HOW TO WATCH FREE TV ON YOUR PC

Have you ever dreamed of watching free TV, or, for that matter, listening to free radio on your PC?

If so, thanks to the wonders of technology, your dream has come true.

There are a number of ways to go about it.

First off, before you buy any electronic components or devices to that end, make sure you read, contrast and compare specifications/requirements for compatibility.

For instance, if a TV tuner is USB2 specified, and your computer is USB1 equipped, incompatibility is definitely an issue to contend with.

1.No internet access required to watch Over The Air TV.

• For a desktop PC: buy an external or internal TV tuner (an electronic component which enables computers to receive tv signals), read and follow the instructions (manufacturer's instructions supersede and override any and all advices given, suggestions made or ideas shared in this hub), install it*, download the software and connect the TV Antenna. Most Amplified TV Antennas (see illustrative picture below♣) yield crisp and clear images. Voila!
  

• For a laptop: buy a PC TV card or a USB TV tuner, read and comply with the instructions, install it, download software, extend TV Antenna. Start enjoying free TV at home, in your car, virtually everywhere.
  

• For audio sound, the following components are essential:

–Dual Headphone Y- adapter♣,

–Headset♣, and

–Speakers♣.

(See illustrative photos below♣.)

Here is how to proceed for the audio sound:

1. Plug TV tuner's audio line into one side (input) of Dual Headphone Y-adapter.
2. Plug headset or speaker audio line into the other side (output) of Dual Headphone Y-adapter.
   

Most TV tuners feature FM radio with antenna for your listening pleasure, remote control, and S-Video/Composite 2 in1 Cable.

A few TV tuner brands worth mentioning for example's sake:

– Avermedia♣,

– Hauppauge♣,

– Plextor♣, etc.

Please be advised that the aforementioned brands, or, for that matter, pictures of any brands, are just for illustration purposes only. (See illustrative photos below.) They are neither endorsed nor unrecommended. Feel free to buy the TV tuner that suits you best, based on like, dislike, requirements/specifications, research and value.

Which TV format can you watch on your PC or notebook?

♦ NTSC (National Television System Committee) Analog Cable TV (for a monthly bill ).

♦ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) High definition TV (HDTV).

♦QAM (Quadrature amplitude modulation) Digital Cable TV (for a monthly bill).

♦ANALOG TV.

You can also watch and record TV ( using MPEG-2 ) in a small window or full screen.

Thanks to the latest features of these TV tuners, You'll be ready for the Digital TV Transition.

If you already have an Analog TV tuner and wish to view Digital TV, it can easily be done by plugging (read and follow instructions) a Digital TV converter box with analog pass-through (see illustrative picture below♣) into the Analog TV tuner. Don't forget , to that end, to check out:

• www.DTV2009.gov (See link below for free Digital TV converter box coupons.), or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY) for free Digital TV converter box coupons.

For more information on Digital Television (DTV), the following websites/telephone numbers are very helpful:

• www.dtvanswers.com,

• www.dtvtransition.org,

• www.antennaweb.org,
  

• www.ce.org, and
  
• DTV.gov or 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY) (1-888-835-5322).
  

To install a Digital TV converter box, proceed as follows, according to the FCC Consumer Facts Sheet:

1. Unplug the existing coaxial antenna wire from your TV "Antenna in (RF)" port. (In our case the TV tuner line.)
2. Plug the existing coaxial wire into the “Antenna In (RF)” port (IN) on your Converter Box.
3. Using the coaxial wire that comes with your Converter Box, plug one end into the “Out To TV (RF)” port on the Converter Box. Plug the other end into the “Antenna In (RF)” port on your TV. (The TV tuner in our scenario.)
   
4. Plug the power cords on your Converter Box and TV into a power outlet, and turn on your TV and Converter Box. (In our case the TV tuner is powered from the USB port or otherwise.) Using the instructions that come with your Converter Box, tune your TV to channel 3 or 4. Using the remote that comes with your Converter Box, follow the on-screen set-up guide to scan for available DTV channels, and begin enjoying the benefits of Digital Television!

Wanna watch your favorite shows on a large screen TV?

No problem. Just hook up the computer to the TV set!

2. Internet connection needed to watch TV.

• In order to watch worldwide free Internet TV, access to free Internet TV portals is a must. It's a gateway to thousands of free news, business, educational, entertainment, religious, music, sports, lifestyle, webcams, sexy movies ,and adults**programs.

Here is a list of free Internet TV portals (software free):

• Freetube.110mb.com (Freetubetv.net)
  
• Americafree.tv
• Beelinetv.com
• Channelflix.com
• Streamick.com
• Wwitv.com
• Global-itv.com
• Watchtvonline.110mb
• Beta.tidaltv.com
• Hulu.com
• Fancast.com
• Worldtvpc.com
  

Here is a list of free software you can download and start watching worldwide TV right now:

• Ziggytv3.3
• US.TVv3.0
• Tv2.2
• Jlc-software.com
• HalpTV 3
  
• Mint Online TV 2.2
• SilverTV 3
  
• Free Internet Television 1.1
• Tv Viewer-Watch Live TV Streams 1
• CyberTV 5.0.1
• Livestation.com
• Blinkotv.com
• TheLiveTVSoftware.com
• Readon Technology
  

If none of the aforementioned free TV tuner software suits your TV viewing taste, by all means, sample a full feature (paid) version one.

In conclusion, you can, indeed, watch free TV on your PC or laptop. Most software are free, hardware (TV tuner, Digital TV converter box and Antenna) is not. Enjoy!

Last, but not least, if this hub sheds some light on the darkness of our technological ignorance, please feel free to rate it.

Why not join hubpages as a publisher, start sharing your ideas, life experience and expertise with the rest of the world, and earn some green in the process?

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* If you are not technically inclined to install an internal TV tuner card, the services of a qualified technician are advised.

** Parental control and guidance suggested. You may opt for a family version.

P.W. Words of wisdom: Your TV wont stop watching you, unless and until you stop watching it!

♣ AVerMedia is a registered trademark of AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Copyright 1991-2009, AVerMedia Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.

♣ The Hauppauge logo and WinTV are registered trademarks of Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. © 1995 - 2008 Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. All rights reserved.

♣ ©2008 Plextor LLc. All rights reserved. Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha.

♣ Logitech, the Logitech logo, and the Logitech products referred to herein are either the trademarks or the registered trademarks of Logitech. Copyright © 2009 Logitech. All rights reserved.

♣ Plantronics, the name, logo design ,are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc ©2005-2009 Plantronics, Inc. All rights reserved.

♣ RadioShack (Radio Shack) is a registered trademark and service mark of TECHNOLOGY PROPERTIES, INC. Copyright © RadioShack Corporation 2009. All rights reserved.

♣ Genius is a registered trademark of KYE Systems Corp. (c) 2005 GENIUS GmbH - all rights reserved.

♣ Philips is a trademark of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

♣ PHILCO is a registered trademark of Philips Electronics North America Corporation.

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