HP Desktop PCs - Set Up Media Center to Receive Digital TV

note:

Digital TV (DTV) is not the same as High Definition TV (HDTV). HDTV requires special equipment. Check with the cable or satellite provider to learn about HDTV-capable equipment and to obtain the proper set-top box to view HDTV.

note:

Many countries/regions have switched to digital or will switch to digital broadcasting. For example, in the United States, most TV broadcast stations in the US have been transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting as of June 12, 2009.

note:

At the time of this writing, Windows Media Center might not work with certain digital broadcasts that use advanced compressions - such as DVB-T with MPEG-4 compression. If Windows Media Center does not work with the digital broadcast in your area, you can download and install a free software program that is capable of supporting the signal, such as MediaPortal (in English).

1. Connect the wire from the TV antenna to either a digital television, or a converter box connected to an analog card in the computer.
2. Make sure the computer is connected to the over-the-air antenna wire, and not a cable TV or satellite TV wire.
3. Perform a channel scan on the computer to see which stations the antenna receives. If a list of digital TV stations appears, the antenna is capable of receiving digital TV broadcasts.
4. If the antenna does not receive digital TV broadcasts, it might need to be replaced. Check with a local antenna provider.

1. In Windows 7 or Vista, click Start, right-click Computer, select Properties, and then click Device Manager on the left side of the window.
   In Windows XP, click Start, right-click My Computer, select Properties, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
2. Click the + button next to Sound, video and game controllers to view the TV tuners in the computer.
   Figure : Device Manager Screen
   
3. Right-click the TV tuner and select Properties to find out more device information.
   Write down the type of TV tuner you have:
   • Analog (NTSC, PAL)
   • Digital (ATSC, DVB-T, DMB-TH)
   • If the computer has more than one type, write down digital.

1. In Media Center, select settings.
2. Select General.
3. Select About Windows Media Center.
4. Select Software Version.
5. Write down if your version of Media Center is 2005 or greater.

   note:

   The first version of Media Center to support digital TV tuner cards is Media Center 2005. Previous versions only support analog TV tuner cards.

• If the computer has a digital or analog tuner with any version of Media Center and you want to receive TV from a cable or satellite set-top box, connect a cable from the TV-out on the set-top box to the TV-in on the computer and complete the TV setup screens in Media Center (Step 6). The connection between the set-top and the TV tuner on the computer is analog (either through coaxial or S-video).
• If the computer has any tuner and you want to receive digital HDTV programming from cable or satellite, the computer might require special hardware. ATSC/DVB-T tuners will not work. In some areas, "Unprotected" HD programming, such as ClearQAM can be received when using a QAM-capable tuner in Windows 7 or Vista Media Center. To view "protected" and "unprotected" HD programming from a cable company a specially configured computer system called a "Windows Digital Cable compatible computer" might be needed. In short, if you want to view digital HD programming from your cable or satellite TV provider, call them and discuss your options.
• If the computer has a digital tuner with Media Center 2005 or greater and you want to receive digital over-the-air broadcasts (antenna), connect the antenna to the Digital TV-in port on the computer (ATSC, DVB). On some tuners, the TV-in connector is the same for analog or digital. Once the antenna is connected, rerun Setup TV Signal in Media Center selecting Digital antenna as the input source. After you have completed the TV Setup in Media Center you are done. If the reception quality is bad, you might need to purchase an antenna that works better with digital broadcasts. You do not need to use the remainder of this document.
  Figure : TV Signal Screen

  
• If the computer has an analog tuner with Media Center 2005 or greater and you want to receive digital over-the-air broadcast (antenna), upgrade the tuner to a digital tuner that is compatible with Windows Media Center. Replacing the analog tuner with a digital tuner provides the best functionality. Alternately, you can purchase and install a digital-to-analog converter box. This method might be the least expensive but is not recommended as the behavior of Media Center is impacted. If you still want to connect a converter box to your Media Center computer, continue using this document and skip to Step 5.
• If the computer has an analog tuner with a version of Media Center prior to 2005 and you want to receive digital over-the-air broadcast (antenna), you should upgrade Windows Media Center to edition 2005 (or later) and upgrade the tuner with a digital tuner that is compatible with Windows Media Center. Upgrading Windows media Center and the tuner provides the best functionality. Alternatively, you can purchase and install a digital-to-analog converter box and you will not have upgrade Windows Media Center or the tuner. This method might be the least expensive but is not recommended as the behavior of Media Center is impacted. If you still want to connect a converter box to your Media Center computer, continue using this document and go to Step 5.

1. Connect a cable from the antenna to the converter box.
2. Connect a cable from the converter box the TV tuner on the computer.
   Figure : Antenna to Converter to Computer Hookup
   
   1. From antenna
   2. Digital-to-analog converter box
   3. Connect to TV-in or NTSC (not antenna)

note:

Different versions of Media Center appear differently. The following steps were taken from Windows Media Center Windows Vista version 6.1.1. Windows 7 and other versions are similar.

1. Press Windows Media Center start button .
2. From Windows Media Center, scroll through the choices and select Tasks.
3. Select settings.
4. Select TV.
5. Select TV Signal.
6. Select Set Up TV Signal.
   Figure : Setup TV Signal Screen

   
7. After confirming your geographical region, Media Center downloads the TV setup options based on the media connections and tuner cards in the computer.
   Figure : TV Signal Configuration Result Screen

   
8. Since the options vary depending on the type of incoming signals and the tuners on your computer, these are some things to look out for:
   • There are a variety of digital-to-analog converter boxes, so the Media Center experience varies from box to box.
   • Media Center recognizes the converter box as a set-top box.
   • When setting up the converter box, the TV signal choice in some versions of Media Center is: Cable or Satellite. For setup purposes, the correct choice is Cable.
     Figure : TV Signal Set-top Box Selection Screen

     
   • Media Center asks for the number of digits for the TV channels: two digits, three digits or four digits.
   • When selecting channels, it might be necessary to key in additional zeros at the end of a three- or four-digit number.
   • The programming guide shows the channel numbers for cable or satellite, which are inaccurate for the over-the-air antenna. Without the guide for the over-the-air antenna, the recording function is very limited.
   • To schedule TV recordings, the converter box must always be on and set to the channel being recorded.
   • Scheduling a different channel requires physically changing the channel setting on the converter box.
   • Media Center includes steps for configuring the converter box remote control, so it can be recognized by Media Center.
   • In order to change channels, the IR receiver from Media Center needs to be near the IR sensor on the converter box.
   • The converter box displays channels at the top right of the screen.
   • The converter box might produce an image that does not fill the screen and is framed in black, so the display on the monitor might need adjustment.