How do I set up a TV tuner on my computer?

A TV tuner is a device that helps a user to enjoy television and radio broadcasts on their personal computer. But is it easy to install it? Without the installation experience, there may be some difficulties with which it will not be easy to handle. If you doubt that you will be able to install this device yourself, then we bring to your attention an article devoted to this. Here we give a few tips on setting up and preparing for work. After reading this article, all questions will disappear, and "editing" and tuning will no longer seem complicated and incomprehensible. So, let's get down to business - how to choose and how to set up a TV tuner on a computer?

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Which is better?

TV tuners are different. No, no, nothing complicated. They can be classified in two ways:

1. Internal TV tuner. Installed directly on the motherboard. It is good that it does not take up much space, but there is a minus - you always need to take into account the power of the power unit. If you make a mistake, you can burn the power supply.
2. External TV tuner. It takes up more space, but it has its own power supply, which does not endanger the computer.

Important! If you are not sure when installing the internal tuner, consult an expert.

Installing an internal tuner

An internal TV tuner is a small expansion card for a PCI or PCI-Express slot. The difficulty lies in the fact that it will have to be installed in the case by its own efforts. Nobody cancels specialists who will cope with this case for a fee, but why waste money when you can avoid it?

Let's try to figure out how to install the tuner on your computer with your own hands:

1. Be sure to de-energize your computer when doing this.
2. Remove the side( left) cover of the system unit using a screwdriver. Find the motherboard on which the PCI slots( PCI-Express) are located. One slot, most likely, is free - there you need to install a TV tuner.
3. Carefully break the plug from the metal with a little effort. Take in the hands of the tuner itself, place it directly above the slot. Slightly press the device and insert it into the slot.
4. Now you need to take over the audio cable, which also comes with the kit. Connect one end to the output on the tuner, and the second - to the motherboard. Do not forget to return the computer cover.
5. On the "back" of the system unit, find the connector for the antenna cable and connect it there. If the tuner is equipped with an FM receiver, connect the antenna that should be included in the kit.
6. Current receivers are equipped with a remote control function. Hence - the kit includes an infrared receiver, for which there is an input in this device. Place the receiving element in the visibility zone so that it can receive signals from the control panel without obstacles.
7. Turn on the computer. Most likely, the system will notify you about the detection of new equipment and offer installation of drivers - it is better to ignore this message and install the driver yourself.

You can insert a disk, wait for the installation wizard and follow the simple instructions that it will offer.

Installing an external TV tuner

Installing an external tuner is much easier, because for this process you do not need to open the cover of the system unit:

1. You just need to connect the computer with the receiver with a special wire that can be found in the kit. Usually, the connection is made using a common mini-USB.

Important! The TV tuner itself is connected to the network, because it has its own power supply.

1. In order to receive a signal, you need to install an antenna in the device input.
2. Turns on our device with a special button located on the body.
3. Next - just insert the disk in the kit into the computer, follow the instructions and quietly start working.

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How to install on a laptop or other mobile device?

There are not many options here. A single glance at the receiver for a mobile device is enough to understand - you do not have to disassemble it, because it has a USB-input and connects to a similar output.

Very rarely, the connection is via Internet cards:

1. Find the right connector and connect the TV receiver.
2. Then do the familiar actions with connecting the antennas and installing the software.

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What should I look for when choosing?

First you need to figure out which TV you prefer? For today, the choice can fall not only on "traditional" analogue broadcasting, because there are digital, and even satellite receivers.

The lack of full digital broadcasting on the ground and the need to install a satellite dish make the latter two not the most popular. But if you are interested in digital and satellite TV, you should pay attention to hybrid tuners, which combine several receivers, "differently" processing signals.

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A little bit of advice

Obviously, setting up and installing the receiver on a PC is an elementary thing. Knowing all the rules described above, you do not have to use the services of a master. But finally leave a couple of tips:

• Do not try to force a component that does not "give in," because that's how you can break something.
• Remember the safety when installing new equipment.
• Use only verified software for viewing or listening.
• If any tips or instructions from this article do not help you, contact a specialist for advice.

As you saw, nothing complicated in the seemingly initially "terrible" connection process is not present. Do everything clearly, checking the correspondence of the inputs and outputs, and then after 10 minutes you will calmly watch your favorite movies and get that pleasure from the quality of the picture and sound, which you counted on. Good luck!