PC TV receivers

There are a number of PC TV tuners products out there that allow you to view telly on your PC. Here are the facts:

There are three types: Two of these plug into a spare USB port, and one that’s a computer card that slots into a free slot at the back of your computer. You’ll find a good collection of USB and PCI TV receivers from: Maplin , PC World and Dabs.com.
Typically, you install the PC TV receiver then plug in a TV aerial. You install special software, and you have a TV set on your screen that you can move around, minimise and watch at your leisure.

Analogue or Digital? Analogue TV cards are typically the cheapest – these will be able to get the standard telly channels over-the-air, and can also tune in to connected Sky Digital boxes and equipment with a modulated output. Note that analogue TV cards won’t be able to get standard TV after the digital switchover. Digital tuners can get the Freeview channels (handy for when the UK goes digital), but they won’t be able to tune in to a video recorder or set-top box (which have analogue aerial outputs). For the best of both worlds, look for a hybrid PC TV receiver – in other words, one that can receive analogue and digital TV signals.