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Connecting your Mac to your TV
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<blockquote data-quote="bobtomay" data-source="post: 1011186" data-attributes="member: 24160"><p>First off, with the mini displayport and the mini-DVI port beginning in late 2008 and early 2009, analog is not so easy any longer.</p><p></p><p><strong>1A. Early 2009 mini-DVI port to composite or S-Video</strong></p><p></p><p>Beginning with these models, the mini-DVI to video cable that Apple has been selling will no longer work.</p><p>You'll need a converter now in order to use these connections.</p><p>First you'll need a mini-DVI to VGA adapter - <a href="https://www.newertech.com/products/tcblmdvga.php" target="_blank">OWC</a> - <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4850&seq=1&format=2" target="_blank">monoprice</a></p><p>Then you'll need one of the converters listed in # 2 below.</p><p></p><p><strong>1B. For every mini displayport to analog connection, you must have:</strong></p><p>A mini display port to VGA adapter. You can grab Apple's (outdated link removed) or save some money and pick it up from <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2" target="_blank">monoprice</a>.</p><p>(If you get the Apple adapter, first time you plug it in while connected to the TV, you should run 'Software Update'. Apple released an update for this adapter a few months ago, and I do not know if all the current ones have the new firmware or not.)</p><p></p><p>Add a VGA cable and you're good to go with any monitor or TV with a <strong>VGA</strong> port.</p><p>For S-Video or composite connection, continue on to section 2.</p><p></p><p><strong>2. For composite and S-video</strong>, you'll need a converter along with the above adapters. A simple adapter will not work. <strong>You must have a converter.</strong> These were all around $100 when first released. But, have I got a deal for you.</p><p>At under $30, head over to <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2" target="_blank">monoprice</a> again.</p><p>For those that prefer Amazon, the currently best reviewed one is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X3FAJU/?tag=macforums0e4-20" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p></p><p>Both of these are powered by USB. I believe both models have a composite cable and the monoprice model includes an S-Video cable.</p><p></p><p>You <strong>cannot</strong> use an adapter, such as one of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">these</a>, instead of a converter. An adapter and a converter are two different items.</p><p></p><p><u>See Post # 15 below</u></p><p></p><p><strong>3.</strong> Just to complete this post for future readers, those interested in a <strong>component connection</strong>, you will also need a converter. You're not going to get away with $30 though. Don't even bother looking at all those VGA to component cables out there... they will not work on your Mac... nor on most any computer for that matter. I have seen some cheapie converters recently as low as $80, but typically they have been priced in the $150-$250 range.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>4. Audio</strong> Most folks using these older connections already know what they need. But for those few that are new to the whole concept of connecting your computer to a TV, typically you will need what's called a stereo mini-plug (aka 3.5 mm stereo plug) to RCA cable similar to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">this one</a>. The small single end plugs into your Mac and the red and white ends will plug into the TV next to the video port you are using.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bobtomay, post: 1011186, member: 24160"] First off, with the mini displayport and the mini-DVI port beginning in late 2008 and early 2009, analog is not so easy any longer. [B]1A. Early 2009 mini-DVI port to composite or S-Video[/B] Beginning with these models, the mini-DVI to video cable that Apple has been selling will no longer work. You'll need a converter now in order to use these connections. First you'll need a mini-DVI to VGA adapter - [URL='https://www.newertech.com/products/tcblmdvga.php']OWC[/URL] - [URL='http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041912&p_id=4850&seq=1&format=2']monoprice[/URL] Then you'll need one of the converters listed in # 2 below. [B]1B. For every mini displayport to analog connection, you must have:[/B] A mini display port to VGA adapter. You can grab Apple's (outdated link removed) or save some money and pick it up from [URL='http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2']monoprice[/URL]. (If you get the Apple adapter, first time you plug it in while connected to the TV, you should run 'Software Update'. Apple released an update for this adapter a few months ago, and I do not know if all the current ones have the new firmware or not.) Add a VGA cable and you're good to go with any monitor or TV with a [B]VGA[/B] port. For S-Video or composite connection, continue on to section 2. [B]2. For composite and S-video[/B], you'll need a converter along with the above adapters. A simple adapter will not work. [B]You must have a converter.[/B] These were all around $100 when first released. But, have I got a deal for you. At under $30, head over to [URL='http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2']monoprice[/URL] again. For those that prefer Amazon, the currently best reviewed one is [URL='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X3FAJU/?tag=macforums0e4-20']here[/URL]. Both of these are powered by USB. I believe both models have a composite cable and the monoprice model includes an S-Video cable. You [B]cannot[/B] use an adapter, such as one of [URL='https://www.amazon.com/']these[/URL], instead of a converter. An adapter and a converter are two different items. [U]See Post # 15 below[/U] [B]3.[/B] Just to complete this post for future readers, those interested in a [B]component connection[/B], you will also need a converter. You're not going to get away with $30 though. Don't even bother looking at all those VGA to component cables out there... they will not work on your Mac... nor on most any computer for that matter. I have seen some cheapie converters recently as low as $80, but typically they have been priced in the $150-$250 range. [B]4. Audio[/B] Most folks using these older connections already know what they need. But for those few that are new to the whole concept of connecting your computer to a TV, typically you will need what's called a stereo mini-plug (aka 3.5 mm stereo plug) to RCA cable similar to [URL='https://www.amazon.com/']this one[/URL]. The small single end plugs into your Mac and the red and white ends will plug into the TV next to the video port you are using. [/QUOTE]
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