Looking for info on watching TV via my laptop....

[Kevin Palmer]

I travel so much that I think it would be nice to be able to watch TV while out and about killing time in airports and what not.



One item I have found is "pinnacle pctv".



Anyone have any familiarity of this item or something like it.



I don't mind buying an item, but I do not want any monthly fees. In the case of the pinnacle pctv it basically costs $100 to $120 new and seems to do what I am after. Just wondering if anyone out there uses this or something similar.



Thanks...

 

[Chris H 3]

Another option is 'slingbox'. It attaches to your house cable and broadcasts it to your laptop over the internet.

 

[Travis Munday]

I recently got a new laptop, an HP dv9000 series, it comes preloaded with Vista Media Center, and a TV tuner card. The card plugs into the laptop, and then you can connect an antenna, provided, for over-the-air broadcasts, or connect to RCA inputs, or cable/S-Video inputs. I've only tested it with the antenna, but works decently enough. May wanna look to see if you can get something from your computer manufacturer that is similar.



No fees other then the cost of the laptop, of course.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Everybody that I have talked to that uses Slingbox loves it, and there are no fees. It will give you what you want, which is the ability to watch stuff from your home cable system while on the road; even stuff recorded on your DVR (you can't do that with a tuner card).



TJR

 

[Bob McDonald]

The problem with Slingbox is it will not do what Kevin is wanting to do. He wants to watch over-the-air programs while he is killing time waiting for airline flights in airports.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Uncle-Bob is correct in that I will want to watch from unusual locations.



However, I THINK slingbox will work with my phone as well as it is Internet capable. I have an LG phone that is broadband. I pay $15.00 a month for unlimited use.



So the SlingBox is an option still.



Tiger, I have a new laptop that does have Vista. What is the card or part number that you have, I may be interested in that avanue...



Thanks...

 

[Travis Munday]

It's an HP ExpressCard Digital/Analog TV tuner. HP part number: 438587-001.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Uncle Bob,



I read and re-read Coastie's post before my original post, and then again just now, and no where that I see does he "specifically" say he wants to view OTA (over the air) TV.



Now, I can see how you might have assumed that, but since he didn't say it specifically, I assumed (yeah, I assume too) a solution that worked in WiFi hotspots, like in airports and such.



TJR

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Tiger, I have done some research on your card. The one thing I am not seeing is the compatibility with computers.



I have a Toshiba with dual-core, 2 gig Ram.



Processor Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2080 @ 1.73GHz, 1733 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)





What do you think?

 

[Nick Smith]

Here are a bunch of options from Newegg that you might want to go with.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Coastie, I have been using a Slingbox since January. It is awesome and what is nice is I can use it from anywhere. I especially like being able to watch in airports during long layovers. The Wi-Fi in most airports is fast enough to give excellent sound and audio.



I have watched from unusual locations like the airports, hotels in numerous cities around the World, coffee shops, etc. Typically, my connection maxes out at 256 KB/s. This gives a very good picture. If you have a higher upstream speed, you can even opt for a HDTV version. I just have the basic version and it is good enough for me and my daughter. The only thing it isn't capable of doing is let us watch on both our laptops simultaneously.

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Coastie, I have the Pinnacle PCTV -- I love it. I use it on the ship connected to the CCTV and it also comes with an antenna that allows you to pcik up broadcast HDTV.



Only issue is I have a 2ghz AMD processor.... so it's a little choppy sometimes when watching HDTV. My daughters new dual core makes it kick a$$ though.



Also, it sticks out like a thumb drive, and when you connect the tv cable to it, it pulls the tuner down a little. I propped mine up with a copenhagen can.... fits perfect.



I think the PCTV was 80.00 or so at best buy. Check the online price first and print it out. I got to the store and found it was 10.00 more and had to argue them down. (I could have bought it online and picked up at the store for the cheaper price -- I told them I would go to the parking lot and do just that with wifes cell phone.)

 

[Kevin Palmer]

cruzrtwdgt,



The main reason I was interested in the is because of siting on a plane or in an airport for the times I do not have wifi for whatever reason.



I do have a dual core Processor Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2080 @ 1.73GHz, 1733 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s).



How does this compare to your daughters computer?



Thanks for the info....

 

[Wes Davis]

A tuner card and a Slingbox will both work.



Drawbacks

Tuner card or laptop equivalent = must have access to over the air or access to a cable tv line.

Slingbox = must have a very high quality consistent and fast internet connection wireless or wired.



I think for what you are looking for I would go with the tuner card option. This will allow you to view local channels broadcast over the air no matter where your located. I am guessing most airports are in metropolitan areas so over the air should be abundant and clear. This way you can watch tv with no dependency on internet connection. Simply sit near a window and prop up your antenna. LOL you could mount the antenna to your ball cap for 100% dual axis adjustability.

 

[Wes Davis]

 

[Wes Davis]

Very interesting and something you should be aware of that all over the air channels must be broadcast in digital coming up in a few years. If your option will not pick up digital programming you will be out of luck after the changeover.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Good info, thanks Me....

 

[Travis Munday]

Coastie,

Those computer specs sound similar to mine, but the main thing would be if the card would even be able to plug into the computer. I'm not sure what type of card it is, PCI or otherwise. Not much help, but my documentation doesn't help much either. Dunno why manufacturers hide some simple stats sometimes.



One thing that would be handy is if you could also have the ability to record TV onto your laptop. You could record your favorite shows, burn them to a DVD, then watch them again if OTA, over the air, was boring or not working.



I'm thinking this is the card type: ExpressCard 34/54, as my computer specs list that as a card slot. What that means, I'm not too sure.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Tiger, I have that slot on my computer as well...



Thanks....

 

[Don Edwards]

This is what I use, it is from best buys canadian site



http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10081833&catid=20397



Don Monkeyboy