09-07-2011, 01:47 AM

Hi everyone,

I've been reading the first few pages of this thread (as well as searching through Google, which actually led me here), but I haven't found an answer to the issue I'm having. I was wondering if anyone can help me out.

I have this Macbook, this TV and this cable (and an audio cable). I've hooked everything up and the video is great. The problem is the constant static sound I'm hearing. I've tried turning the volume up and down on both the TV and the Macbook, but the static sound is constant (of course, muting the TV would shut the sound off). I've also tried disconnected everything else from the TV but the cable to the Mac itself but the static issue is still there. Also switching from either of the HDMI slots didn't help (both works well when hooking up my cable box).

Can anyone help me figure a solution out? Should I get a MiniDisplayPort to HDMI and a separate HDMI cable instead of the one I got? Or is there something I'm missing?

Thank you.

09-07-2011, 03:13 AM

I notice the Apple TV only goes up to 720p. The WD TV link does 1020p.

I suppose that wouldn't cope with stuff bought via iTunes though

How about non-DRM stuff in iTunes?

The WDTV is cheaper and does a higher res but not DRM media.
The ATV is more expensive and lower res but does DRM.
I suppose that about sums it up?


On a different approach, if the ATV doesn't do 1020p, is it better to connect that with something other than HDMI if I am short of HDMI sockets on the TV? Both the Blu-Ray player and Sky+ HD can do 1020p, so should I give those the better connections? If so, what other options can I use for the ATV?

I imagine the red, white and yellow phono ports are not wise. So I have the five phono sockets (Composite?) or SCART? There is also some sort of optical connection - is that sound only?

09-07-2011, 06:51 AM

jiminee:

Where are you plugging in the audio cable? You must use the R/L jacks directly below the 2 HDMI ports on the back of the TV when connecting via HDMI.

If you are using those ports for the audio cable, does the static disappear when you disconnect the audio cable? If yes, check the ports (can of air) on both the Mac and the TV to make sure they are not dirty - while they are turned off. Have you tried moving that audio cable around - as in away from other equipment to see if the static gets any better or worse? No go, replace the audio cable.

If you are getting the static even while the audio cable is unplugged, then I'd replace the mdp to HDMI cable. You should not be getting sound of any kind without that audio cable being plugged in.

09-08-2011, 02:35 AM

I bought the Apple TV. Very nice little device - it's tiny

Using one of the HDMI ports so far, as the convertor and cables to use anything else add up to a tidy sum - close to the cost of the ATV itself.

Also ordered the five phono cable from Amazon. That should be here tomorrow. Then I will see if the Blu-Ray Player is happy with that - which leaves one HDMI for the Sky+ HD box when Sky get around to arranging the installation. At the moment I still have the basic Sky box which uses the SCART.

First impressions of the ATV are good. Tricky getting the time setup. The Apply Support Forums suggest lots of people get that problem. Once that was sorted, the picture is good, sound OK. It seems music videos are not made to a very high definition. The pictures look amazing on a large screen.

Have also used the Remote App on the iPad to control it and briefly used iTunes on the iPad as the music source. Very cool

09-08-2011, 05:49 AM

The Blu-Ray player may have issues with some discs using component because there is no HDCP with component, which may cause the player to either downgrade the output or have no output at all. Have not really checked into the HDCP issue related to this in several years so not really sure how you might be affected today.

This is why I recommend using the component with your satellite/cable box. There is no HDCP to deal with there (at least here in the U.S. and you'll still get 720/1080 output.

You only need to input 720 with a 32" screen since that's going to be it's native resolution and it will downgrade a 1080 input to that anyway.

09-08-2011, 07:36 AM

Does this apply even with HD channels on satellite?

It looks as if Component may not be suitable at all - unless I go for the convertor and cables option with the ATV

Might have to try the switch box - was hoping to avoid that.

09-08-2011, 10:24 AM

Don't know what makes you think component is not suitable. It is the only analog high definition port/cable available.
I see no reason for you to invest in a converter.

It applies here with both DishNetwork and DirecTV. While those boxes have their own brand of encryption - it deals with preventing people from copying content from the DVR - not with the ability to be able to play it in the first place which is what HDCP does with Blu-Ray content and iTunes also does with their newer content.

I use an A/V receiver for switching at 2 locations in the house. Limited to 3 HDMI on one and 4 HDMI ports on the other. I personally use component for the satellite connection in both locations, reserving the HDMI ports for other items - PS3, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, computer, AppleTV, Roku, etc. Component has no problem passing either 720p or 1080i and I've used it with 1080p sets ranging from 42" to 65".

If you know what satellite box you're going to be getting, pull up the owner's manual and verify.
If it has component out, then you should be set.

09-08-2011, 10:56 AM

I have the following Mac and the applications and video all push through just fine but I am unable to see my wallpaper when connected (goes blue) each time. More puzzling, the deck is inaccessible when connected to the television about 50% of the time. Any help is appreciated.

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MB51.007D.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.32f8

Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

09-08-2011, 02:01 PM

2011 13" MBP 2.3, Westinghouse VR-3225 1080p set

I connected my last computer, a 15" 2011 MBP to this display and it gave me the option to output 1920x1080 which came out very clean. When I got this one I used the same cables and adapter and I get 1080p (Television) which is aligned properly (no overscan or anything) but does not output as clean. This new MBP has a thunderbolt port. I thought it might be that so I got a mini-displayport to HDMI adapter thinking that it was something to do with the adapter and get the same thing exactly with a straight HDMI cable. There aren't many settings for the tv to choose the display mode, and it's aligned just fine. I think if the mac can just output the right thing the TV will show it properly but for some reason it's gone now.

I have tried forcing the res in switchresX and when I choose a "Standard" 1920X1080x60 it says "not activated - invalid?"

It works but it's just not as sharp - I guess it's going through the video processor on the TV whereas it was not before, and that's maddening since it worked so well before.

Any suggestions? I am guessing that I have to set some advanced custom res in switchresx but don't know where to begin

I just plugged in an Acer 23" monitor and it did not allow a 1920x1080 either but rather 1080p. No scaling problem, image is perfect. Weird.

09-08-2011, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by dustyjapanese

I have the following Mac and the applications and video all push through just fine but I am unable to see my wallpaper when connected (goes blue) each time.

Option 1: System Preferences - Displays - Appearance - put a check mark in Mirror displays.

Option 2: If you're going to use extended desktop mode, right click on the desktop of the TV, select Change Desktop Background and change it to whatever you want.

More puzzling, the deck is inaccessible when connected to the television about 50% of the time. ...

The deck???

I can only "assume" you mean the dock. You need to give me more info than this. Or head back to Post # 2 and read item # 2.

09-08-2011, 07:56 PM

ceege111:

Sorry, I really have no idea what it is you're attempting to convey using the term clean.

If video is fine and your issue is with text only - I'd suggest you just may not remember what your last MBP looked like on a large screen small resolution display. And yes, 1080p is a small resolution on a 32" screen for a computer display. I dislike text so much from a Mac that I went back to Windows for connecting a computer to a TV over 3 years ago.

Read this article to see if this is what you're seeing. If so, the only way you're going to fix it is by switching to Windows. If you're looking for sharp crisp text from OS X on a large screen TV, not going to happen.

09-08-2011, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by bobtomay

I'd suggest you just may not remember what your last MBP looked like on a large screen small resolution display. And yes, 1080p is a small resolution on a 32" screen for a computer display. I dislike text so much from a Mac that I went back to Windows for connecting a computer to a TV over 3 years ago.

Read this article to see if this is what you're seeing. If so, the only way you're going to fix it is by switching to Windows. If you're looking for sharp crisp text from OS X on a large screen TV, not going to happen.

Thanks for the reply. I see what you mean about text but this is not the issue - I mean that the text has artifacts that appear when the display is at a mismatched pixel resolution. Seems to be horizontal only - the artifacts are on vertical lines in text. I'll try it on windows, as well as some other macs when friends come over to see if I can get a good image to show, maybe take some pictures to show the difference. I'll try VGA too I guess. It was a little big but it still worked reasonably well.

I think it's because of the video processor on the TV. Somehow before I was bypassing it.

09-08-2011, 09:45 PM

Do you have the option of 1080p in Displays preferences? Not 1920x1080. I've seen some Macs that have both options and they do not do the same thing - don't really know why. Make sure you scroll all the way to the top.

Not much in the TV menu but possibly try this if you haven't already:
Picture menu - Picture Mode - set to Standard
Setup menu - noise Reduction - set to Off - shouldn't hurt to try it both ways.
PC Setup - Don't bother, this is for VGA only

What you're describing almost sounds like a clock/pitch issue, which shouldn't be an issue at all with a digital connection.

09-10-2011, 12:25 PM

FWIW, I tried the Component cable with the Blu-Ray Player and it downgraded to 720p. I changed back to HDMI with the same Blu-Ray disk and it gave 1020p.

I googled and found that Sky HD seems to be 1020i but not 1020p. Is 1020i better than 720p?

Anyway, I ordered the upgrade from a basic Sky box to Sky+ HD with the HD channels. Not fully convinced the HD channels are worth it as the digital picture on my new TV is awesome anyway. Still, it is due to be installed next Saturday, so then we will see


Edit - I meant 1080p and 1080i of course. I got the numbers mixed up

09-10-2011, 12:56 PM

??? Never heard of 1020.

What you found is why I have not suggested you use component on your Blu-ray player. Blu-ray is progressive. Blu-ray commercial movies are 1080p The players output 720p and 1080p.

Component will downgrade to 720p because it is not capable of carrying 1080p, but it can do 1080i.

Over-the-air TV (assuming yours is the same as here in the states) is broadcast in either 720p or 1080i, which is why component can be used on these boxes and not lose anything. It is not yet technically possible to broadcast over-the-air in 1080p.

Here's a youtube video that's not too bad at explaining it all.
Generally speaking, most would say that 720p is better for fast motion - such as football, while 1080i is better for watching things like nature shows.