TV on PC help

[SAVAGE-0]

Hey all... I was wondering if any of you use anything to get tv to your PC.  I used to a while back and I remember the service I used to get the local listings started asking for money, then I moved so i didn't need to use it any more anyway...  Now I'm back on my own and want to set it up again.. Just wondering if any1 can recommend a program for 1 viewing/recording and also the plugin that gives you the local program listings.  (free would be my first choice, so if something costs money I'd need a good argument)

[Darklink]

I'm thinking Mozilla might have a program for it?

I use Windows Media Center to watch live TV on my PC. However it requires you to have Cable already.

[copulatingduck]

If you don't need to be a cheap bastard, you could drop $20/yr on Schedules Direct

Alternatively there's also XMLTV (free but not as good from what I've heard from friends using Schedules Direct)

[SAVAGE-0]

forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

[Darklink]

forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yeah now that I notice you just want local channels just hooking a coaxial cable into your computer should work. In my computer I have a PCI card I plug it into, so you may need one.

I'm pretty sure all versions of Vista have it, and XP Professional does also.

Oh, you can also use Media Center as a TIVO. You can rewind live TV (to a certain extent I believe, like the last commercial break), and record it.

[CaffeinePowered]

forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)

[Darklink]

[quote author=SAVAGE-0 link=topic=3265.msg97165#msg97165 date=1247490956]
forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)
[/quote]It records in WMV so I'll assume that's the only format it will stream? Maybe mp4 also.

[zaneyard]

if you have cable, you are going to need a TV tuner card to input coax
that said, you're going to need some sort of tuner attached to your PC no matter what service you use

[SAVAGE-0]

no yea I've had a hauppage card for a few years now ... just havent used it in over 18 months or so.  New OS so none of the old programs are installed - Once I hook it all up i'll let ppl know how it's going - if you're interested (even if you're not I guess =P)

[Ertai]

[quote author=SAVAGE-0 link=topic=3265.msg97165#msg97165 date=1247490956]
forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)
[/quote]

lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

[copulatingduck]

lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

you forgot the bit about "regedit" or whatever it's named

tho knowing how inept some people are it's probably for the best

[SAVAGE-0]

Figured I'd update with the success story finally... I didnt have the power adapter bc the dude who moved out of the apt. took it with him, so i finally for a new one from the comcast store and set it up... media center is quite easy and works well enough for all i need... Built in Guide, so I can set it to record shows and have it change channels with the IR blaster.  I've got a big moniter, so the plan was to have that instead of a TV - not for xbox or anything like that. 

So yea.. it works great - let me know if you want to know more... very easy set up and pretty cheap

[Ertai]

[quote author=Ertai link=topic=3265.msg99923#msg99923 date=1248268366]
lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

you forgot the bit about "regedit" or whatever it's named

tho knowing how inept some people are it's probably for the best
[/quote]

Meh, if they are messing with media center they already know about regedit.