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Setting up a TV Tuner card in Windows Media Center

January 25th, 2008

Tivo?  Don’t make my laugh!  If you have a Windows Vista computer, chances are that you can get a more premium experience, with even more features, for less money.  Windows Media Center comes with Windows Vista Home Premium, and of course Ultimate, so if you are looking for a little more out of your system, it could cost as little as $60.  I bought the Hauppauge Win-TV PVR 150, $75 with shipping off NewEgg.

The setup process was so easy, that this post is more a demo than a tutorial.  "The next step" is always obvious.

The first thing I did was install the card in my computer.  That was just like installing any other PCI card.  Then, of course, I hooked the card up to a standard co-axial cable so that it could have a signal to work with.

Next, I turned on my computer and saw this:
installing software

Then I clicked on it just to see what was going on.
installed

Then Windows asked me to restart.  Even though I doubt I really needed to, I did anyway.
restart now

Next I opened Windows Media Center.
media center

Then I scrolled over to "set up tv".
set up tv

I’m going to describe the proceeding steps, but honestly the next step is always apparent.

I clicked next.
set up your TV signal

I selected yes.
confirm your region

I selected next.
confirm your region 2

I waited for a few seconds.
downloading TV setup options

I selected automatically.
automatic TV signal setup

I selected next.
automatic TV signal setup 2

I waited for a few seconds.
examining your TV signal setup

I selected yes.
TV signal configuration result

I selected next.
TV configuration result 2

I selected next.
Guide

I selected yes.
Guide Privacy

I selected next.
Guide Privacy 2

I selected I agree.
Guide Terms of Service

I selected next.
Guide Terms of Service 2

I entered my ZIP code.
Enter your ZIP code

I selected next. (note: I edited my ZIP code out.)
 Enter your ZIP code 2

I waited for a few seconds.
Downloading Provider Information

I chose the right provider. (Note: I edited the first part of the names out.)
 Select TV signal provider

I selected next.
 Select TV signal provider 2

I waited for a few seconds.
Download TV program guide

I clicked next.
Download TV program guide 2

I scrolled over to "live tv".
back to the main menu

I selected "live tv".
select live tv

I channel surfed!
surf!

I’d say the whole process took under 30 minutes, though I can’t be sure because I didn’t do it all at the same time.  Features I can now use include pausing live TV, rewinding live TV, easily skipping past commercials, using the guide, schedule recording single episodes or whole seasons,  watching TV recordings that are currently recording, burning recordings to DVD, copying the recording files directly to my laptop, and syncing recordings with my Zune.  Best of all, like always I can bring this whole experience down to my TV through my Xbox.  All of that is on top of the Media Center functionality that I could already use!

w00t!

Demos, Tutorials
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25 January 2008 comment TrackBack-URI