Saturday, September 20, 2008

Satellite TV On Your PC - The 5 Facts You Should Know

There is a big buzz in the satellite television and entertainment arena at the moment, and that buzz is all about being able to watch free satellite TV on your PC, did you know that you can access this free satellite technology right from the convenience of your computer or laptop, and even record any of the shows and come back and watch them later? Not only that but you can easily connect the satellite TV on your PC signal to your plasma TV or entertainment Centre!

What hardware is required?

To watch satellite TV on your computer, you need either a PCTV card or Specific Satellite TV Software. There are two types of PC TV cards for internet satellite TV. One type has a built in processor that allows you to watch satellite TV on your PC in a designated window, while the PC continues to run other programs. Other PCTV cards use the PC's infrastructure to decode satellite signals, allowing you to enjoy free-to-air digital TV and radio. Both kinds of PCTV cards are compatible with broadband internet via satellite.

To watch satellite TV on your PC, you will need a relatively new computer. At worst, you'll need a Pentium II 333 MHz processor, and you will need to be running at least Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. For satellite TV on PC, you'll also need a sound card, a spare USB port and a CD-ROM drive.

How do I connect to a satellite network?

You can access PC satellite TV in a few ways. First, you can directly connect your PC to a satellite dish using a designated product, such as Hauppauge 3000, or directly through your internet cable. It's also possible to connect via the satellite box of your network provider. Several satellite TV companies recommend that you use their proprietary satellite TV receiver box when setting up satellite TV for PC.

One important factor you must be aware of when choosing a satellite TV for your PC provider, is that there are no free lunches! It seems nowadays everywhere we look people are advertising " free satellite TV on PC". But, is it really free? And in short the answer is yes and no! What I mean by that is that some PC satellite TV vendors to provide software that streams satellite TV over the Internet to your computer and gives you a selection of hundreds of channels. This software is not free, but he is very inexpensive and typically costs less than one months subscription fee to the likes of DirecTV. The best part is the top satellite TV on your PC vendors do not charge any monthly fees at all, and the very best providers offer regular free updates to their service.

What should I look out for?

Some other examples of where you may see " free PC satellite TV" advertised is where a company hacks into a satellite signal from a company such as DirecTV and steal their signal. This is highly illegal of course but many unsuspecting people are using these signals to watch free satellite TV on their PC. The problem is it is not free, the pirate companies that hack into these signals have to buy equipment to gain access to these satellite TV signals, and often require that you purchase and access card. The companies who own these satellite TV signals like DirecTV, often hit these cards and scramble the signals and the only way for you to regain your satellite TV feed is to have your card reprogrammed, which of course can get very expensive if that happens often.

Final Thoughts Satellite TV for PC is a great, straightforward way to access digital television, especially if you a computer geek with great screen and sound on your PC!

Andrew Perry is a successful author and technology reviewer who's mission is helping people find the best products and avoid the scams. Discover The Truth About Satellite TV on Your PC: Download Your Free Revealing Report on PC Satellite TV here:

Satellite TV for Your PC

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