A TV tuner for a computer is a device that is designed to receive a television signal. Now the market offers a wide range of these devices from various manufacturing companies. Modern models are equipped with remote controls, with which you can not only switch channels, but also record transmissions and perform other actions at a distance.
Types of tuners
There are currently four main types of these devices. These include such as an internal board (mounted in the system unit), an external board (connected to an ExpressCard or CardBus connector and designed for laptops), a network tuner (works through a router), and an external TV tuner for the computer (it is connected via any USB port). The main thing that you need to pay attention to when choosing a device is its compliance with the received television signal. Such information is always indicated on the box or on the official website of the manufacturer. There you can find out about the compatibility of the tuner with computers.
Using multiple devices
In the case when one TV tuner is connected to the computer, it is possible to view and record at the same time only one program, which is displayed on the current channel. If you use multiple devices, this will significantly expand the capabilities of the user. For example, in this case, you can simultaneously with viewing
one channel to record a transmission from another, to simultaneously record from two channels, and so on.
Connection Features
The connection of a TV tuner to a computer is not a difficult task. As a rule, the device is already integrated into the system unit or is simply inserted into one of the corresponding model ports. Along with this, it is necessary to remember certain nuances. First of all, we are talking about the need to install drivers for each television tuner. This can be done using the disk, or by downloading from the official website of the manufacturer. If several devices are connected to the same computer, the signal source for all of them should still be the same. The software in most cases supports a maximum of four such analog devices and as many digital ones. In the event that the TV tuner for the computer is dual or combined, in other words - consists of several devices, it will be perceived as two separate devices.
TV reception
As noted above, the tuner and computer must support the type of signal that is being received. The easiest way to watch shows is to use Media Center. As for the type of TV shows available, it depends on several parameters. First of all, these are the available system resources, which include the amount of free memory, processor speed and video card power. It is also affected by the type of signal that is being received. It can be analog or digital. It’s not a secret for anyone that a TV tuner for a computer with a second type of signal will provide a better picture on the monitor. Not the least role is also played by the parameters of the device itself and the type of antenna.