Commonly Asked HDTV PC Tuner Card Questions

What is the difference between a hybrid and combo PC tuner?
Both can tune analog and digital signals, however the hybrid can tune/record only one (analog or digital) signal at a time, while the combo can do both.

What are the PC hardware and software requirements?
Some cards can be used on Windows ME/2000/XP and XP Media Center 2005 or Vista operating systems. Some run exclusively on XP or Media Center. A minimum of 128MB memory and 800 MHz processor is required.

Can I receive HD cable and satellite signals with a HDTV PC tuner?
You cannot receive HD satellite programs but some tuners will tune unencrypted HD cable. These are usually the local ABC, NBC, PBS, FOX and CBS channels. In other words the ones you can probably receive locally over the air.

Can I do Tivo-type functions on a PC tuner?
Yes, you can schedule, record & time-delay HDTV and standard format TV programs just like Tivo. All with no monthly fee.

How much hard drive space will a recorded HD program use?
Although it varies by program, plan on around 9 GB per hour.

Will I need anything other than a tuner card?
With most tuner cards, you’ll need a video card with at least 64 MB memory to support video decoding. That means the built in video on most older PC’s will not suffice. More on video card requirements here. If you want to test your current graphics card to see if it will work, go here for a test program.

There is one tuner that will work without any video card upgrades. See its review here.

What kind of displays/monitors can I use with a PC HDTV Tuner?
Most LCD and CRT PC monitors make excellent HDTV displays. Just about any LCD HDTV has a VGA interface which will work fine, too. If you have a DVI interface on your graphic’s card, any HDTV ready monitor with a DVI or HDMI interface can be used as a display.

Do I have to use the mouse and keyboard to control the tuner?
No, many come with a remote control.

Can I have multiple HDTV tuners in a PC?
Yes.

Can I play a recorded program and record another show at the same time?
Yes, though you may need to load some freeware on your PC. Go here to see info on free HDTV software.

Can I record two HDTV shows at the same time?
With multiple tuners, or the dual digital tuner HDHomeRun or Vbox 164e you can.

Can I pause a live program and restart it later?
Yes, some tuners even allow you to pause and if you can't get back to the program in a reasonable time, will allow you to save it for viewing later.

Can I save a HDTV program on a DVD?
Yes, but only with a HD DVD recorder. Standard DVD players can only record in SD (Standard Definition 480i or 480p) format. You can save a raw HD file to a DVD but it cannot be played by a standard DVD player. For more information about recording HD on a HD DVD player go here.

What stations are available and how much programming is in HD?
See this link for your local stations that broadcast in HD. By entering your zip code, this program can tell you what is available in your area.

When will over the air broadcasts be only in digital format?
Congress has set a February 2009 date for the end of analog over the air broadcasts.

What is the cost of a non-PC based/stand-alone HDTV tuner?
They can run from $200 to well over $1000. However these boxes cannot pause or record programs. For that you will need another $500+ for a HD DVR.

Can you use a laptop for a HDTV tuner?
Yes a USB connected external HDTV tuner can run on a laptop.

What kind of antenna will I need to get HDTV programs over the air?
That really depends on your location. If you’re in town and close to the source of the local HDTV broadcasts, maybe nothing more than a $2 double bowtie UHF antenna from Radio Shack or the old favorite from yesteryear “rabbit ears” style antenna. For more on antennas and how to determine where your broadcast towers are located, check out the antenna guide section.

Can I capture DVI or component output from a satellite or cable box with an HDTV tuner?
No, the input to an HDTV tuner is only via a cable or over the air coax connection.

What is the best HDTV tuner?
Well that depends (don’t you just love that answer). Key issues are your systems hardware (type of PC, graphics card, memory, processor, etc), the software (type of operation system), and whether you want a tuner for cable or over the air. See more here.