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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Big Dog who wrote (54469)	5/6/2007 4:48:20 PM
From: FJB	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110653

If the connectors look like this, you can already add a second monitor. The top one is a DVI connector and the bottom is a D-sub VGA connector. Make sure to get a monitor that uses the connector you are not currently using. I am assuming you have at least 1GB to 2GB of memory and are on XP/Vista. If you want to get cable tv on the system, you could just add a tv tuner card.

To: Big Dog who wrote (54469)	5/6/2007 5:14:50 PM
From: Zincman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110653

No dumb, just learning.. ;) Ok, let me see if I can make it a bit less confusing- sorry for the confusion. W/o seeing your setup, I am somewhat guessing at your setup. It sounds like to me that you have a basic video on board set up. IOW's your computer does not have a video card. The "serial" port as you describe seems to be a standard VGA configuration. This is the standard setup for many PC's today w/o a video card. See my comments to your post below: I'm getting pretty durn confused now. All part of the learning curve. I looked...I don't have a video card. My display is connected to what looks like a "serial" port...although there is another serial port next to it, but a little different shape. yes- sounds like a standard VGA port I want to end up with two displays, one of which can be used for either TV or a dual computer display. You will have two displays, of which one or both can be used to watch TV. What you display on them does not matter. So, to keep it simple, try to keep the TV concept separate from the dual video issues. IOW's, first we need to get you to two displays, then we can add the TV/DVD/Video viewing to either, or both monitors From what you say, I need to install: 1. A video card with two outputs (I have no idea what my display's will require, I will buy two new ones - what should I buy with regards to DVI or whatever...) * You will need to buy a video card for your PC. If you are lucky, you can find a TV card that will support two displays and accept TV/Cable/DVD etc (I, for example started my system w/ on video card, then added another and then added a TV tuner card. I now have 4 display and can watch TV/Cable on anyone or all 4 of them) 2. A TV card. This card will do what? Allow me to connect the cable form the wall to input TV to the computer? Can I get one that has the DVR function? Yes, you can connect Cable, HD antenna or S-video from a cam corder to your TV Card to capture/play video. Install both of those, and I am set...si ? When I play a DVD on my computer, can I direct it to play on one of my new displays? Will this look like "TV" ? Yes, you will be able to watch a DVD on one display, TV on another if needed. This of the display(s) as real-estate. If you have some display space available, size a window on that real-estate to watch a video/TV/DVD Ok...here is another question...can I use a "Cablecard" on my computer from the cable company like on a regular TV so I can get the full range of digital channels and HD ?** I believe so. I am not familiar w/ your specific cable co's cards or signals, but if you get a signal from your cable co, you should be able to input that into your PC. ( This gets very murky b/c of content protection and copy rights. Many digital systems from the cable company are IP based (Internet protocol) and are protected by the cable company authorization system. IOW's unless your cable company allows your to view their signal on your PC- you might be out of luck. (I split my digital cable signal and ran a feed to my PC. I was lucky b/c my cable provider sends both digital and analog singals over one line. Thus my TC tuner card accepted the analog signal and therefore I did not have to get authorization for a digital signal. To sum it all up- I think you will need 2 new cards at a minimum. One video card w/ dual outputs, and one TV/Cable card for your cable signal Once installed, you can get both your displays up and viewable, then install your TV card and watch TC/cable on one or both displays. As I stated earlier, if you could find a all in one card, (dual diplays plus TV/cable, you would be lucky, however, considering your a newbie to this, I would highly recommend separate video card(s) and a TV/cable card. Does any of this make sense? ZM