Free software to watch/record from TV Tuner for Windows?

[BirdOPrey5]

I don't want to install a full media server.

I found my old USB TV Tuner, it's a Pinnacle 800e, Pinnacle's servers seem to be down, I can't download their software. Seems like there should be some decent freeware out there, but having trouble finding it.

 

[Brock]

droidtv + free hulu are all you need

 

[miwico]

I don't want to install a full media server.

I found my old USB TV Tuner, it's a Pinnacle 800e, Pinnacle's servers seem to be down, I can't download their software. Seems like there should be some decent freeware out there, but having trouble finding it.

Keep looking I know I found a couple, if you hit a dead end I think I have a copy of one or two that I can ISO and share if need be.

 

[Ralph]

Keep looking I know I found a couple, if you hit a dead end I think I have a copy of one or two that I can ISO and share if need be.

I've been looking for similar and hit a dead end... The closest I've found is EasyHDTV, but that seems to be ATSC/QAM only, not NTSC, and it's not free. Everything else I stumble on is a full PVR media server solution.

For now, the easiest is probably Windows Media Center, but I'm looking to replace that between now and end of July since it's being deprecated in Win X.

 

[BirdOPrey5]

I'm not going to pay to upgrade to Win 8 Pro just for Media Center that I don't want anyway.

 

[Ralph]

I'm not going to pay to upgrade to Win 8 Pro just for Media Center that I don't want anyway.

Didn't realize you were on 8. I feel sorry for you

 

[themonk]

I'd be surprised if there's anything available that isn't also encrypted except for antenna reception. Additionally, is there any non-digital TV broadcast out there anymore.

 

[BirdOPrey5]

Honestly I really like Windows 8... People who dislike it are really hung up on cosmetic issues... the overall stability is greatly improved over Win 7 in my experience.

Anyway, after a few hours trying crap that didn't work I found an FTP site with copies of all the Pinnacle downloads-

Index of ftp.pctvsystems.com/TV/application/TVC6

I installed what looked like the latest version of the software- PCTVSystems_TVCenter_Setup_6.4.9.1033.exe - and it's working great.

It's on a 15 day trial, if I can find my original disk maybe the code will unlock it.

I'm not too concerned, my new one will be here tomorrow and that will have RCA inputs as well as the TV tuner.

Quality using a coax cable on channel 3 is better than I expected.

 

[Ralph]

I'd be surprised if there's anything available that isn't also encrypted except for antenna reception. Additionally, is there any non-digital TV broadcast out there anymore.

We have about 35 digital channels from TWC, including all locals in HD, that are broadcast unencrypted in ClearQAM. They also broadcast about 60 channels (some repeats of the 35 digitals) in analog. We still have an old 13" tube TV in our spare room, hooked up to cable without a box. Works just fine. Our 32" plasma in the bedroom picks up all of the above without a box.

 

[themonk]

We have about 35 digital channels from TWC, including all locals in HD, that are broadcast unencrypted in ClearQAM. They also broadcast about 60 channels (some repeats of the 35 digitals) in analog. We still have an old 13" tube TV in our spare room, hooked up to cable without a box. Works just fine. Our 32" plasma in the bedroom picks up all of the above without a box.

I find this surprising. Content providers apparently frequently require encryption. I'm also surprised any analog channels still exist.

 

[BirdOPrey5]

TWC is going all digital by the end of this year... They went all digital in NYC about 2 years back. They offered free digital tuners for over a year now they charge I think $5 a month.

 

[Ralph]

TWC is going all digital by the end of this year... They went all digital in NYC about 2 years back. They offered free digital tuners for over a year now they charge I think $5 a month.

That will probably be the straw that breaks the camels back and forces me to put up an antenna. I know if I lived in a metro area where OTA TV was easier to pick up, I would have done it a long time ago.