In order to convert your Windows PC into a DVR, you will need the TV Tuner card and also an antenna. There are USB tuner playing cards available; however, I tend to follow the cards for a media PC solution because they are more robustly attached to the system.
TV Tuner Cards are available with dual HD tuners to help you record two HD transmitted simultaneously. I have tried some Tuner cards and have settled within the AVerMedia brand, available at Newegg.com. They work very well with Windows 7 and Vista, tuning in all the available HD broadcasts. Single HD TV tuners are also available, costing less than $50. You can add two dual tuner cards to enable recording of four broadcasts at the same time.
Before purchasing a credit card, make sure that your laptop has an expansion video slot that matches the card you intend to purchase. Many of the TV Tuner cards of today include the PCI-Express x 1 (PCIe x1) interface. So do many with the Desktop motherboards. Cards are also available while using the PCI interface.
Each hour of registered HD TV broadcast occupies about 6 to 7GB of data storage, so if you want to be able to record several hours regarding HDTV, be sure to get a high capacity hard drive, 2TB or so.
Installing and setting upward your DVR:
Assuming you are setting up a TV Tuner Cards, first shut down your computer and then locate the electricity supply switch in the back of the computer and transform it off. You should always try this before doing any installations on your laptop.
WARNING!! Shut down is insufficient since some components remain energized provided that the computer is switched on. If you do not let down, and you accidentally drop a screwdriver on an energized component, you may cause a quick and kill your motherboard.
Insert your card in the appropriate slot. Connect the antenna cable and restart your computer.
Some TV Tuner Cards come with software to let you watch or record TV; however, Windows Media Center, which comes with House windows Home Premium version as well as above, does a really good job as of this.
The following description concerns windows 7.
Click START > All programs and select Windows Media Center to open this software. If Media center is not on the list of programs, you may need to turn the feature on. Open Control Panel, click on “Programs”, click on “Turn House windows Features on or off”. Click the + close to “Media Features” to expand those things. Make sure Windows Media Center and Windows Media Player are checked after which it click OK. You will need Media Player started up in later
The first time a person start Media Center inside Windows 7, you will see a setup page regarding the features and two build options. Choose Express for the quickest method set off. Otherwise, you will see the actual screen below.
By selecting “Guide”, you can see what is showing, and you can also select what you need to record. You can have it record just one episode or the entire series.
Select “Recorded TV” to view your recorded TV shows.