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+--- Thread: Win Watch TV on a PC (/showthread.php?tid=191865)
Watch TV on a PC - littlebear - 2014-04-10
First let me apologize for my ignorance when it comes to this topic.
I'm trying to find software that would allow me to watch TV on my PC.
I have always used Windows Media Center on my system and watch with a tuner card connected to cable (which I pay for).
I don't mind my current setup, but the PC is very old and needs replacing.
Now I have just purchased a new PC running Windows 8 and it does not come with Windows Media Center and I refuse to give Microsoft any more money by purchasing the pro pack for $99.99.
So my question to this forum is,
Is there a simply FREE software program that I can use to watch TV using a tuner card and "paid for" cable on my PC?
RE: Watch TV on a PC - Ned Scott - 2014-04-10
Depends on the cable company. Some, like Comcast, flag most channels as "copy freely" and they will work with Windows PVR backends like NextPVR and ARGUS TV.
RE: Watch TV on a PC - littlebear - 2014-04-10
Today I use Time Warner Cable with Windows Media Center and I believe it is all Analog.
RE: Watch TV on a PC - Ned Scott - 2014-04-10
I think Time Warner Cable is copy freely, but if your tuner setup is analog then it won't matter. I was thinking you were using a cable card. Getting a cable card tuner will cost about $100-150, but it's very worth it, and the money won't go to Microsoft :)
In any case, what you have now, as long as you're happy with it, is almost certainly doable with either Next PVR or ARGUS TV. I'm not a Windows user myself, so I can't really recommend one over the other, but they both have fans here on the forum.
Lifehacker used Next PVR in their excellent setup guide: http://lifehacker.com/5981757/how-to-watch-and-record-live-tv-on-your-xbmc-media-center
RE: Watch TV on a PC - littlebear - 2014-04-10
Thanks for the advise, I tried Next PVR and could not get it working. Something about installing the SoftPVR that got me hung up. I'll try it again, but it's looking more and more like I might have to purchase the Pro Pack from Microsoft.
Thank you!
RE: Watch TV on a PC - tential - 2014-04-10
What Cable Card do you have? Ceton tuners didn't work with NextPVR when I tried it last year.
RE: Watch TV on a PC - littlebear - 2014-04-11
I have a Hauppauge PVR-500.
Re: Watch TV on a PC - nickr - 2014-04-11
Mythtv will work, although you'll be using Linux not windows.
RE: Watch TV on a PC - wes paich - 2014-04-12
c'mon, surely someone can save this poor fellow from having to give microsoft more money....
RE: Watch TV on a PC - Ned Scott - 2014-04-12
Did you try ARGUS TV?