Using Radio with My TV

Because Media Center PCs with FM Radio capability use a single tuner card for TV and radio reception , it's an "either/or" situation: You can listen to radio or watch TV, not both at once. Because most human beings aren't set up to multitask in that manner, either, this typically doesn't present much of a problem.

However, if you were hoping to listen to the radio while Media Center's My TV features record video programming for you to watch later, you're going to be disappointed. When Media Center approaches a TV recording session you previously scheduled, a message will appear in the lower screen advising you that you have a choice to make (see Figure 15.8). You can either keep listening to Radio or let My TV record the video program.

Figure 15.8. When the time comes to choose either Radio or My TV, Media Center will display a message like this.

graphics/15fig08.jpg

The Absolute Minimum

Media Center provides something that just about anyone who listens to the radio has wished for at one time or another: the ability to go back and hear something a second time. Or a third time. Now you'll be able to control radio broadcasts as if they were on tape ”without having to actually tape the broadcast.

As you get ready to kick the tires on the next -generation digital radio inside your Media Center PC, remember these points:

  • The FM Radio features aren't available with every Media Center PC. Check to make sure your system has a built-in FM tuner. If there's no tuner, the Radio menu item won't appear on the Media Center start page.

  • You'll need some kind of external antenna to get any FM reception. Remember that PCs can give off some significant radio emissions of their own, so if you hear too much static, try moving the external antenna well away from your PC.

  • As long as you have decent reception, finding broadcast stations is a snap. If you know the station's location, you can punch in the numbers using the keypad on your remote control, or select the +/ “ buttons on the screen to tune to the exact frequency.

  • Media Center also offers a Seek capability to automatically tune to the strongest radio signals in your broadcast area. After you find the stations you like, use Save to store the station as a preset.

  • You can use the Pause, Play, Replay, and Skip capabilities to control the radio programming, just as you would a digital video program in My TV.




Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center
Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP Media Center
ISBN: 0789730030
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 159
Authors: Steve Kovsky

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