Re: Media Center PC/TV useage with a TV tuner card. Possible? How

Um, tuner cards don't have outputs, they have inputs...typically a coax
connector, sVideo, composite, and audio L/R. Any _output_ would need to come
from your video adapter...

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"PFC" <PFC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:734A82C7-9EE3-4089-AB04-49BBA9A874B0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I tried this method with success until I clicked on media center - then I
just get a black screen with jumpy white lines (I've tried making the TV
the
primary monitor and also adjusting screen resolution to no avail). If I
CTRL-ALT-DEL I can get the task manager (to end media center) and see
media
center, but as soon as I click on it, same black screen. Any ideas? I
have
a request under home theater too. Thanks!

"jutrased" wrote:

Here is what I do. I use the conventional connection to the PC, then I
take the tuner card output and feed that to the TV.

Next, set up the multiple monitor feature found on the Settings tab of
Display Properties. You should see 2 rectangles labled 1 and 2. Click
on one of them and then check "Extend my windows desktop onto this
monitor". The check is only available on one, so if it is greyed out
just try the other monitor. You can move the screen icons to match
your actual physical layout.

Now you have a virtual screen that spans both monitors. Scroll your
mouse from one screen to the other to see what I mean. Now start Media
Center, and it will probably start on the PC monitor. Click the
Restore icon in the upper right corner to shrink the screen, then drag
it to the TV monitor. Click Restore again and Media Center will fill
the entire TV monitor.

Now when you start Media Center, it will remember to display on the TV
monitor.

As far as the cable box goes, it depends on the type of system you
have. If you can hook your cable directly to a TV, you can do the same
to the tuner. If you want to record one show while watching another,
you will either need a dual tuner or have a switch that allows you to
choose what signal goes to the TV.

If your cable requires a box (either for all channels or just the
premium channels) then you need to set up a remote sensor. This "eye"
connects to a USB port on the computer and has 2 jacks for IR control
cables. The end of the cable is attached to your cable box. When you
use the remote control, it sends a signal to the remote sensor, which
passes it to the computer, which send a signal down the IR control
cable to make your cable box change to the correct channel.

It sounds a lot worse than it is to set up and use. If you do require
a box, you will need a second one as well as a second IR cable if you
get the dual tuner.

Ed



On Jan 5, 1:25 pm, "Jay" <Jay.Pomp...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I understand that decent TV tuner cards have a PC monitor out and a
TV/video out connection for sending video to either your PC monitor or
your TV. What I'm not sure of is how you select which output you want
to use. In other words, sometimes I want to surf the net on my PC
monitor. And other times, say, I downloaded a show using Media Center,
and now I want to 'push' it to the TV and watch it. How do you switch
between the two? I know on the TV end I would probably have to switch
sources, but what about the originating (PC) end to tell it to go to
the TV output and not the PC monitor output?

Also, one other thing I don't understand is, do I need to put my
Comcast cable box in line before the input to the TV tuner card? Or
does the TV tuner card in the PC already serve as a type of cable box?
What I'm getting at is I need to know if I need to pick up a SECOND
digital cable box (1 for the TV, and one for the PC) for the PC.

I'm thinking (and please anyone is welcome to offer other suggestions)
is that I want to keep my PC as the content recorder and 'pusher' to
the TV.

Thank you.




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: HELP! Dell told me I cannot watch tv on my tv AND work on com
    ... Or is AOL maybe trying to use your tuner card as a webcam and taking over the driver? ... find out where you monitor is plugged in and there should be a SVideo connector right beside it. ... At the same time that I'm computing, I want to watch media center recorded video and/or live t.v. output by the media center on my little t.v. ... It's not good to have this big, beautiful monitor with a little window for t.v. and another little window for computing. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: HELP! Dell told me I cannot watch tv on my tv AND work on com
    ... You said you ran svideo from the tuner card to the modulator. ... find out where you monitor is plugged in and there should be a SVideo connector right beside it. ... My t.v. is not necessarily older, but is new and cheap and little (just supposed to be one I could watch shows on while computing in my office). ... At the same time that I'm computing, I want to watch media center recorded video and/or live t.v. output by the media center on my little t.v. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Media Center PC/TV useage with a TV tuner card. Possible? How to toggle between...
    ... set up the multiple monitor feature found on the Settings tab of ... Now start Media ... cables. ... Comcast cable box in line before the input to the TV tuner card? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Media Center PC/TV useage with a TV tuner card. Possible? How to toggle between...
    ... just try the other monitor. ... Now start Media ... cables. ... Comcast cable box in line before the input to the TV tuner card? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Media Center PC/TV useage with a TV tuner card. Possible? How
    ... I tried this method with success until I clicked on media center - then I ... primary monitor and also adjusting screen resolution to no avail). ... cables. ... Comcast cable box in line before the input to the TV tuner card? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)