I have a typical PC set up - tower, built in gfx card, and tft monitor. I don't game or do anything graphics intensive which is why the stock onboard graphics has been fine so far.....

But, if I got a second TFT, and all I wanted to it to do was display a TV picture (digital freeview) how would I do it?

I know I can get a TV reciever PCI card and plug an aerial into it, but how do I send the signal from that to my second TFT, and control the channel, volume etc from the PC?

Like this;



What do I need?

 

Dare I answer this.

Thrush you got two options. You could get a TFT monitor and also get hold of a digital tuner box. This effectively turns any pc monitor into a TV. It runs 100% seperate from a PC. There is no integration except for maybe a switch over if you want to use the PC on the same screen.

2nd option depends on if your graphics card has support for 2 monitors? The card will have 2 connectors on the back, older type tend to have 2 x VGA ports (blue) newer ones tend to have a VGA port and a DVI port (white). If both your monitors only support VGA you can use a small cable to convert the DVI to VGA for the 2nd monitor.
You then need a digital TV card or external USB unit for your PC. Install the software and your away.

Be warned, TFT monitors have a higher native resolution than standard definition TV. This means the picture quality might not be as good as you expect - like watching standard defintion tv on a HD ready TV.

If your REALLY serious about it try something like windows media center for some proper intergration with your PC

 

NB: If this affects any of your bluetooth setup, simply give up on the idea

 

1) Can't find a digital STB that has VGA output

2) PC only has single VGA monitor output

3) Not spending HTPC money, as all I want to do is watch a little TV whilst on PC. When I move out (if I move out ) I won't have room for a TV set in the room where the PC will be, so a nice matching 17" TFT would be perfect if I can get it to display TV on.

Would rather do it though PC anyway as if there is fuck all on TV (like most times) I would be able to stick a DVD on via the PC.....

So I guess I want one of these aswell as a DVB card?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MATROX-Milleni...QQcmdZViewItem

And the little DVI>VGA adapter?

Would that let me send all DVD, MPEG, TV signals to a second monitor and allow all "PC" stuff to be in the first monitor?

 

Or this one;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dual-VGA-16Mb-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

yeh that matrox card will do the trick fine.

what happens is you can set up the second monitor as ann extention to your first. so you basically move the mouse over the edge of your first monitor and it appears in your second monitor.

you can choose what applications run in what window its as simple as dragging the window over to the second screen. so yes you can do everything you want to do that way. that's exactly how mine is set up!

 

Right, so;

dual vga gfx pci card
dvb-t pci card
monitor
length of vga monitor cable

and I should be sorted?

Now, can my PC handle that? 2.8 P4 (533 FSB, L2 cache - I think), 1.5gb RAM, XP Home SP2.

Reckon all that would be cheaper than an LCD freeview TV?

 

yes the graphics card does all the work handling the monitors and graphics (so don't skimp too much!) so your pc will be fine.

also maybe think about getting a widescreen tft screen to get the most from digital tv - otherwise you could end up with black bars top and bottom of your screen - but make sure the graphics card supports it!

 

Money no object I would get one of these;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dell-2007wfp-2...QQcmdZViewItem

Then all I'd need is a freeview box and connect via S-Vid, but I can't afford one, so it'd be another 17" TFT like I have....

 

something like this would also work.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Freevi...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Interesting....

Just wondering tho if this lead will work with a standard digibox

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-RGB-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

fook knows what that lead is for! that would be pretty cool if it lets you watch anything from an RGB scart feed though!

 

Thats what I pressume it is for.... VGA is basically analogue RGB, as is what scart is (when emitting in RGB of course and not CVBS) so I guess the lead is to passthrough a scart RGBs (RGB+Sync) to VGA RGB....

I'd like to buy one and find out, but not if it's gonna cost £15 and not work tho.....

 

I think he's said something there about offering a full refund if it doesnt work - but you have to of course make sure that what ever device you use to output your tv signal does it in RGB scart!

 

Pretty much all freeview boxes output RGB via scart, but I just got email from him and he says "no it doesnt work as scart to vga, sorry"

Which I don't quite understand, as it has scart on one end, and vga on the other - so surely it's a scart to VGA lead?

Nevermind....

 

lol, im as stumped as you are as to what its actually used for!

Dont worry m8 if you get your self a digital tv card for your pc you can record programs too which you cant do with a digi box

 

Step 1,

Go to PC world (not normally recommended)

Step 2,

Pick up the £15 freeview tv tuner card

step 3,

Install it...

Step 4,

Plug in monitor.

all done...

Windows should take car of the seperate graphics cards easily, and should treat the freview card as a seperate device...
Not 100% sure of this solution, I just know a mate of mine did a dual screen set up and one was freeview and he just brought a tuner card for it.