How can I watch cable TV through my computer?

How Do I Watch Cable TV on My Computer?

• Answer:

  Watching cable television on your computer has several advantages over watching it on your TV. On your computer, you can watch the shows at a higher resolution than on a standard-definition TV, you can take screenshots of the shows and you can use your computer much like a digital video recorder and record your favorite shows. However, to do so, you need the right hardware. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You'll Need Grounding strip Phillips-head screwdriver TV tuner card Instructions Shut down your computer and disconnect all cords from the back of the tower. Move your computer tower to a flat, well-lit surface. Remove the side access panel of the tower. Some side access panels are secured by one or two screws located in the back of the tower. Attach the grounding strip to your wrist and attach the other end to the metal frame of the tower. This will prevent an accidental static discharge that could potentially damage the electrical components of your computer. Insert the TV tuner card into an available slot. Make sure you have the proper card for your motherboard. TV tuner cards come in both PCI and PCI Express models. Not all motherboards have PCI Express slots. Check your computer documentation to see what slots are available in your computer. Secure the side access panel to the tower and reconnect all cords. Boot up your computer and install the drivers and software included with the card. Connect your TV coaxial cable to the coaxial port in the back of the card. Tips & Warnings Tip: USB-based devices are also available. The USB TV tuner devices are plug-and-play, so you only need to plug them into an available USB port and install the included software.