Understanding PC HDTV tuner cards

By Dina Gerdeman

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You can watch and record high definition television on your personal computer with a PC HDTV tuner card.

A PC HDTV tuner card can be installed in a PCI or PCI-e slot of your personal computer or in an external box connected to your computer by USB. After you load the application software to your PC, the PC HDTV tuner card will allow you to watch television programs in high definition on your computer. HDTV tuner cards range in price from $50 to $250.

The cards, which also will typically allow you to see analog shows, work a lot like a DVR, allowing you to pause live programs and record programs that can be watched later. When programs are paused or recorded, they are stored on your hard drive. Some tuners are controlled by your mouse and keyboard, but many come with remote controls.

You can even record two HDTV shows at the same time or watch one live while recording a second show if you have multiple tuners or if you use a dual digital tuner like HDHomeRun.

HDTV tuners are popular in the format of PCI cards, which cut down on clutter because once the cards are installed, they are out of the way. But several USB-connected external HDTV tuners are available. Although USB tuners tend to cost more than the cards, they are useful for people who don’t have open PCI slots on their PCs and for people who want to watch high definition TV on their laptops.

Many combo tuner cards, like the AVerTV Combo PCI-e Tuner Card, allow you to receive both high definition and analog programming.

Make sure you check out the PC hardware and software requirements of any tuner cards you consider purchasing. Many work with Media Center,Vista and XP. Most cards require a minimum of 128 MB memory and an 800 Mhz processor. Keep in mind that a recorded high definition program will use about 9 GB per hour.

In addition, the built-in video on your PC may not be enough to support the use of your tuner. You will likely need a video card with at least 64 MB memory. Some video cards can also serve as TV tuners, including the ATI All-in-Wonder cards.

To get the most out of your PC HDTV tuner, look for ones that tune unencrypted digital cable, including FiOS, which is also known as clearQAM. Most cable companies, including Comcast, carry the local network stations -- ABC, NBC, PBS and CBS, for example -- as clearQAM.

Before you know it, you will be using your PC regularly to catch your favorite shows in high definition.