Turn your PC into an HDTV for $24.99 shipped

A digital TV tuner for $25 is a hard deal to pass up.

(Credit: Newegg)

I was a bit surprised at how many of you disliked the recent LiquidTV TiVo PC offer. However, I can take a hint, so here's a much cheaper TV-on-PC solution: Newegg has the AverMedia AverTVHD Volar USB TV tuner for $24.99 shipped (after rebate). Make sure to apply discount code EMCABAGDJ to get that final price.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a TV tuner lets you watch live TV (via cable or antenna) on your PC. You can also record and time-shift (pause) shows using bundled software or a third-party solution like Windows Media Center or SnapStream Beyond TV.

The AverTVHD Volar is a digital-only (ATSC) tuner, meaning it uses an antenna to pull down over-the-air digital channels. It comes with a small telescoping antenna, but you may want to connect something larger if you live in a remote area.

The tuner also comes with a carrying case, making it a travel-friendly solution. At home, this would actually be a great second tuner for someone who already has an analog (NTSC) tuner. (By the way, Windows Media Center supports up to four tuners.)

The AverTVHD Volar normally sells for at least $60, so you're definitely getting a deal here. The $20 rebate offer (PDF) expires January 12.

[Georgia in MS]

I bought one of these but later read the system requirements. I hope it works.

System Requirements
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.6GHz with HT (Hyper Threading) or Equivalent AMD Processor
Intel Pentium Mobile 1.8GHz
512MB RAM or above
VGA card supports DirectX 9.0c or above
Sound Card
Windows XP/ XP MCE/ Vista TM / Vista TM MCE

[subslug]

I have a similar Pinnacle usb HD tuner device and I actually got it to run, although at a lower frame rate on one of those Asus Eee netbooks.
Honestly it wasn't watchable but, considering what it was running on I think you'd need a pretty old box for it not to work.

I was amazed it did anything lol

On a real notebook mine works great, I even used it to watch a half of a college football game out on the back porch when our power went off in a storm this fall.

[Jon34511]

I have a question. I want a TV tuner for my PC so that I can watch tv on my iphone via orb. I have a dvr and cox cable at home, what do I need to be able to get my cox channels on my computer so I can stream them to my iphone? Would I need a tuner with QAM? This looks like a good alternative if I just want the basic channels over the air, but I'd like all my cable channels too, thanks.

[rickbroida]

For starters, you need a tuner that supports analog signals (NTSC) so you can get those basic-cable channels. Many models do digital or analog, but this one's digital-only. QAM is not really necessary for the Orb-streaming part of the equation.

[LuvThatCO2]

The easiest thing to do is get a slingbox.

The normal 1-70 (or whatever it is on your local selection) comes in as digital also. When you use a DVR it doesn't pick up any analog signals at al, at least through coxl. So yes, as long as this can do the digital channels, then it'll work just fine. I'm not sure how Orb works, but on this end, you'll be covered, contrary to what rick says.

[DetJMunch]

My cable box has HDMI and component outs. Is there a cheap tuner or DVR card I can put into my computer to record the output from my cablebox onto my computer?

[phigata]

awesome. just what i was looking for.

[mmntech]

After reading some of the customer reviews on Newegg, apparently it doesn't agree with 64-bit Vista.

[infromsea]

I've been looking for a way to watch TV on my PC while I use my TV for video games, I'll give this a shot.

I'll try to remember to give some feedback next week when I receive it and try it out. For 25 bones I don't expect too much. I don't like the rebate but hell, that's part of tech geekdum isn't it?

[she_loves_the_tech]

Great deal! I just snatched up one of these! I've been browsing for a while but I have seen anything that seemed reliable and affordable. Thanks Rick!

[she_loves_the_tech]

As an aside, why would anyone want an NTSC (analog) tuner anyways since all TV stations will cease broadcasting on analog channels in six weeks?

Yay for digital!

that's only on OTA channels. Most cable and satellite providers will continue to provide analog service for quite a while.

[scottcom36]

That's only on high powered OTA channels. Low powered stations will continue with analog broadcasts for an unknown amount of time.

[Tyrax]

Good deal, this should go really well with Media Center. Also, thanks for the tips:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2337853,00.asp

[AL-Graphic]

If your Monitor is not HDCP, your Graphic VGA didnot connect your HDCP use DVI connection, then you are not watch HDTV program at all, watch out all the required elements to make it work!

[donsms]

huh?,could you repeat that?

[robertlc]

Although this was posted yesterday, the product shows up on NewEgg's product page as a "deactivated item" which usually means it's out of stock.

There's no way to even order it from them to have it backordered to take advantage of the rebate.

Was this in stock when the article was published?

[rickbroida]

It certainly was. This happens fairly often, I'm afraid. But I'd recommend checking again in a day or two, as Newegg might get more in stock.

[nauj_solrac]

Too bad this doesn't apply to the same item at the newegg.ca Canadian site.

[timhodgson]

The item has been marked "Deactivated Item", which usually means that NewEgg won't carry it anymore :(

[mbeoletto]

I have a question. What external pc devices are there for recording digital cable with out the need of the cable box? Will I have encryption problems with the digital signal from the coax cable and does anyone know if the cable card solutions are still available? I'd like to get a new PC that I can record my digital cable with, including the HD channels, without requiring me to rent an additional cable box and place it in my office. My future goal would to be able to record shows to the pc (media center) acting as a DVR and then also being able to burn some of these files to either DVD or Blu Ray (when price of DVD-R Blu Rays) comes down eventually. Any information that can be a guide would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[iff2mastamatt]

Is Wifi needed?

[scottcom36]

I ordered this on Tuesday AM and it arrived today (Thursday). Very good service from 600 miles away! I installed the software and the driver and restarted and it works. The picture is beautiful. The tuner isn't as sensitive as the one in my DTV converter box, even when connected to the same antenna. The included antenna does not telescope and it's only 6 inches tall. The device gets pretty warm while it's running. The included viewer software isn't really intuitive, so I'll be spending some time with the PDF manual. Still, it's a neat little device and well worth the money. Thanks, Cheapskate!

[scottcom36]

UPDATE: I sat that six inch antenna on top of an aluminum widow blind and am now getting reception nearly as good as my converter box does with a rooftop antenna! I strongly suspect that the blind is acting as an antenna.