Hi,
As an also new from Africa, here are a couple of suggestions which I guess can apply to your situation:
Assuming you use a Desktop running preferably Vista, a PCI card such as VisionPlus 1020a seems adequate. Beware that these are sold both including and excluding remote - Bid on E-bay for around US$ 25 including remote - mine came from Toronto AirMail (extra US$25)
I am also expecting another much cheaper card with remote from another on-line (non E-bay) source for US$ 27.17 including AirMail, but can't comment on its compatibility & performance yet.
For a laptop, a USB box such as the "clone" Newmi DM22s (complete with remote) goes for around 15 UK pounds + 13.5 for Airmail out of HongKong, also on E-bay. (ebay.com seems to have greater choice than .co.uk - same log-in name & password)
A word of warning, the USB interface doesn't seem to like USB2.0 on older machines, even when they are so equipped. Just couldn't get mine working satisfactorily on any of 3 different P4 2G4 512Mb RAM & XP pro (fresh - clean hard-drive setups with latest SP3 & drivers).
Watch programs on PC screen, or feed from analog video output of graphic card & PC audio to regular tv AVI connector. Same applies if using a video projector, a plain UHF modulator or a "short range" video-sender (don't know if legit in UK).
Software options seems to confuse newbies like me. Busy concentrating on ProgDVB + Vplug until I throw my toys out of the cot.
I am contemplating a new PC assembly into a 1996 vintage IBM Aptiva "horizontal" box I have gutted out and "replated". M/B will be the Intel Mini-ITX (170x170mm) with on-board 1G6 ATOM dual-core cpu. Purpose: keep the missus happy by locating the PC in place of the now very vintage VHS recorder in existing custom furniture.
Hope the above is of some help.