Laptop Computer to HD Ready TV connection

Charles Bennet

I need help. I'm not very much into high definition and the electronics involved, so please keep your answer basic and simple.

I want to be able to show high quality digitial photos on my laptop computer on my high definition ready TV. I have been using my S-video connection from my laptop to my TV, but that transmits only analog and the quality of the photos on the TV are not very good. I want to take advantage of all the lines/pixels on my HDTV when sending my photo files to the TV.

I understand that if my TV has a 15 pin connector I can connect that to my 15 pin connector on my laptop, but it doesn't. I have the normal high definition "post" connectors one can use to hook in a high definition cable feed and I may (I'm not sure) have a 24 pin connector on the back of my TV (I say "I'm not sure" because the TV is very heavy to pull out of my entertainment center bookcase to look).

Is there a "converter" connector one can buy which, for expample, will hook into my 15 pin connector on my laptop on one end and into the necessary multiple "plug" HD connectors on my TV at the other end?

rbinck

There are VGA to component transcoders, like the Key Digital KD-VTCA3, but we could help you better if we knew the brand and model of the TV and laptop. There is not one answer to your question.

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Charles Bennet

Thanks for the reply. My laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1100. My TV is a Panasonic CT-32HXC14. Does that help?

Lee Stewart

This will get the job done:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/9A60.html

rbinck

The transcoder Lee suggested will indeed do the trick, but be ready for what you may consider some possible issues. Overscan being the biggest one that CRT users complain about as well as blurry text. Most CRT based HDTVs do not really have dot pitch to reproduce HD resolutions even though they are sold as HDTVs. I would try for a resolution of 960x540 for your display, it may work. Also it is important to set the refresh to 60hz, not optimum.

Check out:
Hooking Up A PC to A HDTV

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Charles Bennet

Thanks to both of you for your input. I've checked the Audio Authority 9A60 on Audio Authority's own website and they say:

"The Model 9A60 allows a VGA-type RGBHV video source, such as a PC, to be connected to High Definition Television (HDTV) display with YPbPr component video inputs. With compatible sources and displays, it permits HDTV images generated by a PC or other VGA source to be displayed on an HDTV that is capable of displaying the image format being produced by the source. The 9A60 is NOT recommended for laptop computers.

If your VGA source is a computer, the 9A60 will make the necessary electrical conversion to component video, but computers do not normally use standard HDTV resolutions, so you must adjust the computer's output signal to be compatible with your TV. Third party software is required for video compatibility and image adjustment. For Windows, use PowerStrip by EnTech Taiwan; for Macintosh, use DisplayConfigX."

(1) Do I heed their warning about not using the device for a laptop? Interestingly, and to the contrary, the article they link (". . . Viewing a PC on a TV") talks about using the device to hook up laptops in a "boardroom".

(2) What am I getting into if I also have to buy the "third party software" they say is needed? Or can I avoid all problems by buying Audio Authority's model 1365 (outboard video scaler)as they appear to recommend? Does the fact that my laptop has "graphics" that allow me to choose between my laptop display and a television as my monitor (normally using the S-video connection) take care of this problem?

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I guess I need to know what to expect before spending a lot of money on a device which may not work.

rbinck

The reason they make that disclaimer is there are problems that are associated with many laptops, but not all. The big one is the inability of many laptops to output a HDTV resolution that a HDTV can recognize, and that goes double for a CRT based display as they usually will only work at 640x480p, 720x480p or 1920x1080i. The last resolution is the only HDTV format but it is interlaced video which most laptops, or computers for that matter, will not output. At least with a desktop computer the video card can be upgraded to one that will support HDTV.

In any case a CRT HDTV is not going to make a very good monitor unless it was designed for PC use. And then the CRTs that are designed for PC use are generally limited to 800x600 resolution. It could be fine for DVD viewing and photo slide shows, but that's about it.

So if the cost of the transcoder is a bit high for you, I would consider it a risky venture.

Read the link I provided. The powerstrip software is free, but probably won't be too usable in your laptop.

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Lee Stewart

Here is the problem that you face:

Your HDTV is just that . . . an HD TV. It is NOT a PC Monitor or else it would have the VGA connector.

IF you were going to show moving images then it might work but PC images are mainly static with lots of text.

IMO - just forget the whole thing. It will not be to your liking.

Your laptop is LCD and has a much higher resolution than your HDTV.

Charles Bennet

Thanks once again for your help. It appears that I will probably just bite the bullet and buy a digital projector and forget all the potential problems with trying to use my HDTV.

Lee Stewart

THAT sounds like a good plan!