner in only one location consider a desktop model since it will give you slightly better performance. In most instances, a USB TV tuner stick makes the most sense since it is more portable and takes up less room.

Tuner Manufacturers

There are a number of USB TV tuner manufacturers but only a few that I recommend based on their reliability history and commitment to producing and supporting their TV tuners. For some manufacturers, TV tuners represent only a very small percentage of their business so there is some concern regarding their long-term commitment to them which could affect support and warranty issues which is why I am very high on Hauppauge tuners because tuners are what they do.

Type of TV Signal

Not every TV tuner is compatible with every type of signal. Most signals (cable, satellite and over the air) are now in digital but there are different types of digital signals and possibly still a few analog cable broadcasts left. The cheaper tuners are generally compatible with less types of signals. If you are unsure of what type of signal you have or what type you will try to use with your tuner you should buy a mid to higher end tuner to ensure it will be compatible with whatever type of signal you want to watch.

You can watch unencrypted QAM cable channels without a set top box but if you want to watch additional satellite or cable channels you will need to connect the tuner to a set top box.

Other Options

Antennas – Most USB TV tuners come with either a built in antenna or a small external desktop antenna (about the size of a beer bottle) but if you plan on watching over the air signals on your TV tuner it is recommended that you buy an upgraded antenna (about $30). Signal strength can vary greatly based on how far you live from the broadcast antenna and how direct the signal is (the signal will be weaker in an interior room with no windows or in a basement).

Other options – Some USB TV tuners come with a remote control and some have a built in FM radio receiver to listen to music. Some units have 2 tuners. If you want the ability to watch one channel while recording another channel look for a dual tuner model.

Most tuners come with video capture ability which will let you connect your computer to a VHS machine and record VHS tapes on your hard drive. You can then edit the videos and burn them to a DVD if you want. A great way to preserve memories recorded on VHS tapes and very economical compared to services which will do this for you.

High Definition (HDTV) USB Tuners

USB TV tuners are currently only compatible with high definition (HDTV) signals from over the air broadcasts, not from cable or satellite signals. To fully appreciate high def broadcasts you will need a computer monitor which has a resolution capable of displaying hi def (generally 780i is sufficient). Most prime time network shows are now broadcast in HD.

Choosing a Tuner

• See my recommended USB TV tuner section and my USB TV tuner reviews for help choosing the best USB TV tuner for your needs.
• If you are unsure about how well a particular tuner works in the hands of consumers just like you read some the hundreds of customer reviews.

A USB TV tuner and Windows Media Center will turn your computer into a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) (also called Personal Video Recorder or PVR). This combination works with almost any desktop, laptop or notebook computer. To learn more about computer tuners read some USB TV tuner reviews.

Tuners work with over-the-air broadcasts (all work with analog signals and some work with hi-def), cable and satellite (premium cable and satellite channels require a set top box). Getting started with a computer DVR is a breeze, to install a USB TV tuner just plug it into a USB port and answer some basic set up questions on Windows Media Center (there are a lot of videos online to help with this).

A laptop TV tuner is especially useful as it creates a portable DVR and a portable TV. Watch TV anywhere you have an over the air, cable or satellite signal and watch recorded shows anywhere you can use a laptop.

Windows Media Center provides the guts of many high end home entertainment centers so you know it is good. It truly lets you create a home media center. See the images below for some screen shots of it and the video for more information.

Windows Media Center interface - Click for full size image

Windows Media Center free program guide - Click for full size image

Better Than a DVR?

By recording shows on your computer hard drive you can easily edit shows to make a compilation of your favorite scenes, favorite lines, best plays or highlights of your favorite team. You can also burn shows to a DVD or CD or post it to YouTube. You can transfer recorded shows to an iPod, iPhone, iPad or other portable device to watch wherever you want.

You have full DVR functionality including the ability to pause and rewind live TV and schedule future recordings. Many tuners come with a remote control making the experience just like a DVR.

One limit of most laptop TV tuners is that they only have one tuner so you cannot record two shows at the same time or record one show and watch another at the same time. Dual tuner models are available that eliminate this restriction.

How Much Does it Cost?

A typical DVR service has a monthly fee of about $10 for access to the program guide to record shows in the future plus equipment costs of either a few hundred dollars to purchase the DVR or $5 to $10 a month to rent one. With a laptop TV tuner the upfront cost is less than $100 and there are no monthly fees (the program guide is internet based and is free).

Required Software

Although most tuners come with software to select a channel, adjust the volume, record a show and watch recorded programs most people prefer to use Windows Media Center. Windows Media Center is free and is included on all Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate editions and Windows 7. Windows Media Center has better interface than most DVR services and also makes it easy for you to access all your digital media – home videos, music, photos.

Hard Disk Space

Video files are large so if you intend to record or keep a lot shows or movies on your computer you will need considerable space on your hard drive. The file size depends on the quality of the recording but analog recordings need about 1.5GB per hour and high definition over the air signals require 5 to 10GB per hour. The price of external hard drives is so reasonable now so if you want to keep a lot of recorded shows or movies consider getting an external hard drive.

Learn more about external hard drives HERE.

The Ultimate Tuner for a Computer DVR

While any USB TV tuner will enable you to record TV on your computer, you are limited to using it one computer at a time. You can use the SiliconDust HD Homerun network tuner on any computer on home network (wired or wireless). This includes TV’s with a Media Center expander like an xBox 360, iPad or iPhone. The HD Homerun also has dual tuners so you watch and record different channels at the same time or record two channels at the same time.

The SiliconDust HD Homerun is a big step toward the future of TV in your home and it doesn’t cost much more than a lesser USB TV tuner. For more information, read my full SiliconDust HD Homerun tuner review.

Additional Resources
Download Windows Media Center
Download add-ons to Windows Media Center
PC Magazine article on getting the most out of Windows Media Center

Which TV signals can you watch using a laptop TV tuner? The answer is almost any. Over the air signals (analog and digital) are free but require an antenna and reception depends on your where you live and other factors. Cable and satellite signals require you to connect a cable to your laptop TV tuner and a subscription and cable box for premium channels.

While all laptop TV tuners have the ability to receive over the air TV signals, not all tuners can receive high definition (HD) signals. In North America, all over-the-air TV is now broadcast in digital quality (ATSC). ATSC is the over the air HDTV standard for North America and is currently available in over 200 cities in the United States.

Although all laptop TV tuners have the ability to receive over the air signals but which channels you can receive and how good the reception is for over the air channels depends on the following:

1. Where you live (remote locations may have fewer channels broadcast over the air)
2. How far you live from the transmission tower
3. The antenna you are using and where it is located

Additional Resources
AntennaWeb.org – information about upgraded antennas to receive over the air signals
CheckDTV.com – determine what digital broadcast (over-the-air) channels are available in your area
TitanTV.com – determine which HD programming is available over air in your area (click More under Tools and check HDTV)

Types of TV signals

Not all USB TV tuners are compatible with all TV signals. You can find tuners compatible with types of TV signals below. The better USB TV tuners on the market are compatible with all of the following TV signals.

Analog signals

All laptop TV tuners are capable of receiving analog signals (NTSC) from an antenna, cable and satellite.

Digital signals

Most tuners are cable of receiving digital signals from an antenna. Some are capable of receiving “unencrypted” (i.e., basic cable) digital cable and satellite signals (Clear QAM). You can connect a digital signal to any tuner but the signal will be recognized as analog if the tuner is not compatible with digital signals.

High definition signals

Some tuners are compatible with “over-the-air” high definition signals (up to 1080i). Currently, no tuners are compatible with high definition cable and satellite signals. Over the air HD is called ATSC digital TV and approximately 1,500 channels (mostly networks, local and public access channels) across the U.S. are broadcast in ATSC.

Signal Sources

USB TV tuners are compatible with the following sources of TV signals:

1. Over the air
2. Cable
3. Satellite

Additional articles on what TV signals you can watch with a USB TV Tuner

• Watching Over the Air Signals With a Laptop TV Tuner
• Which TV Signals Can You Watch
• What Channels Can You Watch With a Laptop TV Tuner