[Nance4pc]

This is my first time doing this so please bear with me. I have read about a computer program that will enable me to see all TV channels live thru my PC and/or connect to my TV to see it actual size. I will even be able to view cable channels; IS THIS FOR REAL?? Hasanyone heard of it, my brother said ask PC Woeld they would know.

[smax013]

Nance4pc said:

This is my first time doing this so please bear with me. I have read about a computer program that will enable me to see all TV channels live thru my PC and/or connect to my TV to see it actual size. I will even be able to view cable channels; IS THIS FOR REAL?? Hasanyone heard of it, my brother said ask PC Woeld they would know.

It is not clear from your post what you are specifically talking about.



I can say that there are ways to watch TV on your computer, even cable or satellite TV programming.



The most common way is to get a tuner card for you computer. There are several different types...ones that go in a computer slot of a desktop machine and others that use a USB port. This option is "best" for either over the air TV signals (you must hook up some kind of antenna) or analog cable channels (you hook up your cable line to the computer) as the tuner on the tuner card can directly tuner in channels. When used with either of these types of TV signals, you can actually have your computer behave as a DVR/PVR and record shows. You can also still use digital cable or satellite with such options, but usually you still have to have the cable or satellite box to tune in the stations (both digital cable and satellite generally use encoded/encrypted signals and the box from the cable or satellite company is required to decoded/decrypt the signal). You can still generally record the shows but it is less convinient typically. When used with digital cable or satellite, you are not actually using the tuner in the tuner card but rather just using a pure video/audio input on the card.



Another option is something like a SlingBox (www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox). This is a device that you connect to your cable line, cable/satellite box, a DVD player, a DVR, a VCR, or some other video device and then you can stream the video and audio content of that device over your network and/or the Internet to your computer. You can set it up so that you can even remotely control the video device through the Internet (i.e. change channel, start recording, play back recorded content of a DVR, etc). You then use software to watch the video stream on your computer, but you can also use some mobile devices to watch content (they have a Palm and Windows Mobile player for use with Smartphones). There are a couple other companies that make similar type devices. Some can even allow you to record content on the computer, I believe.



I don't know if that is what you were talking about...

[Nance4pc]

smax013

I think that it is something like 'Vonage' or 'magicJack' [and closer to magicJack - by attaching this device you are able to make phone calls all over the world for free]. The program is downloaded to you computer and then you are connected to all the TV channels. I have no idea how this can be done legally for either the phone or the TV, but it would save a lot of money and just think no more reruns. My questions is does it sound too good to be true??!! Thanks, for your help.

[mphenterprises]

Hi Nance4pc and welcome to the PCWorld Communities. :D




MagicJack is very real, very legal, and very possible. However, it is not for television viewing. It is for making free local and long distance phone calls connected directly to your computer, similar to Vonage. The difference is that the device is connected to an USB port of your computer and then your phone is plugged into it.

It was featured on CBS not too long ago. Here is the write up about it. http://cbs3.com/cons...r.2.544511.html

I was actually very tempted to test this product out but I have no need for it. So, if this is the device that you were referring to, this will not do anything for your television viewing.

[Nance4pc]

Okay everyone thanks for your interest, but I think that I have confused the issue. I am talking about a download called WebBrowserTV which is downloaded from a site called www.BitMar.com; it is nothing like magicJack [a phone device which enables you to call all over at no extra charge]; except for the fact that once WebBrowserTV is downloaded to your computer you are able to view any channel that is in the airwaves or wherever TV comes from at no cost to you. I know that magicJack is legit, and wonder if WebBrowserTV is too. Thanks, Nance

[Flashorn]

Hey Nance!!



OK, there is a device called PINNACLE PCTV HD PRO STICK .



This is not a Web Browser but, a physical device that looks like a

USB Memory Stick that actually receives signals from any TV station



You can view the details at this site:

PCTV HD PRO STICK .



FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[Nance4pc]

Thank you all for trying to help; the thing only costs $14.95 so I think I'll just buy it and see what it does. You all obviously know more about software than I do. But there seems to be a subtle difference in what I am looking for and what you are able to tell me. WebBrowserTV as opposed to a Web Browser for TV. I am closing my inquiry and thanks, but I may be back as I don't know Jack about my computer. Thanks.