Connecting your Mac to your TV

[marcosdipaolo]

Macbook pro + minidisplayport=>HDMI + LCD TV suddenly not working

Hi, i have a Macbook pro built in October 2010. I both the MiniDspPort=>HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable. Everything worked like a charm from the beginning. But today i tried to connect my mac to the tv again to watch a film and the light blue screen that used to appear while my mac was detecting the tv stayed there...forever, also in the TV.
Wondering what is happening, just in case i tried disconnecting the external drive where i keep my movies and aso repaired permissions and nothing.

EDIT

I worked it out, it was a connectivity problem, so if someone reads this learn that even if you get the tv detected that doesn't mean the the connectivity is good and you might get still a frozen lightblue screen

 

[ILoveVideos99]

trouble connecting 2007 macbook to s-video input on television

Hi, anyone who might be out there. I'm having one of the most intractable computer problems of my lifetime. I want to attach my 2007 macbook with an It has the Intel GMA 950 graphics processor
to my 27" Sony Wega CRT television.

I bought two adapters, mini-dvi -> VGA and VGA-->s-video/composite from monoprice so that I could watch ashton kutcher's youtube channel on my TV. Plugged them in and immediately had two problems:

1. the picture looks terrible. As in, it doesn't look like anything at all. At certain resolutions/refresh rates I can barely make out what appears to be the desktop background, only there are 16 of them, they're all screwed up, and they're rolling downward nauseatingly

2. the display preferences doesn't offer me anything resembling a logical setting (like, 640x480 @ 60hz or 29.97 hz or whatever), no matter what I do. I even got an application called "SwitchResX" which is supposed to allow you to install custom resolutions, but that doesn't work at all, it only offers A LOT of incorrect settings, and refuses to actually install the custom ones I created.

So I said, maybe it's the fact that I used 2 adapters instead of one? Maybe the computer thinks it should be outputting VGA? So I go and buy the ORIGINAL adapter which is MADE for my computer, the one that directly adapts mini-dvi to S-video/composite. I wait a week for it to arrive from Ebay. I excitedly plug it in. Nothing. same problem. Now, display preferences offers even worse choices for resolution/refresh rate, like 1280x800 at 95hz. What? Throughout this process, I've been doing all the things the internet tells you to do when you have a problem. Plug it in and reset. Shut down, reset, plug it in, turn it back on. Clear the PRAM and the other thing by taking the battery out and holding the power button. Nothing.

I asked a friend who is a Mac Expert what he thinks, and he says he found references to people saying that they had upgraded to snow leopard 10.6.3, causing it to stop working, but upgraded to 10.6.5 and it worked again. Well, taking this as tack, I upgraded to Lion in the hopes that it was a Snow Leopard specific bug. Still nothing. Same problem, different OS.

This thread seems to suggest that since I have a 2007 macbook, I should be able to output analog video to my TV through the Mini-DVI to S-Video adapter. I looked up the product specs for the video processor (Intel® GMA 950 Graphics) and it mentions being able to do TV-out. What's going on?

Do I need to trash my display preferences, even after upgrading my OS because some bad prefs were saved from the last install? Would that even make a difference?
What should I try next? Should I try and find an old version of the video drivers and install it? Should I try installing linux?

HeLP!

 

[bobtomay]

ILoveVideos99

For any mini-DVI or VGA port to output S-Video or composite - not only does the graphics card have to have that ability built in, but the appropriate drivers also need to be installed.

I don't really have a clue, but I would guess it's quite possible Lion does not have the drivers required to enable this function - can't answer for Snow Leopard and would have to do some research. A better tack would have been to upgrade Snow Leopard to 10.6.5 or higher than to upgrade 2 versions of OS X above that just in order to get this working.

I would guess the combination of the two adapters is a part of the problem - once you connect that mini-DVI to VGA adapter, I do not believe that the S-Video/composite signal is also carried through that adapter - which is why Apple had the mini-DVI to Video adapter.

There's no telling buying off ebay whether you have an original Apple mini-DVI to video adapter or a chinese copy or that even if it is an original Apple part, that it still works. There are quite a few reviews of those adapters dying in what would be considered a relatively short time span for a cable/adapter (a few months and it's been 4 years since the last one was produced).

To get it working at this point:
My first question is, have you plugged this MacBook into a VGA port on a TV/monitor and verified that the port on your MB (and the adapter) is working? And plugged anything else into the port(s) you're using on the TV to verify they work?


My best advice would be to forget about using any S-video or composite connection.

However,, if you are determined to go down this path and "assuming" that the mini-displayport to VGA adapter and the ports on the MB and the TV are working, I'd suggest trying that adapter in conjunction with a VGA to S-video converter rather than an adapter - such as this one It will require a USB port for power.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2

 

[ILoveVideos99]

Thanks for the quick response.

I was originally running Snow Leopard 10.6.8, which is why I decided to go directly to Lion.

The combination of 2 (purchased new) adapters gave the same exact result as the single "original" adapter, and they both gave the same result on multiple televisions as well, so I'm guessing that the adapters are not the problem (especially in the face of so much indication that the problem is with the OS/drivers).

It seems counter-intuitive to me to buy a converter for a machine that's technically fully capable of outputting an analog signal, so I think my next step will be to try this whole thing on linux instead.

 

[bobtomay]

Have you tried a straight VGA connection on any of them?

 

[ILoveVideos99]

actually, no. In fact, i've literally never attached my mini-DVI port to anything before this, so I'll definitely check that out.
My money is still on a software problem though, which I theoretically could fix. If only I had my original OS X install disk that came with the computer...

 

[TonyEastwood]

Why do I need to connect twice

I am using a LG W2452TX external monitor which has both digital and VGA input.

If I connect only the digital input - taking the HDMI signal from my shinny new mac book pro via a HDMI monitor and using a adapter plug then the MAC knowsI have an external screen and tells me it's a W2452 but this screen will refuse to switch into digital mode.

If I connect an Apple proprietary thunderbolt to VGA connector then I get a noticeably poor ( almost unusable) VGA picture.


But wait for it...http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/mac_images/images/smilies/Grinning-Wink.png

If I connect both at once then my monitor will allow me to switch into digital input mode and they get a beautiful clear signal. By opening and closing the laptop lid one can get a series of randomly arranged desktops. Most of these are quite useless (one monitors displaying a beautiful picture which is quite inaccessible to the mouse ) but one of these actually shows independent desktops on both displays (Mac and external) monitor - although dragging the mouse between the two displays is ' interesting' because there is an un-displayed desktop between the two.

Now I dare not turn my machine off, because I've no idea how long it will take to get back to this usable state.

I'd really like to know why I have to work like this? Is there nothing I can do that would get me the right monitor arrangement every time?

 

[ycl1688]

TonyEastwood,
To make your life easier why not get an apple tv and go from there. I presume you have the osx mountain lion and post 2011 macbook pro.

 

[bobtomay]

Don't know what you mean about it not allowing you to "switch" into digital mode.

HDMI is digital - there is no other mode.

 

[Marjoleinnntje]

MBP to Sony Bravia no sound

Hey,

I have a late 2011 Mac Book pro and I want to connect it to my TV: sony bravia KDL-22EX302.

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs/kdl-22ex302

I have a mini-display port to HDMI cable that carries audio. When I connect the laptop to my TV with this cable I see the video, but the problem is: the audio keeps playing from my macbook. I did change the MBP system preferences - audio to SONY TV. How can I solve this problem?
Hope you can help me!
Marjolein

 

[bobtomay]

Marjoleinnntie:

??? It should auto play externally after you select the TV from sound preferences. Does the TV remain the selected device after you close preferences and go back into it?

 

[dunk50]

Sure hope I am saying this right so you guys don't get upset with an ole fart. I try to read an learn but sometimes it gets a little to complicated. Here is what I have, MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.33 17" Specs (Core 2 Duo/Late 2006, MA611LL/A, MacBookPro2,1, A1212, N/A) @ EveryMac.com
as well as a Panasonic TC-P50S30
I bought a dvi to hdmi adaptor but like everyone else got no sound. I am more than willing to pay someone for the correct information as to exactly what I need to buy. I am somewhat handicapped so I am looking for cables etc that I can purchase that are at least 25' long. I operate from my chair and laptop. Thanks in advance for any help given. Paul

 

[bobtomay]

You've indicated you have the video working - is that with a 25' HDMI cable?

 

[dunk50]

You've indicated you have the video working - is that with a 25' HDMI cable?

No sad to say its not. I just bought the dvi to hdmi adaptor and had a 6' hdmi cable. I did check on amazon and 25" hdmi cables are available. they have 25' hdmi cables and 25' dvi to hdmi cables. The sound would be the issue if those cables actually work. thanks for the ?

 

[bobtomay]

dunk50

You could try a 25' standard HDMI cable, but I'm sort of skeptical that the video card in your Mac could push the video signal that far. I've got the same MBP in the 15" model and have never tried longer than 15'.

This is not the cheapest route, but think I'd recommend the following:
mini-toslink to toslink cable or just the adapter if you already have an optical cable

DVI-D cable - because you want to send it 25' minimum, I'd suggest scrolling down and go for one of the dual link cables - still cheap - in the High Quality 24 AWG section.

get both of the above in either a 3' or 6' depending on how far your computer will be sitting from:

DVI/Optical to HDMI converter

Then add your HDMI cable This cable may be a little over the top, you just won't know until you try a regular HDMI cable whether you can get the signal pushed 25' or not. And with the converter box, it's now up to whether it can push the signal 25'. If you do get this cable, remember it is directional - but the ends are labeled Source and TV.

 

[RomanDM]

2009 MBP 2.8
Samsung LN52A750R1F
Sound From TV

Support - LCD TV LN52A750R1F | Samsung TVs

I'm sure I'm missing something and still no audio.
Video is good through HDMI2/DVI with name edited to PC.
Tried 3.5mm from speaker out to audio input. Also, 3.5mm from speaker out through RCA plugs at DVI In/HDMI2.

Thank you for your help in advance.
Roman

 

[bobtomay]

RomanDM:

Looks like you're doing everything correct.

unplug the audio cables and plug them back in first

Do you have sound from anywhere? Still coming from the computer while plugged in to the TV?
If so, open Sound Preferences and select the TV.

No - does the sound start and stop from the computer when you unplug and plug the audio cable at the computer?

 

[RomanDM]

RomanDM:

Looks like you're doing everything correct.

unplug the audio cables and plug them back in first

Do you have sound from anywhere? Still coming from the computer while plugged in to the TV?
If so, open Sound Preferences and select the TV.

No - does the sound start and stop from the computer when you unplug and plug the audio cable at the computer?

Thank you for your reply. I have done the cable connections as suggested. The sound preference is Headphones only. No sound when the audio cable is connected from either the comp or TV but sound is through the comp's speakers with the cable unplugged.

Roman

 

[bobtomay]

RomanDM:

Am guessing you have already tried maxing the volume control on both the computer and the TV. I suspect the TV is the problem as I just have not seen analog audio cables go bad, although I guess it's possible.

Some TVs do have setting requirements to enable the analog audio input to function with the HDMI video input, but have found nothing in the owner's manual for this TV. Worth checking out:

On some TVs you have to switch the audio mode from digital to analog to get the separate audio input working. You might look through both the video and audio menus for the HDMI2/DVI input while the computer is connected and see if such an option exists.

The only other thing I found that you might try is on page 20 - editing the input source name of the HDMI2/DVI input and changing it to PC. Have seen this name change requirement on some Sony branded TVs that were using Samsung displays in particular to enable the analog sound input.

Direct download of owner's manual - link.

 

[asaunde2]

mbp doesn't detect tv

2009 MPB OS 10.5.8, 2.26 GHz Intel Processor, NVIDIA GeForce 9400m

Sony Bravia “BRAVIA”

Connected with a Gigaware Mdp to HDMI adapter, and a Radioshack 3ft. HDMI cable

The MBP doesn't detect anything, hitting "Detect Displays" does nothing.
The TV just says "no signal" or "unsupported signal"

I've tried unplugging/replugging and turning on and off in every possible order.

Any ideas?