TV on Your Computer: Understanding TV signals and TV tuners
With Windows Media Center — a feature included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate — you can watch and record live TV on your computer. All you need is a TV tuner and a TV signal.
About TV tuners
A TV tuner is a device that enables you to connect an analog or digital TV signal to your computer. Without a TV tuner, you cannot watch and record live TV in Windows Media Center. TV tuners come in two basic model types: external TV tuners, which usually plug into a USB port on your computer, and internal TV tuner cards, which you must install inside your computer.
A typical external TV tuner
Most computers do not include a TV tuner, but in many cases, it is possible to add one. For information about compatible TV tuners, contact your computer manufacturer or go to the Windows Vista Hardware Compatibility List Web site.
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About TV signals
Windows Media Center supports a wide range of TV signal types, including antenna signals, cable TV signals and satellite TV signals. The type of signal you can set up is determined by the type of TV tuner you have installed on your computer, the area in which you live and the cable or satellite television provider you subscribe to.
For a list of supported signal types, see TV signals that are supported by Windows Media Center.
