Noob question: recording alternatives from set-top DTV tuner

I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

Thanks.

On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:13:05 -0700, "Mr. Land"
wrote:

I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

Thanks.

I'm wondering what is a DTV tuner? My first thought was DirecTV (since
I have their service), but that doesn't fit right with the rest of
your post. Then I assumed Digital TV. But if Digital, do you mean SD
or HD? In any case, a lot of what you need to be able to record to
your PC depends on what signal(s) the "DTV tuner" you bought has as
outputs. My guess is that it has composite output, like what you'd
send to an (old) computer Monitor. In that case, you'd need a video
card that can take composite video as an input. Most of the All-in-one
cards like ATI will do that. One I have will also take RF video in...
like what you get from an analog cable or an ourdoor TV antenna with
coax lead-in. So check out your "tuner", see what output options it
has, then look for cards that accept that as input.

--
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Mr. Land wrote:
I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

Thanks.

You will need a video input on your PC and most don't have one. I got a
Pinnacle PCI card with s-video, composite and sound inputs. I plugged in
an older s-video camcorder and it worked fine to move home movies to
DVD. If your just doing basic capture, look at this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pinna...oductDetail.do

I got the HD USB stick (which is a HDTV tunner)and it works well also.
The software could be better but the last patch helped and the Pinnacle
Dazzle DVD Recorder is only $50.
-Mike

On Sep 18, 11:13 am, "Mr. Land" wrote:
I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality
built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I
want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

Thanks.

You'll spend less time and money if you just buy a DTV tuner for the
PC. Wes Newell uses Air2Pc cards he got as low as $20. If your tuner
has a firewire connection _maybe_ it wouldn't be too bad but you'll
still have issues with just selecting the channel from the PC.

With our HDTV Wonders (ATI product) I program a time and channel like
a VCR and it records whatever format the station is airing HD or SD
and play it back later through the PC connected to the 50" TV in HD or
SD.

GG

On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:13:05 -0700, Mr. Land wrote:

I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

It's of no value for recording to a PC. If you don't need it, sell it on
ebay, or something. If you want to record DTV (ATSC) to a pc, there are
several options, the cheapest of which would be an air2pc pci ATSC tuner
card. I have 6 of them in my networked MythTV system. You can get them on
ebay also. I got the last 2 for under $20 each. One was $17.50 and another
for $18.64 plus about $5 for shipping. Depending on the STB model you have
you might get up to $100 or more for it.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Mr. Land ) wrote:
: I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

: I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
: in.

: I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
: record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
: need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
: video into the PC for recording?

: Thanks.

You can use your tuner to record HD programs on your old VCR. I
doubt that you can connect it to a PC unless it has USB output
and appropriate software.

Cass

On Sep 18, 3:14 pm, Charlie Hoffpauir wrote:
On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:13:05 -0700, "Mr. Land"
wrote:

I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
in.

I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
video into the PC for recording?

Thanks.

I'm wondering what is a DTV tuner? My first thought was DirecTV (since
I have their service), but that doesn't fit right with the rest of
your post. Then I assumed Digital TV. But if Digital, do you mean SD
or HD?

DTV Tuner == a tuner capable of receiving broadcast (On-The-Air)
digital
channels. Otherwise known as an ATSC tuner. Thanks for your reply.

On Sep 19, 10:21 am, (Cass Lewart) wrote:
Mr. Land ) wrote:

: I have a set-top DTV tuner that I bought at CircuitCity.

: I no longer use it as our replacement TV has this functionality built-
: in.

: I'd like find out what options I would have in using this tuner to
: record DTV broadcasts onto my PC. What sort of outputs would I want/
: need on the tuner? Would I need a special video card to feed the
: video into the PC for recording?

: Thanks.

You can use your tuner to record HD programs on your old VCR. I
doubt that you can connect it to a PC unless it has USB output
and appropriate software.

Cass

Thanks everyone, for the responses. Appreciate your time.