Windows Media Center brings together all your favorite entertainment for you to enjoy on your PC, on your TV or on the go.

Upgrade your Media Center PC with a TV tuner and remote control

Not all PCs that are running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are sold with a TV tuner or remote control. If your Media Center PC does not have a TV tuner or remote, you can add them to your PC at any time.

When you install a TV tuner that is designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition, you can watch, pause, and rewind live TV on your PC, and automatically record your favorite TV shows and movies. If you purchase a remote control that is designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition, you can control all of the entertainment that is on your Media Center PC from the comfort of your couch.

When you have a TV tuner, you can watch and record TV on your Media Center PC by connecting to a TV signal and receiving the signal from an antenna, cable, or satellite TV source. A TV tuner is either an internal tuner card or external hardware. An internal TV tuner card is installed inside your computer like a video card. A TV tuner can also be external hardware that is connected to your computer by a USB cable.

With a minimum of one TV tuner installed, you can watch and record TV by using your Media Center PC. If you install a second TV tuner, you can record or watch TV from more than one channel at the same time.

With one TV tuner, you can:

Watch live TV on one channel.
Record TV on one channel.
Watch a show that you have previously recorded while you record another show.

With two TV tuners, you can:

Watch live TV on one channel while another show that is on a different channel is recorded.
Record two different TV shows that are on two different channels at the same time.
Watch a show that you have previously recorded while two shows are recording at the same time, on two different channels.

Still have questions?

There are other ways that you can find the appropriate TV tuner and remote for your PC. You can:

Refer to the hardware documentation that came with your PC.
Visit the hardware manufacturer’s Web site.
Contact the hardware manufacturer directly.