Pinnacle Studio PCTV Rave

Thinking about buying an extra TV set? Pinnacle's TV tuner card will turn your PC's monitor into a goggle box, with some extra features thrown in.

For example, you can alter the size of the viewing window, so that you can keep an eye on the adverts while you carry out a separate task on your PC. Although the picture quality is not as good as a TV screen, at this price the PCTV Rave offers an attractive alternative to a second set.

The card comes with software which allows you to edit the images displayed on your screen. You can capture broadcast footage or use the video input to connect your VCR or camcorder. However, you can't record the footage to tape because the PCTV Rave does not include the video output you'll find on more expensive cards.

The PCTV Rave comes as a PCI card. This means you will have to open your computer to fit it into a PCI slot. The alternative to a PCI card is a USB device that is connected externally. These are available from Pinnacle and Hauppage, but cost more than PCI cards.

Once the card is in place, the accompanying CDRom guides you through the user-friendly installation, and all the software you require is included.

The PCTV Rave can also tune in to TV channels automatically, depending on your reception. In the centre of London, our desktop antenna just about managed a grainy image of a TV programme. With a cable TV or roof-top antenna you will have no such problems, and the PCTV Rave will find and store all available channels.

A final handy extra is Webtext, which allows you to surf around the Teletext service through a browser, taking advantage of web features such as bookmarks and searches.

Contact Pinnacle 01895 424228