M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 1 Chapter 5 Windows 7 More Skills 14 Watch TV in Windows Media Center You can watch and record broadcast TV in Windows Media Center. To watch and record broadcast TV, your computer needs a TV tuner a card or device capable of receiving television signals that connects to your computer. To complete this project, you will need the following file: w7_05_tv You will save your file as: Lastname_Firstname_w7_05_TV 1. A TV tuner card is shown in Figure 1. If you do not have a TV tuner connected to your computer, read but do not perform the following steps. TV tuner cards vary. Some TV tuners attach to the outside of your computer using a USB cable. The TV tuner in Figure 1 is a card that is installed inside the computer. This card has a coaxial cable connection for connecting an antennae or cable TV cable. This card s connections are accessible through a slot on the back of the computer. Coaxial cable connector Connections to computer Figure 1 Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 1 of 6
M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 2 2. If you have already installed and configured a TV tuner card on your computer, Start Windows Media Center, and then skip to step 11. 3. If you will be watching over-the-air digital television, connect an appropriate antenna to your TV tuner. 4. If you will be receiving a cable television signal, attach the cable television coaxial cable to your TV tuner. 5. Start Windows Media Center. On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll down to display Tasks. Click Settings, click TV, and then click Set Up TV Signal. Compare your screen with Figure 2. The TV Setup wizard will ask a series of questions specific to your region and TV tuner. TV Setup wizard Figure 2 6. In the TV Setup wizard, answer each question as appropriate to your region and TV tuner. The TV Setup wizard will perform several tasks that vary depending on your region and TV tuner. Some of these steps may take several minutes. Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 2 of 6
M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 3 7. When the TV Setup wizard is complete, your TV tuner should display in the TV Signal Detection Result screen, similar to Figure 3. If your computer s TV tuner is not listed, you may need to install appropriate drivers. Refer to the documentation that came with the TV tuner or refer to the TV tuner manufacturer s support pages at their website. If your computer s TV tuner has appropriate drivers and is not listed, double-check that an antenna or cable TV cable is connected to the tuner s coaxial cable connector, and click the option to detect again. TV Signal Detection Result TV tuner listed (yours may vary) Figure 3 Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 3 of 6
M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 4 8. In the TV Setup wizard, click Yes, configure TV with these results, and then click Next two times to display the TV Channel Scan screen, as shown in Figure 4. TV Channel Scan screen Four channels found so far (your results may be different) Figure 4 9. When the TV Channel Scan is complete, click Next, and then click Finish. 10. To the right of the Back button, click the Windows Media Center Home button to return to the start screen. Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 4 of 6
M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 5 11. On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to TV, and then click Live TV. Compare your screen with Figure 5. The Live TV controls can be controlled from the computer or a Windows Media Center compatible remote control. Many TV tuners come with a remote control. To record TV, click the Record button. The Channel Decrease and Channel Increase buttons are used to move up or down channels. Television show (yours may be different) Record button Live TV controls Figure 5 Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 5 of 5
M05_TOWN5764_01_SE_SM5.QXD 11/24/10 1:08 PM Page 6 12. Click the Record button, and then compare your screen with Figure 6. You can record a television broadcast from the moment you start recording, or you can schedule to record a broadcast at a later time. You cannot record any portion of a show that has already broadcasted. Manual Record screen Figure 6 13. Click Do Not Record, and click the Stop button. Close the Windows Media Center window. 14. From the student data files that came with this chapter, open w7_05_tv in WordPad. From the File tab, click Save As. In the Save As dialog box, navigate to your Windows 7 Chapter 5 folder. In the File name box, name the file Lastname_Firstname_w7_05_TV and then click Save. 15. On the first line of the WordPad document, change the name to your own first and last name. Press ij, click Date and time, and then click OK. 16. Mark your responses to the questions as directed in the WordPad document. 17. When you are done, click Save. Print the document or submit the file as directed by your instructor. You have completed More Skills 14 Work with Digital Media Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 5 More Skills: SKILL 14 Page 6 of 6