plugging a laptop into a tv/vcr

[hadyn]

can you plug a laptop into a tv/vcr, is it as simple as finding a cable that runs from the monitor out on the back of a laptop to something like a scart lead???will the picture come out full dimension on a tv or will it be shrunk??

[voodoo_melon]

If the laptop has TVout and the TV has RF/phono or scart inputs you can just stick a cable between them. If the laptop doens't have TVout you'll need a vga>pal converter.

[zym]

your laptop has to have a special TV-Out port, which will be entirely separate to the normal port you plug a monitor into. The signal is different, and would probably do bad things to your tv!!

z.

[hadyn]

no tv out, just the monitor out jobee, how much is a vga-pal convertor??

[voodoo_melon]

I dunno of anywhere that sells them atm, but when I was looking for one (12 months ago?) a multi input/output jobby was £70 in Maplin. Or you could build (http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/vga2tv/vga2palntsc.html) one :)

[hadyn]

ive today located my TV-OUT port yaaaaay!!! :D

[hadyn]

is it an s-video to scart cable ill need????

whats the exact name of the cable i want??

[ACECROSS]

If it is an S-Video out port on the laptop, which i presume it is, you can use an S-Video to an S-Video cable if you have an S-Video IN on your TV. Cable is about a tenner from any Comet/Currys etc. I wouldn't bother spending anymore on a cable as it really is not that noticable.

OR you can use an S-Video to Scart. You need to make sure that the TV is set up to recieve an S-Video input or else the picture will appear in black and white as the signal is split differently to normal composite video. Again about a tenner.

You will also need to set up the TV out function on the laptop using the relevant software, but as i don' t no the system spec i can't say how difficult or easy this may be.

So your easiest solution is probably S-Video on Laptop to S-Video on TV.

Hope this helps
:)

[hadyn]

its a toshiba satellite laptop 256mb ram, 1.5 ghz celeron etc........the pin hole on the tv out has 7 holes - is this the right one for an s-video which has 4 prongs??

[voodoo_melon]

S-Video is a DIN(?) plug/socket. Round with lots of little pins/holes inside, but Phono/RF is just a round plug with one prong in the middle so make sure you get the right cable.

/edit - beat me to it :rolleyes:

[voodoo_melon]

Hmm not sure about that one... My TV Card has a svideo in with 4 holes in it, and my gfx card has SVideo Out with 7... Think I have an adapter somewhere.

edit - nope, but I've got a 7pin-phono one and all sorts of extensions :|

[hadyn]

looks like im not gonna get one of these down the local currys then!!where can i get an adaptor from??

[voodoo_melon]

There's one here (http://www.svideotorca.com/7pinxclaim.html) but it's about £12 and in $ :( But they do offer Free worldwide airmail delivery.

Still looking for UK places though....

[hadyn]

i think a regular 4 pin s-video cable will fit into this 7 pin socket???

[ACECROSS]

I believe that is correct, i have mine connected with a standard S-Video cable, four pins. It is the same on my laptop as four the TV out on the graphics card on my desktop PC.

[voodoo_melon]

No idea, but if people make converters it's unlikely it'll work properly. Worst thing that I can see happening is that you'll get a wonky picture/no colour though.

[hadyn]

so just to clarify, a four pin s-video plug shoud fit into the tv-out socket on the laptop which has 7 holes???

[voodoo_melon]

Yes it fits (I just checked) but I dunno if it'll work properly. Try it and find out :) Let us know what happens if you do try.

[hadyn]

k will nip down currys/comet later - what time do they shut??

[ACECROSS]

I think it should work if it is a standard TV out. Having said that i have just looked at the TV out on all my PC's (Four and a laptop!) and they are all four pin.

The only seven pin out i have is a Creative decoder card with TV out, but i know this also works but i can't remember what cable i used! But a standard S-Video does fit so my guess is just try it.

If it is working correctly when you boot the laptop you should see the TV screen flickering showing it is receiving the signal.

As i said earlier though you may need to set up the software side of it as well to get it to work correctly.

[voodoo_melon]

Prolly 5-5:30 for a normal one or 8 for a big one. Do what Acecross said, stuff the cable in and play around with the settings. Worst thing that'll happen is it won't work properly*


* However, just in case it does explode/melt it's not my fault :p

[ACECROSS]

Currys and Comet Superstores normally 8pm, normal stores 5.30.
:)

[ACECROSS]

Damn beat me to it!!

[hadyn]

Originally posted by ACECROSS
Currys and Comet Superstores normally 8pm, normal stores 5.30.
:)

Superstores are the ones found usually in retail parks, arent they???

[ACECROSS]

Thats correct!

[Martin T]

Originally posted by hadyn
so just to clarify, a four pin s-video plug shoud fit into the tv-out socket on the laptop which has 7 holes???

Yep it'll fir but no it wont work. you need the adapter supplied by your notebook manufacturer. The adapter will most likely have audio, s-video, composite etc outs on it.

[ACECROSS]

They both have sites :

Currys (http://www.currys.co.uk)

and

Comet (http://www.comet.co.uk)

You may be able to find your nearest store and the opening times.

:)

[hadyn]

i went there yesterday, but nobody who worked there had a clue m8! :rolleyes:

[ACECROSS]

I reckon just try an S-Video cable and if it does not work just take it back and say you got the wrong one. They will refund the cost, I have had to do this before due to buying the wrong cable.

[hadyn]

my tv has both an s-video input as well as the V - A input jobees AND a scart input as well........

what do you think i should get??

s-video to s-video?
s-video to scart?
or s-video to that V/A thing........... :thumbs:

[Braintree]

S-Video is generally higher quality.

[gaz.thomas]

s-video to scart will still send s-video - only into your scart socket - You may well need a different graphics driver if your toshiba is configured to output to TV as NTSC - I needed to update the driver for my fujitsu amilo - my dell was fine though.

Whereabouts in the midlands are you?

Gaz
-x-

[hadyn]

sunny wolverhampton m8 ;)

can you record to video from an input s-video signal???do you just have to set your video to the AUX channel to record??

[gaz.thomas]

If your VCR supports s-video then yes - otherwise you'll need to do some sort of conversion. Simply plugging a scart cable won't be sufficient as standard VCRs (usually) only record from the composite pin of the scart signal. What TV and VCR are you using? (some TVs can convert an s-video input on scart1 /s-video in to composite/RGB out of scart2 making it possible)

Gaz
-x-

If you were local I was going to offer to help out in person but I'm far too idle to drive up to you from worcs. :D

[hadyn]

s-video to scart it is then!

ive got a well cheapo sub 50 quid video thats about 10 yrs old, but it does have a scart socket!

[gaz.thomas]

Best thing to do is just give it a go. If you've got an s-video to s-video cable around then I'd plug that straight into the TV - If the output is black and white then you need to change the laptops output settings to PAL (not NTSC) If you have an s-video enabled scart plug then you could use that instead.

Next thing to try is direct into the video's scart. If that's black and white (after setting up the laptop properly in PAL) then the scart is only composite enabled and you'll need some kind of converter.

My TV can take an s-video signal into scart1 and convert it into a composite signal out of scart2 so I'd be able to run a normal 21pin wired scart to scart from the scart2 into the video and that'd fix it. Your TV might do the same

Gaz
-x-

If you get stuck then drop me a PM with details and i'll try and help :-)

[hadyn]

my dvd player runs from its scart out to the scart input of my video no problem, and the picture is fine???so i presume s-video 2 scart should work a treat?

[gaz.thomas]

You can run all sorts of video protocols over scart - DVD's typically output primarily in RGB over scart - unless you've set the dvd player to output in s-video I couldn't be sure.

Gaz
-x-

[hadyn]

got an s-video to scart pc-tv kit from comet, cost bout 20 quid

works a treat and even has a seperate phono connector so i can run the sound from the laptops headphone sockets........

one thing tho is, that it treats the tv as a seperate monitor, so you have to move the application your using off the laptops screen so it is visible on the tv...............

[voodoo_melon]

There might be a setting for that in your desktop/advanced settings. My old laptop let me either have it as another desktop (like yours is now) or just a copy, so everything showed up on both screens. Have a look through all the settings and you might find something.

[hadyn]

its only got an extended my desktop option on my display properties unfortunately