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Why can't I split the cable TV?

Thursday, 08 May, 2008

I have rented a CABLE line from a provider and watch TV channels on main TV.

I have bought an splitter and now I want to watch my television on my laptop with the HP Digital/Analog TV Tuner card. However the TV tuner is not showing any channel that I can see on my main TV.

So is it something that the TV Tuner does not read that's coming in that cable the way main TV reads it? I have no idea.

Hammad Azmat, ,


That depends a bit on what country you're in and what sort of service you've rented.

If the TV came as part of the package or if there's a separate "decoder" box, then it will be taking the signal from the cable and converting it back into watchable channels. These probably won't be channels that you can watch on another TV attached to the cable even if you use a splitter. One reason is that the cable company wants you to pay for extra TV's.

You may find that there's a "TV out" socket on the device somewhere, and this may be to allow you to watch the same channel on another TV, but not a different one.

You'll need a normal TV antenna and cable in order to get a signal from your PC tuner card.

Paul Zucker


Reader solutions



Larry JentzPosted: 12/05/2008

re: Why can't I split the cable TV?
I Am wondering if Hammad has put a splitter on the cable tv line instead of the coax cable that runs from the cable receiver to the tv. If so he wont get a signal. I have tried a standard splitter on the coax and the picture quality was rather low grade but purchased a powered and boosted splitter and works just fine now but can only watch comercial channels not Foxtel. For cable tv you have to use TV out from the tv or S-Video cable output if your tv has either of these. Then if your receiver on the laptop is the usb type i think it only would have coax cable connection so as Paul said you need to connect to the outdoor antenna and this is all you will receive, forget the cable channels.
JeffPosted: 12/05/2008

re: Why can't I split the cable TV?
I WILL remember to put a space after punctuation. -Jeff

I WILL remember to put a space after punctuation. -Jeff

I WILL remember to put a space after punctuation. -Jeff

I WILL remember to put a space after punctuation. -Jeff

Hammac,read the Manuals more carefully,of both your TV set-top box and lap-top's Tuner-card.
The TV 'set-top' has has 2 plugs,1 male, 1 female.
The Antenna goes to the 'female'.
You need an 'extension cable'(a very long one,to go from room to room)....with 'joiners', for the 'male' plug. These can be bought,at any Store selling TV parts.
Attach 'extension cable' to the remaining plug/socket,run it to you lap-top and plug it into the 'plug/socket' of your lap-top.
Double-check your Firewall's "Exceptions"...to see if the "Exceptions" show your TV-card's software?
If it does not,use the "Add New Program",'Browse"(find the software,to ADD it,to "Exceptions").
Close it,when you have done that.
Start your TV-card's Program,perferrably with the Cable TV going,....and use the "Configure" option, of your TV-card, to "Scan" for the TV signal coming into it.
If you have done it right, you should get TV Channels to 'Activate'....(from both your TV and TV-card).
It will also be advisable that you also get an 'IN-Line amplfier box'.
(To help 'boost' the TV signal coming from the Cable TV,along that long extension cable).
I did the very same, to mine.
And,yes, it works. Just fine for me.

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