TV Tuner Card and Verizon Fios TV...

[roadrunner1659]

Hello,

I'm building a computer right now and the last thing i am looking for is a TV Tuner card b/c i want to run our (soon to be) Verizon FiosTV through my comp...at the same time i would like to run Beyond TV 4 program...

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know...if you need to know more information simply ask!

Thanks

...i called verizon and they told me that my parents ordered 4 top boxes for each of the TV's...so can i run a TV tuner card off of one of these?

[myktek]

Verizon FiosTV uses a set top box, so you will have to have a TV tuner of course, an IR Blaster and cables for the audio to the computer. Thats pretty much it, but it really depends on your set top box, which one did you get?

[roadrunner1659]

i dont know what type of set top box we are getting...they are coming to setup the Fios TV this tuesday...

what type of TV tuner would you suggest for me to get so that i get the full capabilities of the Fios TV?

what is a IR Blaster?

[myktek]

get a Hauppauge PVR-150 w/ the built in IR Blaster.

An IR Blaster is what that allows your TV tuner card to control your set top box.

[roadrunner1659]

just so i know b/c i dont know alot about this stuff but when i get a tv tuner and connect to a set top box...will the set to box run the tv it was setup to run off of and also my computer?

which of the several Hauppauge PVR-150 should i get?

and the tv tuner you suggested will give me all the available channels that come with the Fios? also, will this tv tuner card give me good picture...i only ask b/c a friend of mine just build my comp and i am ordering it tomorrow and a big part of my comp is quality in the picture and presentation of movies and games and tv...i was looking for an HD type look...not sure if you need any specific parts...i just want a fantastic look while watching the tv on my comp...

will this allow me to record shows and whatever? i plan on running the beyond tv program but not sure if i need more to record?

also will a tv tuner card run off of Win XP Pro?

[myktek]

depending on your set top box and how it outputs to your TV, because the set top box will have to be connected to the TV Tuner(computer) via s-video/component cables which means your limited to about a 480i resolution so it won't be HD quality. Since you only have one set top box for that room, if your watching TV on the regular TV, it will display the same thing on your computer, you will need another set top box if you want to watch different channels on your TV and computer.

http://store.snapstream.com/wintvpvr150.html

that is the card I was speaking of, it includes the IR Blaster that you will need to control your set top box.

To really get the full experience out of Beyond TV, I would get a 2nd set top box for that room so that you can record one channel and watch a different channel, but this would require a 2nd IR Blaster and TV tuner card. FYI, you can't use two Hauppauge IR blasters to control separate boxes in the same computer, this is a limitation of the IR Blaster software.

[roadrunner1659]

so for me to have total control on the cable on my comp then i need to get another set top box...im just wondering but if i were able to get another set top box could that be setup in my room or would it have to be setup in the closet room with the other set top box?


...this one tv tuner i would be able to watch tv but not record...and in order to record i would need yet another tv tuner card?

thanks for the help!

[myktek]

the set top box should be in view or the IR Blaster, so that the computer can completely control it.

if you have only 1 set top box, you can have it connected to your computer and TV, but whatever you watch on either will mirror on the other, so if your watching ESPN on the TV, then you would be also watching it on the computer.
So if you were recording something on the computer and turned on the TV and changed the channel, the computer would record whatever you were watching or just stop the recording.

1 TV tuner card allows you to watch or record a TV station(1 set top box). 2 cards will allow you to record one station and watch another one(requires 2 set top boxes) or just record two stations while watching one of the recorded stations.