Watching LEGIT (I’m paying for it) satellite TV on my PC?
I live in a large house; we pay for satellite TV, and most people have tivos in their rooms. I have a very small room and a very nice laptop, so I’d rather not get a TV; I watch HULU all the time, and would like to simply plug the satellite tv connection into my computer, watch if on the screen. How do I do this? I’ve spent awhile on the internet, but all I can find are scams that tell me that I can watch 3000 channels for free if I just download some software, "no dish required" yada yada. Well, I have the dish. What else do I need?
As you said, you need a software for you to access those channels. And you also need a good internet speed, maybe at least 1Mbps and up. This will prevent lag and buffering of videos.
You just need to find reviews on each software you find before purchasing.
Some monitors can pull double duty by means of two input ports. An LCD television (which is basically a monitor with a TV tuner) might let you use a VGA or DVI input for the computer, and might even offer picture-in-picture.
You might also be able to use a TV tuner card, which installs in your computer via a PCI port or USB.
It might help to check first that your satellite box doesn’t put restrictions on digital outputs (you typically need an HDMI-compliant device). Meanwhile, analog outputs (component, composite, S-video, coaxial) are fair game.
References :
Comment by Nahum — March 4, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
the next thing you need is a satellite receiver such as those by hauppague. They let you plug the dish into the receiver, and the receiver plugs into your pc via USB2 / PCI. What I don’t understand is the "pay" element - if you’re paying for a service then you’ll need some kind of decryption device too - and I don’t know how that would work with the receiver as they tend to receive free to air stuff only.
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Comment by Mistress Hanna — March 4, 2010 @ 2:22 pm
Well, I no longer need to pay monthly fees to Astro (Malaysian Satellite TV).
I’m now watching satellite TV channel with Satellite Direct.
I suggest you taking a look there @ http://bit.ly/SatelliteDirect4YahooAnswer-ers
References :
My own experience.
Comment by Joseph — March 4, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
As you said, you need a software for you to access those channels. And you also need a good internet speed, maybe at least 1Mbps and up. This will prevent lag and buffering of videos.
You just need to find reviews on each software you find before purchasing.
References :
http://www.tvonpcreport.com/satellitedirect.html
Comment by Michaella — March 4, 2010 @ 3:25 pm
You can use a satellite tuner care, only if you have FTA satellite.
IF you have pay satellite, you need their receiver (which has to be added to the account,) and a tuner/capture card to connect it to your computer.
That is basically how I watch TV on my computer, although I have a TiVo with that receiver also.
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Comment by classicsat — March 4, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
See, as you already pretty much know, there are exactly 2 options for you.
1. You have the dish. Just get your local expert to install it, pay for the expert’s visiting charge and you are through! This may be the best option.
2. No, there are a huge lot of software packages that are scams in this space (you are perfectly right about that) but not all are scams. But remember, unless you have a seriously fast Internet connection - 1 mbps or faster (2 mbps maybe) - your watching experience is going to be simply bad - buffering is going to eat up your entire time. That stinks. But if you have that fast an Internet then this is a good option. I would recommend that you choose the software on the top of this review:
http://www.cwglive.com/SoftwareTVForPCReview.php
Don’t go for a random software - chances are high that it will be a scam. And if your Internet connection is bad (less than 1 mbps), then simply finalize your dish setup and forget the software.
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Comment by Mark — March 4, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
A tuner card is the perfect choice if you want to watch a legit satellite tv on your computer. You said you are using a laptop. I’m not sure if there is an available tuner card for laptops. There might be one but I think it’s an external tuner card.
Regarding with satellite tv for pc, you really need a high-speed internet connection like 1 to 2 mbps connection to watch these 3000 channels. If you only know 1 language, unfortunately, you’ll not enjoy the other channels coz they are all not ENGLISH channels.
References :
http://www.dish-network-vs-direct-tv.com/satellite-tv/satellite-tv-info/myth-about-free-satellite-tv-for-your-pc.html
Comment by Randex Trifor — March 4, 2010 @ 4:49 pm