Will i need a convertor box for watching tv on my computer come 2009?

Question

right now an antenna is on our roof, it comes down and connects to the back of our computer. we have hp media center. we can watch, puase, record, rewind, etc tv on it. come 2009 will we need a convertor box to keep watching free tv? will a convertor box even work on the computer or will i need somthing else. plx help

Answer 1

How old is your computer?  It may have a digital tuner built in if it is fairly new (check your documentation).  If so, you are ready to go.  Just scan for the digital channels.

Yes, a converter box would work on a computer.  However, using a converter box would keep the computer from changing channels like it does now because the converter box would do the tuning.  You would probably be happier installing a new TV tuner card with a digital tuner, assuming your current card doesn't already have a digital tuner.

Answer 2

PCs of that time frame were generally being delivered with only NTSC tuner cards. So, you would have to use a converter box between the antenna and the tuner board.

This leads to two issues.

The first is, assuming you have software like Microsoft Media Center, will the IR blaster control the converter box.

The second issue is, can the electronic program guide be made to report on the DTV channels rather than the old analog channels.

The answer to the control issue is, probably yes.

The answer to the EPG question is, probably no.

I recommend that you go to the Hauppauge site and look at the ATSC tuners.

The only way to easily confirm you only have an NTSC tuner is to check your manual or go to the tuner manufacturer's website.