I've seen ads for streaming cable/ satellite TV directly thru your computer w/o having to pay monthly cable or Sat TV fees. The ads claim a one-time fee only.

This is in the realm of "too good to be true", so ....
Is anyone familiar with these schemes?
What is the true story?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

If you have a newer computer and TV all you need is a HDMI cable.

It depends on what the pitch is offering. Streaming cable or sat programs through a computer, without a subscription is suspect, of course. There's all sorts of free content from network websites and consolidators like Hulu.

They may be referring to something like the apple TV or Roku player that connects to Hulu and netflix. You just plug the internet connection in (or connect to wireless) and connect that to your TV, you do need to have a netflix account if thats what you're going for though. Is there a specific product you have in mind?

http://www.apple.com/appletv/
http://www.roku.com/

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Here's an example of how it work:

So what does all this have to do with Satellite TV for PC? This software only provides links to websites that host TV content.

Satellite TV for PC is not offering satellite or “live broadcast” TV like your cable or dish service, but online TV already available to anyone. Satellite TV for PC only loads a “remote control” interface that sits to the side of your screen.

Clicking on a channel simply takes one to the network’s website. Satellite TV for PC software cannot replace free-to-air broadcast TV, much less cable or premium channels.

So, other than a software interface, you could do the same thing using Google.

My Roku has no monthly fee, but the NetFlix it streams does. They're gonna gitcha one way or the other.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

OK this is a limited time offer

I watched this (link bellow) and decided to try...guess what??? That was 8 months ago....since then my 27" mac is my TV and the cable company lost me forever, I pay just the very basic package so I can still have "live" feed to my house. Currently I can watch 126 channels
Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKacgqxqH-Q

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Vivere senza rimpianti



Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

You need to check this site out:

http://www.tvpc.com/ChannelList.php

There's nothing quite like watching the new Top Gear episode on BBC2 live on Sunday afternoons. Most of the world's TV channels seem to be covered here.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

This doesn't make sense, all they did was unhook it from a TV and hook it up to a computer. Could have done the same thing by plugging the DTV box output (like HDMI) into the monitor. How is that "losing the cable company" ?

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Did you miss the part regarding the additional software that actually does the job of decoding the signal?
Not picking a fight here just asking a simple question

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Vivere senza rimpianti



Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

All I know is that our Verizon FIOS bundle is $119/month. After add-ons and fees, it's approaching $200!!

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

In the Youtube video, there isn't any decoding software, since the cable company's HD box is already doing the decoding. The VLC program is merely a freeware media player/codec combo and then the video browser is basically the interface between the cable box controls and the iMac's keyboard/mouse.

What signal would that be decoding? The video didn't say anything about decoding - the AVD program is just to control the box. The only advantage I can see to this is that you can use your desktop as a DVR if you set VLC up right. Disadvantages would be loss of on-demand, loss of use with television, loss of guide functionality. You also need to pay the cable company for the use of the box and for an active encrypted data stream as well, this is hardly stickin' it to the man

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

There may also be the issue that not all cable providers have activated the firewire or other ports on the boxes they distribute to subscribers, so results may vary.

Apparently he did - explain it.