07-29-2010, 06:42 PM

Thanks. Figured they were, but better to know they are.

07-30-2010, 03:41 PM

Hi,

I have read through this entire thread, and I still have a couple of questions for you guys.

I have a 15" 2.4 MBP from 2008

I want to connect it to my Panasonic TC-L32U22

The TV has a VGA input and 3 HDMI inputs.

My mbp has a DVI and a mini display port. I have the DVI to VGA adapter that came with the computer.

Here's what I think my options are:

1. Buy a VGA cable and utilize the DVI to VGA adapter that came with my machine.

2. Buy a DVI to HDMI cable

3. Buy a Mini display to HDMI Cable

I read here that VGA is a good option for TVs under 40". However, l also read in this thread that VGA only has a max resolution of 1360x768. If I use a DVI-HDMI or a Minidisplay-HDMI cable, will the resolution be higher?

Also, is there a difference between a DVI-HDMI and a Mini display-HDMI hook up?

I am not worried about sound. I have a the 3.5mm mini plug connected to a audio receiver. And I'm also aware that neither my mini display nor my DVI support sound output.

Thank you very much for your input on this. I appreciate any advice you guys have to offer.

07-30-2010, 07:58 PM

Tobissimo:

You Mac only has a DVI port if you have linked to the correct machine. No MacBook Pros up to this point in time have two video ports. Therefore, your option 3 is not an option. (Am guessing you're probably looking at the FW800 port there.)

You should note the following in the owner's manual:




Having pointed that out, cables are cheap. If I were purchasing the cable for myself, I would be getting the DVI to HDMI cable and giving that a shot first. This is partly due to the VGA port being limited to 1366x768 as you have found. But also, I just have not read about this being an issue with Panasonic in general.

08-05-2010, 06:54 PM

I read all the posts, but still not comfortable with knowing what I need.. So here is what I have.

I'm not sure what year my macbook is? Not sure where to find that.

MB 13.3/2.2/2x1g/160/sd-DL:white
Model # a1181


Here is the link to the tv I am using : Scroll down a little and you will see the manual in pdf form:

LG Product Support for 37LH30


As far as sound goes I am not picky. Using the tv is fine, or using my surround sound. If using surround I think it only has rca's and a headphone jack. Thank you for your help and let me know if you need any other info.

08-05-2010, 08:53 PM

aaron427:

Almost everything you want to know about your Mac is here.

Your Mac has a mini-DVI port. I would suggest HDMI instead of VGA with that TV.

Video - You'll need a mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable.

Audio - You need to decide where you want your audio. If it's up to me, it's going to my surround sound and not to the TV.
Connecting to your receiver, about 95% odds, you need a mini plug to RCA cable - you need to verify this.
Connecting to the TV you need a mini plug cable - not one of the first 3 that say "Two 3.5mm".




Read pages 66 & 67 of the manual while you're waiting for the cables. Pay attention to the section on "Just Scan". This will take care of the overscan issue for you.

Set the resolution at 1920x1080.

08-06-2010, 06:12 AM

I have an LG 20LC1RB.

When I try to download a copy of the Owner's Manual I get some message about the DjVu Manual only being available in Internet Explorer. I downloaded and installed the DjVu plugin for Safari and tried using Safari but I still get the same message.

I assume it is not going to work with my MacMini if I can't even download a copy of the Manual using a Mac?

The webpage is here

08-06-2010, 06:59 AM

Nighthawk4:

Assume what's not going to work?

I can't get the manual to open in FF or Opera with both of them set to spoof IE.

Look at the back of the TV. If it has DVI, I strongly encourage you use that. On a 20", my 2nd choice would probably be trying VGA next instead of HDMI. Third choice - HDMI - is the HDMI labeled as HDMI or as HDMI/DVI and is there an audio port labeled either PC/DVI or RGB/DVI?

08-06-2010, 09:30 AM

It has a scart socket, which is used to connect to the Sky box (satellite), three phono sockets, coloured red, white and yellow, an S-Video mini-DIN socket and what looks like a VGA socket which is labelled 'For Service'. There is also a headphone socket.

I am guessing the VGA socket is only for sevice use, leaving either the S-Video or three phono sockets.


The MacMini is the older style with a sealed box and appears to be the Intel-based 2007 version. Manual is here.

The only output seems to be DVI (or VGA with the adapter), with the headphone or optical digital audio out port for sound.

Is that any help Bob?


Edit - The odd thing is the TV is only a 20", whereas my external monitor (normally used with a Win7 box) is a 22" - so it might be easier and better to use the monitor. Connections are much easier for that.

08-06-2010, 09:47 AM

Incidentally, I considered buying an Apple TV to use instead. How would this connect to my TV? Would it also work with the Monitor please?

The main advantage as I see it is the Apple TV starts more quickly and doesn't need a keyboard and mouse.

08-06-2010, 11:54 AM

I only have minimal knowledge pertaining to scart since it's not in use here in the U.S. But, Gefen, one of the major adapter/cable manufacturers use to have a scart to DVI adapter (since discontinued) and never manufactured a DVI to scart adapter.

You could get the video adapter to get to composite or S-video (US site link). The picture would be, to put it mildly, not good for anything except maybe watching movies. Text would be... bad.

Personally, I would give up on connecting your mini to that TV considering you have a computer monitor sitting there.

Can't comment on the Apple TV with anything resembling reasonable intelligence. Haven't even looked at it in at least 2 years as it's a waste of space for my personal needs. Could be useful to others, just not for what I want. Currently using a homebuilt quadcore Win7 machine as my HTPC.

08-08-2010, 10:09 PM

Thank you for the great info and your time! That is what I needed to know. You said to change the resolution... Is that on the tv or on the computer?

Originally Posted by bobtomay

aaron427:

Almost everything you want to know about your Mac is here.

Your Mac has a mini-DVI port. I would suggest HDMI instead of VGA with that TV.

Video - You'll need a mini-DVI to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable.

Audio - You need to decide where you want your audio. If it's up to me, it's going to my surround sound and not to the TV.
Connecting to your receiver, about 95% odds, you need a mini plug to RCA cable - you need to verify this.
Connecting to the TV you need a mini plug cable - not one of the first 3 that say "Two 3.5mm".




Read pages 66 & 67 of the manual while you're waiting for the cables. Pay attention to the section on "Just Scan". This will take care of the overscan issue for you.

Set the resolution at 1920x1080.

08-09-2010, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by aaron427

Thank you for the great info and your time! That is what I needed to know. You said to change the resolution... Is that on the tv or on the computer?

You will open 'System Preferences - Displays' while you have the TV connected and turned on. You'll have a separate preference window for each screen.

08-09-2010, 11:12 PM

Ok so the Mini-display cable arrived today. I plugged it in via the HDMI cable to my Sharp LC-46D77X (Australian model #) TV, and I get no sound or picture at all, the screen on the MBP flashes blue and then nothing? It works perfectly fine on the other Lg in the house?

Really annoying because the sharp is the TV I wanted to use for-sure any ideas appreciated. The MacBook Pro is the mid 2010 15" 2.4GHZ i5 if that makes a difference.

Ps the MBP wont even detect the Sharp in Displays. Hmmmm

Thanks
Leon

08-10-2010, 07:25 AM

Leon5:

Once you know it works on one TV but not the next, you know there is something going on with the TV itself.

From the Sharp manual:



What these type of notes tell me from all the manuals I've read and TVs I've seen that don't work, is that this TV does not pass EDID info along to the devices it is connected to. Meaning, it doesn't tell a device when it's connected and depends on that device to just send it a signal as a DVD player, satellite receiver, etc. would do. Typically, a note like this means it won't work with anything except Windows. But, don't give up yet.

If you're using HDMI 2, I would suggest moving it to HDMI 1. That is the port the manual is saying to use with a DVI device where you need a separate audio input with it. It's possible the HDMI 1 is the only port that will pass this EDID info along.

If that doesn't work, then you might try clamshell mode (staying with HDMI 1) to see if it will force the Mac to put out a signal without detecting the monitor.

Continue trying the detect displays function in the Displays preferences.
The only resolution this TV supports from a PC in 16:9 aspect ratio is 1360x768.
That should be good for watching videos, but you're not going to like text on it.

Here's a link to download a copy of your Owner's Manual if you've lost yours. Head for pages 54-59.

08-11-2010, 05:27 AM

Thank-you very much I try what you recommended. thanks again..