How Can I Use my Monitor as an HDTV?

At some point, most people have looked at the high definition flat screen LCD monitor on their computer desk and wondered if it might be useable as an HDTV. While most monitors don't come with TV tuners, there are still ways to watch HD television on your computer screen.

The technology used in LCD monitors and LCD televisions is the same, so it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to use them in the same way. Unfortunately, most LCD monitors lack a critical component for television playback, a TV tuner. The TV tuner converts the television signal into a format that the monitor can display. Some of the more expensive monitors come with an integrated TV tuner, and you can check your monitor to see if it has coaxial and component inputs; if it does, the process of using your monitor as an HDTV becomes much simpler. For the vast majority of LCD monitors, however, there are a few more things that are needed in order to use it to watch TV.

The TV Tuner

In order for your monitor to be able to display HDTV signals, you will have to buy a TV tuner. TV tuners come either as an external box that you connect to your computer, or an internal card that you must install in your PC. Fortunately, many HDTV tuners are relatively cheap, and can be found for around $40 or $50. Having a TV tuner also brings other advantages to your PC, such as being able to record television programs and movies. Different TV tuners have different features, but you want to at least make sure the tuner you buy supports digital HD television. Older analog tuners will require you to get a digital converter box, which only adds to the cost and complexity of the setup.

Depending on your monitor's aspect ratio and resolution, you may or may not be able to display full HD (1920x1080 pixels). Most monitors will be able to display at least 720p (1280x720 pixels). If you have a very small monitor, the image may be scaled down, resulting in lower image quality. You might also have to adjust your monitor's display settings to get a better picture, as it may try to stretch the HD signal to fit the monitor's native resolution, producing a distorted image.

Conclusion

It is definitely possible to use a computer monitor as an HDTV, and having a TV tuner in your PC brings many advantages as well. Not only can you view television channels on your monitor, but you can also record them to your PC's hard drive and watch them later. For the convenience of being able to switch quickly between the PC and television on the same display, a TV tuner card is a worthwhile upgrade to any computer.