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You will have to install software on the laptop and attach a hardware
receiver to the usb port.
Software scans for channels like a normal receiver and displays picture on the laptop. You should be able to receive everything available on freesat. I use "DVB viewer" software which is quite cheap but is stable
and i can recommend it. I have found some freeware viewers to be a bit hit and miss.
Search on Ebay for "DVB-S USB" which is a hardware receiver that acts as the interface between dish and laptop. I use Technotrend
S2-3650 CI which i also recommend.
If you decide to use the internet then you can buy a "Slingbox". You install this piece of hardware at home between your sat receiver and
DSL router. From your laptop you can then control the sat receiver through the slingbox across the internet. The picture you see on your home TV is then displayed on your laptop.
Because we live abroad we need a large dish to receive the English channels. My son who lives local to us has a flat rate internet connection but lives in a block of flats facing the wrong direction. He uses the slingbox solution without problems although there is a slight time delay.
I also have a friend who chooses a hotel with internet when on holiday, he can then watch his own channels whilst on holiday.
For Freeview you will need a DVB-T compliant USB tuner. There are several around but compatibility may be a problem. If you are using Microsoft Vista or Windows 7, check the compatibility.
With Vista or Windows 7 above basic you will already have all of the relevant software witin Windows Media Centre, just have to install the drivers. Windows 7 will already have the drivers.
Importantly, do you have a suitable aerial? If you do not then no manner of device will help you receive TV. The other thing to remember is that Freeview will not appear as it does at home. PC devices are exempt from any compliance regulation for TV receivers.
There is no need for Internet access and please do not, as previously suggested, go down the route of even considering Slingbox. If you do not have free internet access then you will not be able to afford to use Slingbox or its replicas.
Gerry
I picked up one of these in France in one of the superstores for about 30Euro. It said it was for digital and analogue terrestrial TV. It is only about the size of a USB memory stick, with a little lead that plugs into it with a standard TV aerial socket on the end. It also came with a y little "digital" aerial (with a magnetic base) which I pop on the roof of the 'van and providing you are in the right area picks up quite a few channels.
When I got back to the UK the device still worked fine here and picked up all the freeview channels.
I run it on an old XP windows laptop with no problem. The software takes around 5 minutes to load up all the channels when you move to a different area. When it can't pick up digital channels it seems to always pick up a couple of the old analogue ones.
I've used one and as others have said, the aerial / signal quality is crucial. If in different places, I wouldn't want to rely on one as my main source of TV in case I found myself in an area with poor reception unless I was using a roof aerial and signal booster. If internet connection is available and charges are not based on usage (or are at least reasonable), look at TV catch up - http://www.tvcatchup.com/.
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UK
y little "digital" aerial (with a magnetic base) which I pop on the roof of the 'van and providing you are in the right area picks up quite a few channels.
