Buying a Digital TV Tuner for Your Computer

Everyone knows that the major networks are scheduled to end analog transmissions in the near future, which means that you'll have to upgrade to a new television set (if you haven't done so already) in order to continue watching the broadcasts. That can be very expensive to say the least, so another option is to apply for a special government-issued coupon for a converter box to use on your old television. But not surprisingly, many people have reported problems with receiving the coupons in the first place or getting stores to accept the coupons. I don't want to deal with that kind of headache, which is why buying a digital TV tuner for my laptop is looking better and better.

A digital TV tuner is a simple device that connects either internally or externally to your computer, thereby allowing you to watch high-quality broadcasts right on your monitor. These tuners can be installed on both desktop and laptop models, so if the one for my laptop works out well enough, I might just go ahead and buy another one for the computer in my office.

Hooking up a digital TV tuner to a computer is relatively easy. If you purchase an internal card, you'll have to open up your PC for the installation or pay someone to do it for you if you're not comfortable with that prospect. If you purchase an external digital TV tuner, then all you need to do is connect the device to your desktop or laptop via a USB port. You'll also need a coaxial cable for everything to work properly, but that shouldn't pose too much of a problem.

Most electronic stores carry digital TV tuner kits specifically designed for computers. Kits at the lower end of the price spectrum will include tuners but not much else. A higher-end kit will include various accessories and features such as a remote control, recording functions, and DVD burning capabilities. These types of features are actually very important if you'll be using your computer instead of a television on a regular basis. This is what I plan on doing, so I am definitely willing to pay more money for these extras.

After doing a few price checks, I've got a few ballpark figures for how much a digital TV tuner will run me. At the lowest end of the spectrum, these devices can cost as little as $30, but I doubt that something that cheap would deliver the picture quality that I want. At the higher end, I saw products costing upwards of $140 or $150, which is admittedly rather steep. Then again, it's still a lot better than having to shell out for a whole new television set!

If you're looking for an alternative method of coping with the end of analog television broadcasts, why not consider buying a digital TV tuner for your computer? This is a convenient and cost-effective way to cope with the big transition, so give it a shot!