Understanding TV signals and tuners

With Windows Media Center, you can watch and record live TV on your computer. All you need is a TV tuner and a TV signal. This article describes the kinds of tuners and signals that are available, and what you'll need to connect a TV signal properly.

About TV tuners: Without a TV tuner, you cannot watch and record live TV in Windows Media Center.

A TV tuner is a device that enables you to connect an analog or digital TV signal to your PC or laptop. They come in two basic model types: external TV tuners, which usually plug into a USB port on your computer, and internal TV tuner cards, which you must install inside your computer.

A typical external TV tuner

A typical TV tuner card

You might even be able to add multiple tuners (for example, two individual tuners, one dual tuner, or one combo tuner) to your computer. Multiple tuners enable you to record one channel while watching another or to record two shows simultaneously.

About TV signals: Windows Media Center supports a wide range of TV signal types, including antenna signals, cable TV signals, and satellite TV signals. The type of signal you can set up is determined by the type of TV tuner you have installed on your computer, the area in which you live, and the cable or satellite television provider you subscribe to.

Making the connection: Before you can watch and record TV in Windows Media Center for the first time, you'll need to physically connect a TV signal to the TV tuner on your computer. This typically involves connecting one end of a coaxial cable to your tuner and the other end to your TV signal source (for example, an over-the-air antenna, a cable TV jack in the wall, a cable TV set-top box, or a satellite TV set-top box).

Learn more: How to set up a TV tuner