We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Mini Digital TV?

By R. Kayne
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,501
Share

Mini digital TV can refer to technologies that bring HDTV to the laptop or desktop, or to miniature television sets that accept digital signals. This article focuses on the more popular former meaning. Mini digital TV comes in the form of USB or ExpressCard kits, packing a tuner, antenna and software to receive free, unencrypted, over-the-air HDTV broadcasts directly on your computer.

Mini digital TV hardware has become increasingly compact with many models no larger than a standard USB thumb drive. These small devices contain a miniature tuner for receiving local over-the-air TV signals and in some models, FM radio broadcasts. A diminutive HDTV antenna connects to the USB or ExpressCard hardware via coaxial cabling. Accompanying software scans for broadcasts and optionally record them to the hard drive, turning the computer into a personal video recorder (PVR).

Windows® Media Center software can be used with compatible mini digital TV hardware, and in some cases might be superior to included software. Features differ between models, but generally include the ability to pause live TV and replay several seconds of just-aired material. This can be convenient to re-watch a sports play or to catch missed dialog. Scalable screen capability provides a kind of “picture-in-picture” functionality for multitasking. Place the broadcast in the lower right corner, for example, and continue surfing or working on the computer.

Recording live, free-to-air HDTV broadcasts to the hard disc can consume roughly three gigabytes of storage for every 30 minutes of HD recording. Compression options might be included to record programs for playback on portable devices like the iPod®. Software bundled with less expensive models, however, might not include PVR functions, though several software packages are available online, many of which are free and open-source.

The number of channels one can receive using a mini digital TV depends on availability of local free-to-air broadcasts. Location of the user in relation to broadcast towers, along with intervening topography, dictates availability. Online tools such as those found at TVFool can map local network locations based on a user-entered address to show which, if any networks are close by.

Not all Mini digital TV tuners are compatible with all operating systems, so Apple® users should check for Mac OSX compatibility. If buying a model that uses the ExpressCard slot, be sure your laptop has the specific type of card slot required.

Mini digital TV tuners can be purchased anywhere computer electronics are sold, including many discount department stores, with prices starting at about $50 US Dollars. More expensive models generally have better software, options, and a nicer graphical user interface (GUI), though exceptions certainly exist. Antennas with greater gain might also be included with some more expensive models.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-mini-digital-tv.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.