How can I receive cable television on my computer without the need for an antenna?
I currently live on campus, and my dorm has free basic cable access (via an outlet in the room). I have no TV, but a laptop computer. The TV tuners I’ve seen appear to only provide regular TV, which require an antenna and provide spotty reception. Is there a way for my computer to utilize my cable TV service without an antenna?
I may be assuming that cable service does not require an antenna. I apologize if that’s wrong. Thanks in advance.
>I may be assuming that cable service does not require an antenna.
Cable service does not require an antenna.
All you need is an USB TV tuner & software; you just connect a coax cable from the cable outlet to the USB tuner.
Usually when people say "basic cable" they mean analog cable. Check to see if this is the case.
If that’s what you have you could get by with just about any analog only tuner ever made; I’ve never heard of one that was "antenna only", but check the specs to see if it has a "NTSC" cable ready tuner. Used ones should be real cheap because broadcasts and many cable systems are switching to digital signals.
If you buy a new USB tuner, make sure it has both an analog (NTSC) and digital cable (QAM) tuners. Some digital USB tuners have been made for digital (ATSC) antenna broadcasts only. Some don’t have analog (NTSC) tuners either.
ATSC tuners are used for digital over the air (antenna) broadcasts.
>I may be assuming that cable service does not require an antenna.
Cable service does not require an antenna.
All you need is an USB TV tuner & software; you just connect a coax cable from the cable outlet to the USB tuner.
Usually when people say "basic cable" they mean analog cable. Check to see if this is the case.
If that’s what you have you could get by with just about any analog only tuner ever made; I’ve never heard of one that was "antenna only", but check the specs to see if it has a "NTSC" cable ready tuner. Used ones should be real cheap because broadcasts and many cable systems are switching to digital signals.
If you buy a new USB tuner, make sure it has both an analog (NTSC) and digital cable (QAM) tuners. Some digital USB tuners have been made for digital (ATSC) antenna broadcasts only. Some don’t have analog (NTSC) tuners either.
ATSC tuners are used for digital over the air (antenna) broadcasts.
References :
Typical NTSC/ATSC/QAM USB tuner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100048&cm_re=usb_tuner-_-15-100-048-_-Product
Comment by Stephen P — February 17, 2010 @ 1:36 pm