TV Tuner Cards
A relatively new technological innovation, TV tuner cards allows computer users to watch TV via their computer CPU. By channeling the right frequencies, TV tuner cards, also called ‘video capture cards,’ send TV signals through the CPU so broadcasts can be recorded for later replay.

Most, if not all, TV tuner cards have flash memory to decode signals so they can be displayed in living color instantaneously. Some TV tuner cards even have a flash memory capacity able to decipher multiple video formats so that shows from various locations, on different frequencies, and, perhaps, even cable TV, might be captured and directed into a computer CPU in a matter of seconds. This flash memory component is even designed to facilitate international application so people all over can utilize the TV tuner card in conjunction with their own respective broadcasting services and in their own languages. If not already, TV tuner cards will soon be on the market and produced all over the world. Finally, TV tuner cards allow computers to serve as FM radios. Since the range of frequencies used by FM radio stations fluctuates between TV broadcast channels 6 and 7, TV tuner cards are capable of intercepting and transmitting FM signals through the computer CPU for anyone’s listening pleasure.

In addition, TV tuner for laptops and TV tuners for notebooks are also available so those individuals on-the-go can watch their favorite TV show or the news while riding the bus or having a cup of Latte at the coffee shop. During lunch breaks, those individuals who are out-and-about can, at any time, switch gears on their laptops; TV tuner cards make it a reality for anyone to quickly catch the news or see the end of a favorite soap opera while eating at a restaurant.

Many companies have already gone into producing these sophisticated little devices. NVIDIA™, for example, has created the DualTV MCE®, which allows anyone to schedule recording time for any television program on any channel. This particular TV tuner card allows watching or taping two different channels simultaneously. WinTV-HVR-950®, produced by Hauppauge ™, plugs into any USB 2.0 port drive and directs signals so that high-definition digital television images (ATSC as well as NTSC television reception) can be played anywhere. The WinTV tuner card is compatible for laptops and desktops, and is in “stick” form, so it is convenient to carry around. Because they’re easy to use anywhere at anytime, these two TV tuner cards can be loosely referred to as ‘express cards’; TV tuner for laptops has become so common that every laptop may regularly soon come with an internal or plug-in TV tuner card.

For those individuals who work long hours on the computer and love TV as well as music radio, PC TV combines the three in one to bring the world to one’s fingertips and make life so much easier.