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With the help of a TV tuner, you can, without looking up from working with a particular program, watch TV shows in an adjacent viewing window, which can be very convenient. As with many computer programs, the viewport can be resized and the window itself can be moved anywhere on the screen. Transfers can be recorded, including by timer.

TV tuners are internal and external. Internal TV tuners are actually expansion cards (like separate video and sound cards), and are inserted into one of the free PCI or PCI Express slots on the motherboard. The low profile design of some models allows them to be used in very compact barebones. The disadvantage of PCI-E tuners is the inability to install in an old computer. In addition, these devices are slightly more expensive than their counterparts with PCI support. On the other hand, they usually have a wider range of features.

There are two types of external tuners - those connected to a PC via a USB connector and stand-alone models that do not require a computer, but are connected directly to the monitor. The main advantage of USB models is the convenience of connection: they can be connected to both a PC and a laptop, and if necessary, switch from one computer to another in a matter of minutes without disassembling the case and turning off the computer (which you have to do in the case of built-in models). Cons - limited functionality (since, as a rule, manufacturers start releasing new series of products from internal models) and the price, which, as a rule, is higher for a USB tuner than for a similar built-in model.

Having determined the type of connection you want, pay attention to a few important points. First, the tuner must support the type of TV broadcast you would like to receive. On the territory of the post-Soviet space, on-air broadcasting is often carried out in an analog format (although the digital standard is gradually being introduced), “digit” is much more common in cable networks, and the satellite signal is transmitted mainly in digital form. When choosing a tuner for analog broadcasting, you should pay attention to the support of the color system (PAL, SECAM, NTSC); however, many models support all three at once, which will save you the hassle of choosing. The digital tuner must be compatible with the appropriate standard: DVB-T or DVB-T2 for broadcast, DVB-C for cable, DVB-S or DVB-S2 for satellite.

Of the additional features, it is worth checking out the FM function, which has recently appeared in many models of TV tuners, as well as a remote control that will erase the differences between a computer and a TV. And finally, the video capture function. It enables the TV tuner to record any TV programs you need. You can also set up a scheduler, and it will automatically record video even without your presence.