Is there a USB TV tuner that will work well with a satellite?

Question

The TV tuner that I have now will only detect the channels on cable and cannot detect satellite channels, thus I cannot use my computer as a true DVR. Is there a certain kind of TV tuner that I have to get that will recognize the channels on satellite or am I out of luck?

What is a satellite decoder and where can I find a good one?

I would prefer not to use IR blaster because the satellite that I have isn't programmable into IR blaster.

Answer 1

Yes. The Hauppauge 150 lets me control my satellite & cable box ... both.

It must be said, though, that the programing of the tuner to learn the cable & satellite box codes was done via the Windows Media Center operating system. I use the Media Center remote (made by Hauppauge) to control all boxes.

Even if the boxes are not recognized it allows you to program the Hauppauge 150 to learn the codes ... works perfecly for all my scheduled recordings.

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvr150.html

regards,
Philip T

Answer 2

You can't control the channels from your computer, but try hooking a satellite decoder box to your tv tuner, and channel surf using the decoder box.

Answer 3

Check out these usb tuners

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116630
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2485637&CatId=0
http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/support/Video/prod/AVC-3610/
Where to buy the adaptec tuner
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000BAT4QA/ref=dp_olp_2/102-9733972-2456914

I had the adaptec tuner with my old hp laptop and it worked great for satellite. All of them will work with a satellite so you don't have to use the satellite remote. They use an ir blaster to change the satellite channel from the tuner using the provided remote. Email me if you have any quetions.

Answer 4

You dont need a tuner a card with http://xrl.us/freetv