Watching TV with Dell 2005FPW

[frank84]

Is there a TV tuner or some sort that I can use to watch TV through 2005FPW?

I want to be able to watch TV without turning on my computer..

meaning.. no PCI TV tuner cards..

any idea? or suggestions?

thanx

-frank

 

[Tu13erhead]

I haven't found an easy way, yet. There's a thread somewhere about it but I'm not sure where it went.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

i use my vcr as a tuner and watch tv every night on it. it looks great if your not sitting on top of it.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
i use my vcr as a tuner and watch tv every night on it. it looks great if your not sitting on top of it.

do you do this often?...sounds painful and dangerous

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
i use my vcr as a tuner and watch tv every night on it. it looks great if your not sitting on top of it.

do you do this often?...sounds painful and dangerous

yeah, it gets too hot to sit there for long.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
i use my vcr as a tuner and watch tv every night on it. it looks great if your not sitting on top of it.

do you do this often?...sounds painful and dangerous

yeah, it gets too hot to sit there for long.

:laugh::thumbsup:

 

[frank84]

what do you mean by using VCR?

does VCR have TV tuner on its own?

 

[JBT]

Yes VCR's are TV tuners.
You need cable into the VCR then from the VCR to the 2005FPW probably with a RCA video cable. A cable box will also work.

Remember you will also need something for audio...

 

[frank84]

Originally posted by: JBT
Yes VCR's are TV tuners.
You need cable into the VCR then from the VCR to the 2005FPW probably with a RCA video cable. A cable box will also work.

Remember you will also need something for audio...

bleh,
so VCR doesn't get me SOUND?
hmmmm

sounds like hastle... bleh

is there another way?

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: wonho84

Originally posted by: JBT
Yes VCR's are TV tuners.
You need cable into the VCR then from the VCR to the 2005FPW probably with a RCA video cable. A cable box will also work.

Remember you will also need something for audio...

bleh,
so VCR doesn't get me SOUND?
hmmmm

sounds like hastle... bleh

is there another way?

Does the 2005FPW have speakers?

 

[Hikari]

Over the air, or cable TV?

No speakers, rbV5, although Dell sells some that attach to it.

 

[duragezic]

Get a converter from RadioShack that brings the red and white audio cables into one. Then unplug your speaker out/front speakers from your soundcard and into the newly converted single headphone style jack. So for the price of a VCR and that converter you could watch TV on your monitor with your computer speakers without the computer being on, and it'd only take 10 seconds to switch back. I'm going to have to do it myself I think...

 

[frank84]

how about a DVD player?

I would rather get a small DVD player on mydesk than ugly VCR that I wont even use for VHS..

for the audio part..

I just need to hook up the 'OUT' from VCR (red and white) , convert it to 'single' and hook it up with my PC speaker right?

*edit*
btw, I am getting Cable.. but no converter..
just a cable line straight out from the wall..

 

[Traire]

Originally posted by: wonho84
how about a DVD player?

I would rather get a small DVD player on mydesk than ugly VCR that I wont even use for VHS..

No, you can not use a DVD player

Originally posted by: wonho84
for the audio part..

I just need to hook up the 'OUT' from VCR (red and white) , convert it to 'single' and hook it up with my PC speaker right?

Yes, you just need a converter with stereo RCA jacks on one end and a 1/8" stereo mini jack on the other end. RadioShack or your local equivalent will have this kind of adapter.

 

[frank84]

Originally posted by: Traire

Originally posted by: wonho84
how about a DVD player?

I would rather get a small DVD player on mydesk than ugly VCR that I wont even use for VHS..

No, you can not use a DVD player

Originally posted by: wonho84
for the audio part..

I just need to hook up the 'OUT' from VCR (red and white) , convert it to 'single' and hook it up with my PC speaker right?

Yes, you just need a converter with stereo RCA jacks on one end and a 1/8" stereo mini jack on the other end. RadioShack or your local equivalent will have this kind of adapter.

oh, darn it...
hmm, maybe I have a broken VCR somewhere in my house...

Update is coming.

 

[frank84]

Ok, came home, found the broken VCR..
went to Radioshack.. got necessary cables..
came home hooked them up..
then I found out that my VCR is really broken... I thought it just couldn't play the VCR.. but the it wouldn't power up..

that means, I am in a market to buy a new VCR..

then I thought.. heck, I will just get one of those DVD/VCR combo..

my question is.. will those 'combo's have TV tuner built in?

one more thing.. since 2005FPW is widescreen, will my TV stratched out?

 

[duragezic]

A combo should work the same. The TV signal is only 640x480 so yeah expect it to look like crap. You can display it stretched to 1680x1050, or 1:1, or keep it in aspect ratio and display it at 1400x1050. Or do PBP which is something like 840x525.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Originally posted by: duragezic
A combo should work the same. The TV signal is only 640x480 so yeah expect it to look like crap. You can display it stretched to 1680x1050, or 1:1, or keep it in aspect ratio and display it at 1400x1050. Or do PBP which is something like 840x525.

it doesnt look like crap. even stretched to fit.

for sound i run rca cables from my vcr to the same receiver i use for sound from my pc.

for people without a receiver and just have pc speakers, get a rca to headphone jack cable and run it to the line in on the pc for sound.

 

[sirfergy]

Anyone here notice ghosting while watching TV? I was watching Law and Order and almost puked there was so much ghosting.