Connecting your Mac to your TV

bobtomay · Nov 1, 2011

Chefreinvented:

Good luck. Only thing I'll warn you about, there are some TVs out there that just are not going to work with a Mac. They do not pass the EDID info to devices properly. I do not know about the Westinghouse models as I haven't played with them or Polaroids in 5-6 years now. Let us know how it goes.

johnforbes · Nov 3, 2011

My Samsung UE32D5000 won't recognise my MacBook Pro

I have a a 2007 MacBook Pro 2,2 running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. that I'm trying to connect to my shiny new Samsung UE32D5000 HDTV.

I am using an HDMI/DVI-D adapter that is 2m long, and connecting into the TV's HDMI/DVI input.

But the Mac doesn't see the TV and the TV says 'check cables, connection, power etc. etc.'

Please can someone help me understand what the problem might be????

Thank you!

J.

bobtomay · Nov 3, 2011

First thing to do is work through all the troubleshooting steps in post # 2 of this thread.

johnforbes · Nov 4, 2011

bobtomay said:
First thing to do is work through all the troubleshooting steps in post # 2 of this thread.

Thank you ... I tried everything in the troubleshooting steps in post 2 with the exception of trying a new adapter - I don't have one. Before I buy another, can you reassure me it is OK to use an HDMI/DVI-D single link adapter with this arrangement?

Thank you.

bobtomay · Nov 4, 2011

I have the same MBP and have been using a DVI-D to HDMI 12' (~4 meter) cable with it for 5 years with at least a half dozen brands and can't even tell you how many different TVs.

You could also try an SMC reset.

I'll also tell you that Samsung has had multiple models notorious for not working with Macs via HDMI. Although, I would still find it hard to believe with any of the current models.

If it were me and I'd worked through the troubleshooting steps, I'd be getting another cable.

johnforbes · Nov 4, 2011

bobtomay said:
I have the same MBP and have been using a DVI-D to HDMI 12' (~4 meter) cable with it for 5 years with at least a half dozen brands and can't even tell you how many different TVs.

You could also try an SMC reset.

I'll also tell you that Samsung has had multiple models notorious for not working with Macs via HDMI. Although, I would still find it hard to believe with any of the current models.

If it were me and I'd worked through the troubleshooting steps, I'd be getting another cable.

YOU'RE A GENIUS!! Thank you so much!

I bought a new cable, but still nothing.

I then did an SMC reset and hey presto, it worked!

By the way, I asked Samsung to help on the issue too, I thought you might be interested to read their response ...

Thank you for contacting Samsung and I have pleasure in providing the following assistance.

Unfortunately Mac will not work with our TVs at present due to serious incompatibility issues. It is unclear if
we will ever be able to support them or them us given the completely different operating systems.

If you require any further assistance, please contact Samsung again and we will be more than happy to help.

Kind regards

Anthony
Online Support Team
SAMSUNG Customer Support Centre

Great huh?!

Thanks Again.

bobtomay · Nov 4, 2011

That's their typical response to anyone with a Mac. Like Linksys and their routers.

Thanks for reporting back and glad the SMC reset worked. Think I'll add that to the troubleshooting. I've only noticed the reset becoming a common fix in the last 6-12 months or so.

s_ricketts · Nov 10, 2011

Strange HDMI -> Mini Displayport issue!

Hi all,

Been having a strange problem with my HDMI -> mini displayport adaptor, am running a new Macbook Pro into a Bush 24inch LED TV.

My laptop is usually also plugged into a Presonus Audiobox USB audio interface which is bus powered and runs either from the laptop or a powered multi usb hub.

The ONLY way I have managed to get any picture from the TV is when I have my interface plugged in with an old pair of hi-fi speakers plugged into the interface via phono cable. Without these speakers anywhere in the chain I can get no picture whatsoever. They don't even need to be switched on, just plugged in at the mains and plugged in.

This means I can get no picture or recognition from the TV when the interface isn't plugged in, or when I have another pair of speakers in the back of the interface (i'm hoping to use the TV as a monitor along with a pair of Genelec speakers connected via TRS into the interface).

Wondering if anyone had any ideas as to why this would only work with such a specific setup? And if there's anything I can do to help the situation!

Thanks!

bobtomay · Nov 11, 2011

Sounds pretty strange.

And when the Audiobox is not connected to the computer?

comacabana · Nov 12, 2011

Hi there, I'm having the age old problem of having video but no sound. I own a mid 2009 MBP 5,5 and a sony KDL-37BX420 tv. I bought a mini displayport to HDMI and a HDMI to HDMI cable along with a stereo Y cable. These are the ports that I have on the TV

Any ideas what the problem could be? I've tried messing around with the sound settings on both my MBP and TV, yet no avail.

bobtomay · Nov 12, 2011

Hard to tell since the whole pic didn't get uploaded in your link.

Sony typically uses HDMI # 4 for DVI devices.

But you need to look in the manual for the section that tells you where to connect a DVI device. With most Sonys there is only one HDMI port that can be used with separate audio and it is usually labeled as HDMI/DVI. You must use that port and the audio port that's with it.

comacabana · Nov 12, 2011

Seems like I bought the wrong audio cable. Manual says i should insert the cable into the HDMI audio in which only has one port. obviously my Y cable doesn't fit in there.

bobtomay · Nov 12, 2011

Some of them (all Samsungs) are using a stereo 3.5mm audio port with the HDMI - the same as the headphone jack on your Mac. Wasn't sure if Sony had switched over to that or not and don't think they have on all their sets.

AFirefighter · Nov 16, 2011

Hey all. First post here. Upset with the lack of sound on my g/f's Macbook Pro & my Macbook. We watch a ton of movies on them and it's just not acceptable volume level. Looking for an audio/video cable for our setup. Info is as follows:

TV: Panasonic TH-42PD60U Plasma - User Manual Here
MBP: 2008 MBP 2.5 (99% sure this is correct, if not it's a 2007 MBP 2.4, I'll 100% this when I get home tonight)
Sound: We'd love the sound on the TV

Thank you!

bobtomay · Nov 17, 2011

AFirefighter:

I'm not even sure it'll work with that TV. Looks like close to a 1st gen HD set there and no manufacturer was checking HDMI use with computers back then. The HDMI port was almost an after thought at that time and a lot of manufacturers had only tested it with their own brand DVD players. What I found was that XP would work with "some" of them... no Linux variant worked with HDMI at all... and that was prior to my using OS X.

Take a look at the top of pg 31 for where to plug in.
For a '07 or '08 MBP, you'll need a DVI to HDMI cable along with a stereo 3.5mm mini-plug to RCA cable for the audio. (Don't bother with a DVI to HDMI adapter unless you already have a HDMI cable you want to use.)

See pg 16 - You'll more than likely need to go into the Audio - HDMI In settings. The pic doesn't take you into the setting, but shows you how to get there. Am guessing based on later models of Pannys that you would change it to 'Analog' to switch the audio to the RCA jack and back to digital when connecting another device that does pass audio via the HDMI.

Head to monoprice or Amazon for both cables and you can give it a shot for less than $20 - maybe less than $10.

If you have issues - try changing the Picture mode to standard if it's not already.

Those would not be for a MB. The MB has never had a DVI port.

kathleenruth · Nov 21, 2011

Setting up a 15" MacBook Pro with a Westinghouse VR-4025 TV

I was trying to connect a 15" MacBook Pro with Mac OSX Leopard, to a 40" Westinhouse VR-4025.

I kept getting the error message "Invalid Format" and I tried every possible display resolution.

In the end I contacted Westinghouse who suggested I switch out the VGA cable

I got a generic vga cable from Amazon and tried it - it worked!

It was a vga cable from Target that was the issue, yet they both looked alike.

So if you are having problems it might be worth switching cables. According to Westinghouse a higher quality cable can sometimes cause compatibilty issues.

mercyfly09 · Nov 25, 2011

s video tv

can someone help me to connect my macbook Core 2 Duo" 2.16 13, the tv is a s video tv. i am trying to make sure i buy all the proper cables. and one that will work. thanks!

bobtomay · Nov 26, 2011

Assuming this is the '09 MacBook - it has a mini-DVI port.
You can verify that is what your video port looks like in post # 4.

Then head for post # 7.

Chefreinvented · Dec 2, 2011

Bobtomay:

Just wanted to follow up so that you and others on the forum know that I went ahead and bought the cables you recommended in post #485, from Monoprice, the adjacent url and mdp connector to plug into the HDMI input on my Westinghouse. No go, sadly. I'm beginning to believe what you said earlier that some tv's (and I'm paraphrasing here) SUCK. Thanks anyway for all your help. Think my next purchase is a better tv.

apol31 · Dec 16, 2011

I need help connecting hdtv to my imac. I have '07 imac 20" 2.4ghz running on Lion and panasonic plasma (P50S30). I purchased a mini-dvi to dvi adapter, dvi to hdmi cable and an aux cable, all from monoprice. After connecting the adapter and cables, I switched the tv input to hdmi and went to system preference>display>adjustments>mirror display to begin mirroring. My imac detects the TV but my TV isn't. The screen was just blank and it says no signal detected. I turned off all devices, took out the cables and re-did everything but got the same results. I have no idea what the problem is, I don't know if I have a bad cable or using the wrong adapter. Hope someone can shed a light Thanks