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General discussion

What kind of USB HDTV turner have a feature of subtitle

Jul 30, 2009 1:03PM PDT

Hi, I wanna get a USB TV turner that can turn my laptop into a HDTV. There are quite a lot of them at Newegg.com, such as Hauppauge, Plextor. Can anyone suggest what to buy? What is most important to me is that it has to enable subtitle, because I need to record some TV dramas and study American English through the subtitles.

Most of time I may use it with the cable TV signal, so the plug is what I concern. I notice that the plug is different between Canada and the U.S. If I want to make it work for both places, what kind of adapter should I get?

the portablity is also my concern because I travel. So I think USB models are better than those bigger ones.

Regarding the antenna, I heard people saying that the antenna that comes within the package is useless, or not very effective. I do have a old antenna that belong to my old analogue TV. The two sticks can stretch out very long. Can it be of any help to get signals over the air while I am at travel?

Best!

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Discussion is locked

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Hauppauge.
Jul 30, 2009 10:09PM PDT

I'd stick with Hauppauge. Details are at the Hauppauge web site so I will not duplicate that here and address other points in your question.

"I notice that the plug is different between Canada and the U.S. If I want to make it work for both places, what kind of adapter should I get?"

You'll have to supply a little detail. I lived in Vancouver, BC for over 8 years and the cable was via the same "F type" connection as I have here in Boston, USA.

As to the Antenna. You must be thinking of the new HDTV antenna. Just like old analog TV days better antennas do work better. Since it's not the antenna's fault that you are too far away from the TV transmitter there is nothing to add here from me. I am encountering folk that were never told how Over The Air (OTA) TV works. So they ask what could be taken as silly questions. Your question is not silly at all. It only brings up that many expect this to all work even when in remote areas of the NT.
Bob

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close captioning
Jul 31, 2009 2:49AM PDT

Thanks Bob.

I will probably get a Hauppauge. But still I still need to know if it can activate the close captioning or not. As you mentioned the Hauppauge website, I went there but cannot find an answer for this from FAQ.

In terms of the plug, I think it was my mistake. There is no difference between LA and Toronto, as a friend told me.

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CC support
Jul 31, 2009 3:01AM PDT
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Thanks
Jul 31, 2009 4:26AM PDT

Thanks again Bob. I am reading those threads and it is good to know that at least through some effort, some people can eventually get the CC.