The biggest part of this puzzle is getting the TV to be a computer monitor as well as a TV. To do this, you have to be able to run a video and audio cable from the PC to the TV. Older sets only have a coaxial connection in for cable, but the new LCD HD TV’s, should have places to not only hook in the DVD, VHS (yes I still have mine – I still have my original vinyl records too, that I’m recording over to digital, that’s another article), X-box etc. They should also have an audio L/R out so you can connect it to your existing stereo or surround sound system.

Desktop PC to Flat screen TV

2. Audio out from the PC. This is almost universally the green mini jack plug from the audio card. The Bravia does have a mini jack in for audio below the VGA, so getting a mini cable long enough to work was what I tried first. While this worked and gave me sound out of the TV speakers, it did not translate the signal to the audio out jacks (3.). I like to run the audio into my older stereo (you know, receiver, big speakers) and the TV speakers by them selves are pretty weak. The next thing I tried was using a pair of regular desktop PC speakers and just setting them on either side of the TV. This worked pretty well and my wireless keyboard had a volume control on it, but I still wanted the sound from my big speakers. Then I found what I needed: a mini to RCA splitter cable. This let me hook the PC right into the stereo receiver, beautiful sound for my movies.

3. Audio out from the TV. Normally I would have this running into the VCR or AUX L/R in on the stereo, but that’s where I hooked up the PC… So I moved this over to the tape monitor in – works like a charm. (Yes I still have my vinyl, but I did finally get rid of my cassettes during my last move.)

Another problem arose – what if I have a show I like to watch that is NOT being offered online? Sadly, there are still quite a few of these. The most obvious solution is just to watch it live – but having that DVR really spoiled me. I don’t want to wake up at 8:30am on Sun. to watch Sunday Morning. I want to wake up whenever and watch it then. So, for $70 (you can spend more if you want) I got a TV tuner. Specifically for me a Win TV-HVR-850 Hybrid Video Recorder. These are very cool devices. You can get them as internal cards, or as USB external. I chose USB, just for simplicity. You plug the device into a USB slot on the PC, then plug your coax cable (you’ll need a 3 way splitter if you have a cable modem as well) into the other end. Install the software and this little device goes out and finds your available TV stations, just like when you first hook up your TV or cable box.

It came with several pieces of software that were a bit confusing at first. One program allows you to watch live TV off of the PC. Another one give you an account for a web based TV guide which gives you the ability to pick a program and say RECORD. This record request goes to a 3rd program where I can set it up to be a recurring recording if I want. The recorded shows are stored on your PC (about 2Gb per hour), so now I have my own personal DVR (PVR) again, but I’m not paying a monthly fee for the privilege.

This has an added advantage for my clients as well. If one of them gets publicity on a news show, I can record it with just a couple of clicks. Then I have a digital file that is easy to edit and post to their site. Very cool.