Digital free signal to pc monitor ?

[Qwert66]

Want to replace the old analog tv in the back with the biggest one that will fit in the opening. Seems I need a 20-21" tv and the normal Tv's with digital tuners jump from 19 to 22".

They have 20-21" pc monitors but not sure what to put between the digital antenna and the monitor to watch tv with a remote. Powering the monitor could be done with a separate 110v wireless remote. I don't want to put a computer with digital tuner board in to feed the monitor.

I know this is alot more complicated; but want to watch the biggest screen option available with instant startup times and few remotes. We are not interested in the dish signals as of yet.

Thanks in advance

[texnet]

In order to watch Digital TV on your computer monitor you need a Digital Converter that is normally used to watch the new digital channels on an older TV set. The Digital Converter will need to have RCA outputs for Left/Right Audio and Composite video, or S-Video. Your new PC Monitor will also need to have Left/Right Audio and either Composite or S-Video input capability.

Another option would be a box made specifically for this purpose http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-View.../dp/B00005U5RT but it is more money than the converter box.

Or... http://www.amazon.com/Mygica-SuperCo...p_ob_e_title_0

Lots of options out there.

[BCooke]

It may be cheaper to find a tv that doubles as a monitor, a lot of them do. You are generally limited as to how many pixels (1240x1080) but I know for me any higher and I need different glasses or a magnifier.....

[wa8yxm]

Depending on the monitor you have basically two choices.

IF the monitor has straight A/V inputs (The 3 RCA jack usually red, white and yellow) (Or in some cases HDMI depending on the digital converter) then as was states above a straight Digital TV converter like the DTV Pal or the insignia/Zenith units I have here will work fine, Though I do not recommend the Insignia or Zenith (identical units) as they are made by LG and .. Well, I have yet to meet an LG product that worked properly, That said, now that the nation is full digital I'm not having any issues with mine any more.

If all it has is VGA or SVGA or whatever that DB connector is.. Then you need a PC with a Tuner.. Advantage PC, if you have the hard drive, they double as DVR's. PC may be a laptop or "other" any size, get lots of hard drive though.


On edit: I have not visited the DTV Pal site recently (Just put the www and com on it and it might work) but they were marketing a DVR model, These units are made by Echostar, the parent of Dish Network. In fact the remote bears the Dish logo. The user interface is rather good.. and some of the other features, like antenna pointing are good. though why it asks for zip code (just next over that step) I do not know. (Hold over from Dish Receivers)

[Wayne M]

Qwert66,
I wanted to do a similar project in my "main" living area. I had a 30" oem tv in place, but the entire width of the opening was 36 1/2 inches by 28 or so inches high. Televisions are measure diagonally for size (screen corner to screen corner). Finding one that would fit in the opening of 36 x 28 was the challenge, but I went from store to store measuring the outside width and height and I found a Panasonic 36" tv that actually was 36 x 28 and fits in my opening perfectly.

However, I did have to modify the mounting hardware, put in an articulating are so the TV could be pulled or and have the speakers, which were on the bottom, heard easily.

It's a doable project. The vast majority of televisions take all types of inputs. My computer has an HDMI output and can be patched directly into the TV. Works well.

Happy trails.

[bluepill]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwert66 Want to replace the old analog tv in the back with the biggest one that will fit in the opening. Seems I need a 20-21" tv and the normal Tv's with digital tuners jump from 19 to 22".Thanks in advance

I don't think that you will find an appreciable difference between a 19, 20, and 21 inch screen as far as viewing, other things being equal - e.g. 720P vs, 1080P.

Using a simple integrated-tuner TV with a few input options for external AV devices would probably be the cheapest and simplest solution. It would probably be the most power efficient also. Speaking of power, an LED backlit screen is more efficient and usually brighter.

[BCooke]

More time this morning.
I had picked up a Vizio TV. It has a digital and analog tuner, HDMI in and the assorted standard inputs along with a VGA input from a computer. Bonus... it is actually 12 volt DC at that back of the TV and the plug is a transformer. Now next spring I have to wire it in to the 5er to allow it to run off the batteries or be plugged in to 110. That way we can relax in the TH and watch something after a ride, while dry camping (or as DW would translate 'Fall asleep').