Connecting your Mac to your TV

[bobtomay]

Have you tried using the "Input" button on the remote for the TV and changing the TV to the input you're connecting it to?

 

[asaunde2]

Yes, HDMI 1 it is. I've also tried plugging into the other HDMI ports on the tv and adjusting accordingly, but no dice

 

[bobtomay]

Next steps are all laid out in the first item of Post # 2 of this thread.

If you have another HDMI cable you can try, perhaps move that to the top of the list instead of the bottom.

 

[asaunde2]

Thanks, I've tried everything in that list. There is still nothing happening when I hit "detect displays", no 2nd window appears, and there is no option for "mirror imaging". In System Profiler under "display connector" it says "no display connected". Hard to believe it's a problem with the cable or adapter since I just bought them an hour ago, but in any event this is all above my head so I'll just return them and try something new.
Thanks

 

[arichey0427]

Whenever I try and connect my computer (2011 Macbook Pro 2.3) to my TV (Polaroid, only has one HDMI port), my laptop flashes a blue screen then shows my screen back to normal. The TV still says no signal. When I try to detect display, nothing pops up. The TV is set to the correct input, so I know that is not the problem

 

[bobtomay]

arichey0427

If you've gone through all of my troubleshooting steps back in post # 2 of this thread:

I had a 27" Polaroid LCD sometime back around '03 - '04 maybe that only had a single HDMI port. As I recall, it took a bunch of work to get it working properly via HDMI from Windows, never could get it working from any Linux variant, and got rid of it prior to my first Mac.

Only thing I can suggest with that TV is use DVI if it has one (don't remember) and if not, try VGA. If this Polaroid is from that time frame, I believe the VGA port didn't allow for a very high resolution and it could be a disappointing experience. The TV manufacturers in that time period had not considered that people would be connecting to them from a computer and they were not providing the proper EDID info - particularly the throw away brands like Polaroid and Westinghouse.

 

[camilaperezb]

So basically I'm going INSANE trying to figure this out. I'm also really terrible when it comes to this kind of stuff, so I definitely need your help.

I recently bought the cables in order to connect my 13" MacBook (10.7.5 & running on Lion) to my Sony Bravia TV, but it won't seem to work properly. I have tried connecting it to both HDMI ports and even though the screen on my computer turns blue for a few seconds, the TV isn't displaying my desktop.

Also, this is the only thing that shows up on the "Display" option on my MacBook. I don't see the "Arrangement" tab that everyone seems to suggest I use:

Photo and Travel Tips | Tinypic

Content from Photobucket intended to make storing and preserving photo and video memories easier.

tinypic.com

(I'm hoping the Spanish doesn't get too confusing)

Last, but not least, these are the cables I'm using:
1. tp://store.apple.om/us/product/TY...with-audio-dvi (outdated link removed)
2. tp://store.apple.om/us/product/MC...dmi-cable-18-m (outdated link removed)

What do you think is going wrong?

 

[bobtomay]

Did you pick up the TV remote and use the "Input" button to change the input to the one being used?

 

[camilaperezb]

Yup, I made sure it was on the right one every single time.

 

[Slydude]

If you try following these directions does that have any effect at all?

 

[WF1G_TV]

External Display very dark...(OSX 10.6.6)

First of all may I just say that this thread is the best resource I have ever seen on the subject of external displays..FANTASTIC work bobtomay.

Having searched and enquired on forums about my issue for the past year I have had no luck with a solution but after reading 'most' of the thread, (yes I may have skipped a page or two) am convinced this IS the place

Now my issue.
I have a 2010 MacBookPro running OSX 10.6.6
I use it to display sporting events to various large flat screen TV's world wide as part of the F1 in Pubs campaign

No matter which method I use to connect (Mini Display Port to VGA or HDMI) the picture on the external TV is very dim.I have tried everything to ramp up the brightness,contrast and gamma on these displays but I am fairly convinced it's due to something happening in the OS (10.6.6)
I have previously used an older MacBook operating on OSX10.5 and there were no brightness issues externally.
I HAVE heard that going to 10.6.7 solves this but have also heard it does NOT and there are other issues with 10.6.7..

Might you have any guidance on this issue as the racing season is due to start soon and we need to solve this..

Once again..
Thanks for this tremendous thread and we look forward to getting this dealt with.

WF1G_TV

 

[bobtomay]

My first question would be why have you not updated to 10.6.8?

For whatever reason you may be wanting to stay at 10.6.6 - and I can't think of a good reason to do so - I'd suggest setting up an external SuperDuper! or CarbonCopyCloner bootable backup of your existing system - boot to it and verify it's all there and functional - then download and install the 10.6.8 combo update to your internal drive and test it out. This will enable you to restore from the external and go back to 10.6.6.

I would also add - if the dimness is not experienced from all content sources - the source is the problem.

 

[WF1G_TV]

WOW..
Thanks for the quick reply.
I was told,possibly erroneously, that I had to go to 10.6.7 before going to 10.6.8.

All I want to do is get the external display brighter..

I also have an version of VectorWorks that has issues with 10.6.8 and according to colleagues it does not work properly on that OS.

I see the Super Duper or CarbonCopyCloner might be the way to go but until I get a new, and very expensive, VectorWorks I need to stay either 10.6.6 or 10.6.7...Lame, I know.

Back to the external brightness issue....I have an older 2011 MBP and saw you downloaded it on a post a year or so ago will this fix my issue?

Thanks again for any consideration
WF1G_TV

 

[bobtomay]

I am totally unfamiliar with VectorWorks and also not familiar with any complaints of brightness issues related to specific releases of 10.6 either. I have not personally seen a brightness issue on my '06 MBP, '07 MB nor '11 MBA. The '06 MBP has been used connected to my TVs via DVI to HDMI from 10.4 thru every version of OS X up to 10.7.5. So, whether any particular update will "fix it" - don't know - but updates are the first place to start.

If VectorWorks truly has not fixed a bug in their software that prevents it from working in 10.6.8 - and, I would add here that if what you are reading are "some" reports - while others are not experiencing the issue at all - and have not tried it yourself - the problem is more than likely individual user settings and not something inherently at fault by either 10.6.8 nor VectorWorks.

I see too many people that don't update/upgrade because they read some report of one or a few reporting a problem while the vast majority of users never experience that issue at all.

The above is why it is my firm belief that everyone needs to be using one of the 2 pieces of backup software I've noted above and have bootable backups in place prior to installing updates.

In your situation, I might suggest you install the 10.6.8 update on the external backup rather than your internal drive to give it a test drive - if, in fact, there is a real issue with VectorWorks that they have refused to fix - and if it's not fixed by now, they're not going to.

And still, if the issue is only from particular sources - the source is the issue and there is likely nothing you're going to be able to do on your local machine to correct it.

 

[WF1G_TV]

Great stuff Bob..
I'll start with the updates and see if that resolves the issue.
There IS however a note in the release of 10.6.7 that says it "Improves brightness on external displays and projectors.".

This may do the trick so I had just better stop being a chicken and take the dive..

I'll let the thread know my results

Thanks again
WF1G_TV

 

[bobtomay]

You could even just get an external drive - pop in your 10.6 disc, do a clean install onto the external then the combo 10.6.8 update and give that a try without any extraneous software other than what you need for your broadcast connection.

 

[WF1G_TV]

I am on the road without any peripheral drives, software or anything..
But Yeah..that's the isolated test bed all right..!!

Thanks again
WF1G_TV

 

[tcrowley7]

what cables & connectors to buy

I have a MacBook (late 2008, aluminum) running 10.7.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

My tv is a Sony KDL-37XBR6.

Specs: User manual Sony Bravia KDL-37XBR6 (English - 48 pages)

I want to connect the laptop to the tv, the owner's manual seems to recommend connecting the miniDVI to the RGB port via HD15-HD15 cable, and a audio cable (stereo mini plugs) for audio.

Is RGB the same as a VGA connector?

Thanks so much.

 

[Ken051]

Macbook Pro 15" Late 2011 AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512 MB graphics
Knock off thunderbolt to hdmi
The tv says that it can handle up to 1080i
Dynex 32"
I hock it into my tv and it only can go up to 720p with it still looking good enough to see. When it goes above 720 it looks vuzzy and really small text.
Manual to the TV
LINK

 

[tcrowley7]

AirParrot software better & cheaper than cables

I ordered cables, connected them, but was not able to get a full-screen image on the tv, regardless of computer or tv settings. My house mate suggested AirParrot, which installs on your laptop and allows you to stream to the tv via Apple TV. Works fine and only costs $10.

I have a MacBook (late 2008, aluminum) running 10.7.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

My tv is a Sony KDL-37XBR6.

Specs: User manual Sony Bravia KDL-37XBR6 (English - 48 pages)

I want to connect the laptop to the tv, the owner's manual seems to recommend connecting the miniDVI to the RGB port via HD15-HD15 cable, and a audio cable (stereo mini plugs) for audio.

Is RGB the same as a VGA connector?

Thanks so much.