While your
Media Center PC has a lot of output jacks on its back panel, you only have to worry about a single input -- the antenna input. Note that this connection is applicable only if your Media Center contains a built-in television tuner, and if you intend to use the PC for watching and recording television broadcasts.
In almost all instances, your PC's
TV tuner has a single coaxial RF input. Whatever type of signal you're receiving -- over the air television, cable, or satellite -- should connect to this coaxial input. Just run a coaxial cable from your antenna or set top box directly to the
tuner in connection on the back of your
Media Center PC.
Of course, if you have a cable or satellite set top box, you have the issue of how to control the box -- that is, turning it on and off and switching channels to record specific programs in advance. This is accomplished via means of an infrared bug (or "blaster"), which you connect to a controller output on your PC. You then affix the receiver end of the bug to the front of your set top box. When connected, your PC sends on/off/channel information through the cable to the bug; the control signal is then beamed directly to the IR input on the set top box. It's an inelegant solution, but a necessary one.
Michael Miller is a writer and commentator on technology and digital lifestyle topics. 
