Digital tv on laptop

xsquiffy

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I just bought a DVB-T usb dongle at a carboot to see if it would work for a couple of euros. It does!! So while wild we can set the laptop and plug in the stick and get tv if need be!! May need to rig up a better ariel than the small one supplied but a cheap solution to wild tv!
It works well on xp but needs fiddling about with installation using win 7.
Hope this info will help someone.
 
dependent on the model you can also use it to record live tv and time shift it so what you do is say with a commercial channel like channel 5 is dont start watching program at when it start time shift record then watch it after 15 mins then when adverts come on fast forward through them noadverts whoopee
 
Yes this dongle comes with blazehdtv software which works fine.
 
I use one of these on my Notebook, works great, even with the supplied ariel
 
I paid about £20 for mine from Amazon. You get the dongle, arial and remote control. All freeview channels included
 
ive had one of these with blaze best ive got is sound but no video..i get a thumbnail pic in the channel guide box ..music channels give a wavy line display in the box where the tv should be . tried with an external aerial...we can see the transmitter about 15 miles away..but no better. xp on a 1.5 ghz laptop.500mb ram laptop will play dvds and youtube videos so dont think its a laptop software issue.
 
I use one I got from Aldi a couple of years ago, I get more channels with it than I get at home. I have an antenna extension cable and put the aerial on the roof when possible and also have a battery powered indoor booster aerial but rarely need to use it as the one supplied is usually good enough. It's even got a little remote control :D

edit : my laptop is Vista 32 bit 2gb RAM, and it used to also work well on my old net book on XP 1Gb RAM.
 
Your wild camping, parking in places you want to be in, why oh why are you watching the T.V.
Throw the T.V. out the window and have a look around outside.
 
Lots of point, many nocturnal animals to see, stars to view (when the cloud cover allows)
Sunrise 04:56 sunset 21:15 tomorrow, gets/stays light for a good while either side of those, leaves you about 4 hours max of darkness to sleep.
 
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Some of us wild through the depths of winter, so a TV is quite useful.

It'll probably use more power than a TV, but if space is a premium then it's great.

Good for quality radio while you're surfing the net or writing that essay for college that you've put off!! (or even playing solitaire)
 
As my Notepad is rechargeable, I can charge it en route to save battery power, batteries are then good for 4 hours or more.
 
reg said:
Lots of point, many nocturnal animals to see, stars to view (when the cloud cover allows)
Sunrise 04:56 sunset 21:15 tomorrow, gets/stays light for a good while either side of those, leaves you about 4 hours max of darkness to sleep.
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You can do all of this and still watch TV for a while, doesn't do any harm surely?
 
Robmac said:
Not much point after dark though!
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Considering the amount of mind-numbing drivel punted out on the Idiot-box these days, why not curl up with a great book or watch a good film on the laptop.
 
I don't disagree but have you checked out BBC4 ? Some great historical and arts offerings to be had here.
 
spigot said:
Considering the amount of mind-numbing drivel punted out on the Idiot-box these days, why not curl up with a great book or watch a good film on the laptop.
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I agree, and I do read or watch a DVD too. Good sometimes to be able to catch up with the news though or watch a documentary.
I should also add that my wife suffers from a long term illness and cannot sit outside on a cold night watching wildlife.

Opinions on Wildcamping can be considered as relative, some people go with nothing more than a flint and a knife, they may criticise people who take a tarp, these in turn may scoff at people who use a tent, these may disagree with people sleeping in vehicles. Personally I have done and enjoyed all of these in my time, but at this point in my life I do like a bit of comfort. (Although I still tent camp in the Cairngorms every January).
 
Hi,

I have been using a hauppauge one for several years, first as a second, or 3rd TV for the Kids. Then in the motorhome. The small Ariel was not much good in certain places.

We even managed to hookup a FTA satellite box to it last year when we were in France - but that was a right pain - too many cables!

But if you are taking your laptop, they are a cheap extra probably worth having.

Matthew
 
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