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Turning Your Computer Into A High-Def Digital Television With The AverMedia Volar
Electronics | Oct 2, 08
This coming February’s government-mandated switch to digital broadcast was supposed to boost television sales, but with economic growth lately going the way of the dodo, many consumers may look for alternatives.
One interesting option is AverMedia’s AVerTV HD Volar USB 2.0 HDTV Tuner. This portable device, slightly larger than some USB flash drives, is billed as a “plug and play” portable ATSC digital tuner and is offered by vendors on PriceSCAN for under $50. It simply inserts into one of your computer’s USB slots. With the installation of the accompanying AverTV software and the use of a digital antenna (a small indoor one is included) your PC becomes a television, and, in the case of those with HD LCD screens, a high-def TV at that (up to 1080i/720p). The software includes a recording feature for video capture, and is Windows Vista Premium certificated/Windows XP MCE compliant. The tuner, antenna and cables are compact enough to fit in a laptop case, making the Volar a portable solution for road warriors.
I offer the usual caution about digital signals: they are notoriously directional and subject to interference, and depending on where you are and the building you’re in, this could be an issue.
But with budgets stretched to the breaking point and broadcast digital offering a high-def alternative to cable (see “Is Digital Broadcast Television A Cheap Way To Unplug Basic Cable?”) many consumers may want explore low-cost alternatives allowing them to deal with digital television in HD style while leveraging the value of their PC. Hey, with Congress talking about using your money to buy bank assets for more than anyone else will pay, isn’t t nice to see someone trying to maximize the value of your investment?
Posted by jeffrey.trester (Permalink)
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