Cable TV card

GhostMjr · July 18, 2007, 08:48:30 PM

Ok i have virgin cable tv and wondered whether there was a TV card that allows you to connect the box to a desktop computer and therefore be able to watch tv on your pc without the need for a tv? I have had a look but i am getting confused between model numbers and when they state digital i am not sure whether they mean freeview or virgin. If this is possible can you record the tv too?

Thanks for the help,

Anonymous · July 19, 2007, 09:00:28 AM

Have you got Virgin or Virgin+ ?

GhostMjr · July 19, 2007, 10:39:27 AM

Quote from: BlueBall;198100Have you got Virgin or Virgin+ ?

I have vanilla virgin but if its only possible through v+ i will have to go for it.

Anonymous · July 19, 2007, 11:02:21 AM

You can do it easily from the Virgin box although quality isnt great. I have the V box under my desk and have a length of coax cable connecting the V box to a USB TV card. Just tune the box into the USB stick and then use box remote to watch TV on PC - total cost about Â£30.

Lee · July 19, 2007, 03:53:35 PM

I'm on Virgin broadband, but don't have their TV so can't help i'm afraid.

Seems like an interesting concept though.

GhostMjr · July 19, 2007, 04:55:51 PM

Quote from: BlueBall;198107You can do it easily from the Virgin box although quality isnt great. I have the V box under my desk and have a length of coax cable connecting the V box to a USB TV card. Just tune the box into the USB stick and then use box remote to watch TV on PC - total cost about Â£30.

What would you rate the video quality out of 10?

Anonymous · July 19, 2007, 05:08:29 PM

Quote from: GhostMjr;198182What would you rate the video quality out of 10?

Because you are uasing coax cable it looks like an aerial fed TV picture, ie quite watchable - it will be dependant on the quality of the USB TV stick - mine was cheap and nasty

suicidal_monkey · July 20, 2007, 10:34:00 AM

I've heard tell you can receive and decode cable on DVB-C cards or something but it tends to be a US-only thing. Officially you usually require a DVB-C PCI(-E?) card which has a slot for the cable sompanies smart-card, though there's also software that will emulate it for you.Not legally I suppose but if you only decode the channels you pay for anyway I see nothing wrong with the idea. Dunno any more than that though, as most of the cable channels are available on freeview now anyway!

lionheart · July 20, 2007, 03:01:24 PM

A friend of mine has one of these :
http://uk.slingmedia.com/page/home

This sends his sky signal over his wireless router so he can watch it from any wireless enabled device (including phone!) or even from his PC at work. About Â£130 but will work with cable as well.

T-Bag · July 21, 2007, 09:13:13 PM

You can buy cards for it:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=302290

It won't require V+ and the software will let you record the programs, live pause it etc. (And if the Default softward doesn't, SageTV/BeyondTV 4, GBPVR should all work with the tuner)