If you spend a lot of time at the computer, you can watch TV programs right on the monitor - in full screen or windowed mode. For this, there are hardware, software and hardware and software tools.
Necessary
- - a computer with Linux or Windows;
- - TV tuner, the interface of which is compatible with the form factor of the computer;
- - screwdriver (for installing the internal tuner);
- - TV antenna;
- - unlimited internet access.
Instructions
Step 1
External TV tuners connected between the video card and the monitor allow you not to install any programs on your computer. They are mainly intended for use with VGA monitors. When choosing such a device, give preference to a model that allows you to watch programs not only on a full screen, but also in a small window that can be moved. Then you can simultaneously with viewing, for example, type or edit texts. If the tuner does not have such a function, it can be switched to the mode when there is no picture at all, and you can only listen to the soundtrack. This mode is convenient if the program is music or spoken. Please note that it is inconvenient to move the speaker plug from the sound card to the tuner and vice versa.
Step 2
The internal tuner is installed in a free PCI slot on the motherboard. A separate cord connects it to the input of the sound card. To use it after installation on a computer, in Linux, run the Tvtime or Xawtv program, and in Windows - the software package supplied with the tuner or from the manufacturer's website, or the universal Kastor TV program.
Step 3
The laptop has neither PCI slots nor a VGA cable (there is only a short cable connecting the matrix to the motherboard, which is not suitable for connecting a tuner). Use USB tuners with these machines. Note that many of these are not Linux compatible.
Step 4
It is best to purchase a tuner (any of the types listed above) of such a model so that it has support for digital television according to the DVB-T2 standard. Then it will be possible to use it even after switching off analogue broadcasting. Otherwise, you will have to connect a rather bulky set-top box-decoder to it.
Step 5
If your computer is connected to an unlimited and fast enough Internet channel, you can watch TV programs on it without using additional hardware. To do this, use the services of the site, the link to which is given at the end of the article. Most channels can only be viewed with the Flash plugin installed, and some require the Silverlight plugin (on Linux - Moonlight).
