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HT PC -- Computer Independant TV TUNER?

post #1 of 12
10/13/08 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to find a tv tuner that is independent of a TV, however used on a hd LCD monitor with multifunctional inputs. I'm using the D-Sub (VGA) for computer purposes however I'm left with hd component 720p S-Video input, std. def component Rd,Wt,Y. I'm about to get cable in the house and I'd like to use a TV tuner to watch high definition tv through coaxial cable. There are plenty of computer oriented boxes and the only reason I am hesitant about that is I had a PCI tv tuner card which didn't seem to work that well. All suggestions are very appreciated Thanks.
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post #2 of 12
10/13/08 at 2:21pm
Outside of a rented Comca$t/Dish/other stb, check out this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...769&highlight=

Do you have a receiver so that you can run multiple sources to your TV?

P.S. You might want to ask to have this thread moved to the HDTV Technical subforum, and browse some of those threads too - lots of good info there!
And oh, welcome to the forums!
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post #3 of 12
10/13/08 at 2:35pm
If you don't want to use a PC, why not just get a Cable Box from your provider, that's about the only way to get premium HD channels anyway.
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post #4 of 12
10/13/08 at 4:34pm
Thread Starter 
I have a Westinghouse L2410NM
http://www.westinghousedigital.com/d...px?itemnum=105

Connectors

QTY TYPE

1 HDMI-HDCP

1 D-Sub mini 15 pins

1 AC-In

1 Stereo Mini Jack

1 Composite In

1 S-Video

1 YPbPr

2 Audio In (Dual RCA)

I'm currently using the HDMI and the VGA (d-sub) connector. I would like to use a TV turner with my cable which is being installed. Can a TV Tuner achieve this?
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post #5 of 12
10/13/08 at 4:39pm
If you are asking can you use your PC to do HD cable, the answer is no (at least not easily and not without getting a cable box too).

If you're HDMI is in use just get something like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 and get the cable company box.

BTW your clarity post wasn't very clear.
All TV's need a tuner to work. I assume you are asking for a TV tuner that is PC based.

There are currently several types of PC based TV Tuner.
Analog
ATSC Over the air
QAM Digital Cable
OCUR Digital Cable

Analog will work with cable, for all your non-digital cable.
QAM works with all the unecncrypted digital including HD channels (basically just the over the air stuff)
OCUR get all the channels HD, digital and analog, except ondemand and SDV, but you need to buy a whole computer to get one.
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post #6 of 12
10/13/08 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sotti View Post

If you are asking can you use your PC to do HD cable, the answer is no (at least not easily and not without getting a cable box too).

If you're HDMI is in use just get something like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 and get the cable company box.

BTW your clarity post wasn't very clear.
All TV's need a tuner to work. I assume you are asking for a TV tuner that is PC based.

There are currently several types of PC based TV Tuner.
Analog
ATSC Over the air
QAM Digital Cable
OCUR Digital Cable

Analog will work with cable, for all your non-digital cable.
QAM works with all the unecncrypted channels (basically just the over the air stuff)
OCUR get all the channels except ondemand and SDV, but you need to buy a whole computer to get one.

What would you like me to tell you? I want to use cable I have the following monitor (with link as well as inputs) and i'd like to BASICALLY just watch CABLE on the monitor, possibly with HD capibilities but more so simply watch cable on my multifuctional monitor, I am currently using the HDMI for an XBOX 360 and the VGA(d-sub) for a computer connection. I have all the following connections still available

Connectors

QTY TYPE

1 HDMI-HDCP (IN USE)

1 D-Sub mini 15 pins (IN USE)

1 Stereo Mini Jack

1 Composite In

1 S-Video

1 YPbPr

2 Audio In (Dual RCA)
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post #7 of 12
10/13/08 at 4:50pm
Thread Starter 
Im sorry, I jumped the gun... so can someone clarify this...
"If you're HDMI is in use just get something like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 and get the cable company box." I can just buy a switch and then connect a second hdmi cable from the switch to the hd cable box and use the same HDMI component channel?
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post #8 of 12
10/13/08 at 5:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iampepito View Post

Im sorry, I jumped the gun... so can someone clarify this...
"If you're HDMI is in use just get something like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 and get the cable company box." I can just buy a switch and then connect a second hdmi cable from the switch to the hd cable box and use the same HDMI component channel?

exactly
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post #9 of 12
10/13/08 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
Final question: Do most/all HD cable boxes have HDMI? (Verizon Fios in my case)
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post #10 of 12
10/14/08 at 9:09am
If you're getting cable, your TV's tuner should be able to get all clear-QAM stations, including the local broadcasts in HD. But it won't get ESPN, Discovery, etc. in HD without a proprietary STB from the cable co.

Sounds like you won't need to purchase a STB, unless you don't like renting from "the man"...

BTW, S-Video doesn't support HD material. When your cable is installed, it will probably come with a STB anyways, so get a coaxial splitter and run one directly into your TV and then the STB will also go into TV via HDMI (or better yet, run the STB into a receiver so that you can get your 5.1 speakers in on the action). This way you can have picture-in-picture.

Have fun configuring everything - it will definitely be worth it hearing the crowd cheering all around you during fooze ball games!
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post #11 of 12
10/14/08 at 9:13am
I use the component YPbPr input with my FiOS set-top box. Works fine, and you won't need to buy an HDMI switch, just the cables.

The Motorola 6416 I have from FiOS has an HDMI connector as well, but both my set's HDMI inputs are in use. I actually liked the component output a bit better when we compared how they displayed, but that's a matter of taste.
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post #12 of 12
10/14/08 at 9:17am
Yep, sounds like you're better off renting a set-top box and connecting that to the component (YPbPr) input of your monitor.
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