| For those who would like a second television in | | | | megabyte per second. |
| their home, but are reluctant to spend the | | | | Using PC Like A Digital Recorder |
| money, you can consider watching satellite TV on | | | | Your computer will need to have a minimum of a |
| your PC. While it does not take a vast knowledge | | | | Pentium II, at 333 MHz processor and Windows |
| of computers and satellites, it does take a couple | | | | 98 or higher operating system. You will also need |
| more pieces of hardware. | | | | the PCTV card and an open slot in which it is |
| While some companies are advertising that with a | | | | installed or an open USB port to connect the |
| computer and an internet connection, along with | | | | external device for satellite TV on your PC and a |
| their software available for a one-time fee, a | | | | CD Rom drive. If your computer has the |
| person can begin receiving television shows on | | | | Windows media player, real player or quick time, |
| their computer once the software is installed. | | | | your television viewing will be more even and less |
| There are also many free to air programs | | | | jumpy. |
| available as satellite TV on your PC, however | | | | In order to receive satellite TV on your PC you |
| programming may be limited and for some of the | | | | can run a cable from your satellite dish directly to |
| programs you may still have to pay a licensing | | | | the computer's PCTV card or an available satellite |
| fee. | | | | box. You can also connect your PC by running a |
| In order to watch satellite TV on your PC or | | | | cable from your satellite system receiver's RF |
| listen to the radio, all you need as a PCTV card. | | | | output to the computer. Direct TV and Dish |
| One kind is installed in the PC while the other is | | | | Network both recommend this method for better |
| used as an external device and plugs in to a USB | | | | picture quality. |
| port. Using the computer's built-in circuitry, these | | | | Many free broadcasts you can receive as satellite |
| cards can decode the satellite signals, enabling | | | | TV on your PC are from all over the world and |
| users to watch the free-to-air programming. | | | | many will be in languages other than English. |
| Either type of card can be used to watch a | | | | However, by watching satellite TV on your PC |
| broadband signal, and while some programs may | | | | you can save the programs to your hard drive |
| be available by way of a phone line connection, | | | | for later viewing. |
| DSL, satellite signals are typically received at 40 | | | | |