What's the point of a TV tuner in a PC?

How do I get channels like ESPN and CNN to work on my TV Tuner?

• I just bought a Hauppauge HVR-1600 TV Tuner for my Desktop PC. I really want to use it as a DVR for sports games which are mainly on ESPN. However, when I go through the set up and check "Analog TV via Set Top Box" it allows me to choose a channel list from for example Dish Network, DirectTv, and C-Band. However, I have Cablevision, and that provider does not show up with a list of channels. Now I know I can manually add the channels I want, and I would gladly do that, but how do I know the correct channel numbers? I am just a little confused at this point. I was able to get the basic cable channels no problem. And the scan showed all of the encrypted channels, because I wasn't going through my box at that point. But now when I try to go through my box, none of the channels are tuned correctly. Any help is appreciated!!

• Answer:

  Your cable box will only output the channel to which it is tuned. If you get the channels you want to record without the box, just send the cable signal straight to the tuner. You can split the cable signal before it goes to the box, if necessary. If you can't get those channels without the box, you will have to split the output of the box, and tune it to the channel you want to record. Set the tuner to channel 3 or 4, whichever one your box outputs to.