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Connect laptop to tv?

  • 04-03-2012 6:16pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 39


    Can anyone tell me how to connect my laptop to my tv so that I can watch streamed videos on it?? What kind of cable would I need?

    My computer has several usb ports and a 15-pin VGA video connector ( its a dell inspiron 1545), and my tv is quite new so it has lots of connection sockets at the back (usb, hdmi, scart etc)


    Any help would be appreciated! :)


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 19,540 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Some TV's have a special input socket for PC's. If yours has the matching socket, something like this would simplify the job:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laptop-Plasma-Jack-Audio-Cable/dp/B003OSZIW0/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330889848&sr=1-4

    If the TV has Component inputs - Red Green Blue RCA sockets for video paired with red and white for audio - you can get these two cables:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/1-8M-VGA-LEAD-CABLE-LAPTOP/dp/B000P3NZ68/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330889848&sr=1-7

    and this for sound: http://www.amazon.co.uk/1-5m-TRS-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B0024CAWS2/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330890208&sr=1-10


  • Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭johneire31


    Simplest solution is to buy a HDMI cable and connect it to your laptop port and put it into the main HDMI port on your TV. You then have to look at your computer direct the signal from the computer out. You may have a button on the laptop perhaps one of the F keys that will give you one of 3 choices. display on laptop, display on projector, display on laptop and projector. You need one of the latter 2 choices. you will have to press the HDMI button on your tv or sometimes its called the Source botton, select the HDMI option and you should be there.

    Its a lot easier to do than it is to describe it

    j


  • Registered Users Posts: 19,540 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Simplest solution if you don't need sound.


  • Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭johneire31


    HDMI delivers sound

    VGA no sound

    Its that simple

    j


  • Registered Users Posts: 19,540 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    You are quite correct, but that laptop doesn't have hdmi output.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,501 ✭✭✭zg3409


    All TV's that have a VGA input also have a PC sound input. It's usually a 3.5mm headphone type connector.

    To get Picture and sound you need two leads, one for video, one for sound.

    Note when you select "PC" from inputs using the remote control, it then uses the sound coming in the special connector on the TV. This should be connected to the laptops headphone output (sometimes on the front of the laptop) or ideally the "line output" on a sound card on a desktop PC.

    To connect you usually need a 3.5mm stereo to 3.5mm stereo lead, the same length as the VGA lead.

    Also not you may need to adjuse the display properties on the laptop (say 640 x 480) in order for it to work, and enable external display (usually Fn plus F4 at the same time)

    A HDMI is neater, but few laptops have it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭shortlegs


    Same question as OP, but how can this be done wirelessly?

    Thanks.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,501 ✭✭✭zg3409


    A HDMI wireless sender is about 200 to 300 euro. If you laptop only has VGA an adapter is about 50 euro and you will need a VGA and an audio lead.


  • Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭shortlegs


    what about using a router?


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,501 ✭✭✭zg3409


    shortlegs wrote: »
    what about using a router?

    A router does not have a HDMI output. In theory there is other ways, but the way I said will work for everything that displays on a PC.

    In theory you could add some sort of special streaming wireless receiver on the TV, then stream the video and sound from the PC.

    It could end up very complicated. The HDMI wireless sender is designed to do what you want. No software setup, no messing.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭shortlegs


    ok thanks for that:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    I did it using the VGA setup. I hard wired 2 cat 5 cables (one for audio, one for video) inside the walls, and soldered onto the VGA sockets which i fitted to blank wall plates, one behind the tv, the other over at the couch.

    The lead in the first link in post #2 is the way to go for a laptop without a HDMI lead. I made them leads up myself also, but its easier to just buy them. The one linked in post#2 has the audio lead integrated into it to connect from the headphone socket on the notebook into the audio in, beside the VGA socket on the tv.


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