Connecting your Mac to your TV

[u5er]

Ok, I unplugged everything and plugged them all back, changed to a different HDMI port on the receiver. I also made sure everything was off (MBP, receiver, TV) before I connected everything. Display has been working for over 30 minutes w/o blank screen or me touching the MBP. Not sure what exactly the issue was, but I'm glad it's working. Thanks for the help.

 

[Adker]

Mac mini to old TV

Hi,

I have Mac mini (late 2006) 1.66GHz Mac mini (MA607LL/A) 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo. I am looking to connect it to a 1994 Magnavox TV with the three RCA jacks... red, white and yellow. Aside from the cable input, these are the only inputs on the TV. Ultimately, I will be using the Mac mini as a DVD player.

I've seen places that I need the Apple DVI to Video Adapter to use as the connector, but I've also read that it doesn't work for some people. Do you think it would work for me?

The best possible solution for audio is that it would come from the TV. I suppose the simple "from back of the Mac to the red or white on the TV" won't work.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[RavingMac]

Hi,

I have Mac mini (late 2006) 1.66GHz Mac mini (MA607LL/A) 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo. I am looking to connect it to a 1994 Magnavox TV with the three RCA jacks... red, white and yellow. Aside from the cable input, these are the only inputs on the TV. Ultimately, I will be using the Mac mini as a DVD player.

I've seen places that I need the Apple DVI to Video Adapter to use as the connector, but I've also read that it doesn't work for some people. Do you think it would work for me?

The best possible solution for audio is that it would come from the TV. I suppose the simple "from back of the Mac to the red or white on the TV" won't work.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Honestly your best choice is probably a $30 DvD player. It will be far less hassle and easier to use.
To do what you are talking about would require converting the digital video to composite video and the trouble to do it probably wouldn't be worth the result.

 

[bobtomay]

You would use the adapter you mention. Should not be an issue except for some of the '09 models where the DVI (mini-DVI) ports are digital only.

A '94 model TV should have an S-Video port also. If so, I would use that instead of the yellow composite port.

You'll need a stereo 3.5 mm minijack to RCA for audio and plug into the red/white jacks on the TV.

I'd probably just go with a DVD player also if that's all you want to do. You can get one of those for about the same price as the adapter and cables you need.

 

[TheyCallMeShoe]

i have a brand new less than one week old Macbook Pro 2.8Gz i7 and an AOC tv (L22H998) and a Gigaware displayport to HDMI adapater. All my HDMI cables work (tried several) and the adapter works on my roomate's monitor. The TV works with two other windows laptops with HDMI ports. Everything i've tried and i've tried everything doesn't work with this computer and that TV.

When i plug the adapter/cable in, the laptop screen will turn blue and come back as all my other mac laptops have in the past with video out adapters. The TV says "no signal"

System Prefrences > Displays > detect displays = nothing

Does anyone have experience with Gigaware adapters? AOC tvs?

 

[Problemator]

iMac to Sony TV

Hello,
i have a question about my iMac 7,1 and sony tv.i wanted to connect the imac to my tv via mini-dvi=>hdmi=>TV but it didn't work.I don't think the problem were the cables because the imac recognized the tv but the tv showed no image.Now i have the choice between throwing away this idea or buy cables to connect it via mini-dvi=>VGA=>TV.
Will it work?what do you think?

PS.:I have mac os x 10.5.8.Is that a problem?

 

[bobtomay]

Problemator:

Sorry, didn't notice your post.

10.5.8 is not a problem.

First thing you need to do is work through all the troubleshooting steps in post # 2.
Some of the current year model Sonys in particular are not working via HDMI with Macs - and Sony knows about it.

 

[Problemator]

I did everything as in post 2,but still no image.
On the official site is written that my tv is pc compatible through hdmi
My only opinion is to buy adapter for vga,but should i do that since the problem lies in the tv?

 

[bobtomay]

I would "guess" the problem lies in the TV not passing the proper EDID to your Mac.

Whether it is the TV or not, can really only be determined if you are getting picture on another TV using the same Mac and cables.

This would have no bearing/impact on the VGA port and a lot less likely to have problems with that port also.
The only issue using VGA would be the resolutions available through that port on that TV.

 

[coachmon]

mac to dvi monitor input

Need to connect mac firewire out to monitor, either DVI or RGB. Are there adaptors or cables? Can't find any.
mac pro 4.1, quad core intel zeon, 2.66 proc, 2010

 

[bobtomay]

The Firewire port is not a video out port.

 

[chart589]

LCD TV-Macbook Resolution issue

bobtomay, or anyone,

First of all, I didn't really read through the old posts, and sorry if I spelled your name wrong... that is kind of my problem... I can't get a good resolution on my tv screen.

It started when I accidentally hit my Macbook screen with my iffy charger trying to get the charger to loosen up... anyways, I got my roommates old Memorex MLT 1912 "19 LCD tv that he never uses, and I was planning on making a desktop computer out of it and my macbook. I already have a VGA cord because I used to hook my laptop up to my nice Samsung TV. Only problem is, is that the image on the Memorex LCD is fuzzy and I can't figure out how to fix the resolution.

When I go to system preferences and select display, it gives me two slightly different display windows: one for my macbook, the other for the TV, but I don't know what to do, or if I just have to find the right combo or what.

I believe this is a link to the TV's manual, but again, I am having trouble seeing the screen, thankfully I'm a decent typist.

Thanks a bunch,

Caleb

 

[bobtomay]

Native resolution of that monitor is 1440x900.

 

[MacLoyal]

Thank you!

This was precisely the information I was looking for when my initial attempt to plug and play did not work. I needed the detail provided here to confirm that my Mac was picking up the presence of a second display in System Preferences. I needed some ideas to troubleshoot why it wasn't working. It turned out my problem was a minor error but it had me stumped. I thought I plugged into HDMI1 and I was really hooked into HDMI2. My two year old Vizio and my going on five year old MacPro worked instantly and perfectly once I tuned into the right "channel".

 

[bobtomay]

Appreciate that MacLoyal. Glad it's still helping folks out there.

 

[gs1819]

Macbook to TV HDMI worked like a dream the first time

I connected my MacBook to my Dynex tv using an HDMI. It worked like a charm the first time, no questions asked. I was so happy.

About a week later, while attempting to watch some videos again, the tv all of a sudden doesn't recognize the computer. The computer definitely recognizes something going on. Any reason why this might have happened?

I never change the input (always on HDMI setting) on the TV. I've tried changing the cords because the HDMI cord that the Tivo uses works fine for the Tivo and tv connection. I've tried turning them both off and turning them on in different orders.

I just don't understand why it would be so easy the first time and then not work again.

 

[bobtomay]

You must change the input to the correct HDMI input.

At least I assume you have more than 1 HDMI cable/device plugged in at a time and are not using only 1 HDMI cable which you move from device to device.

 

[gs1819]

You must change the input to the correct HDMI input.

At least I assume you have more than 1 HDMI cable/device plugged in at a time and are not using only 1 HDMI cable which you move from device to device.

There is only one HDMI connected at one time because that is all the tv will allow so I unplug the Tivo when wanting to connect the computer.

I've downloaded a lot of music recently. Would having less space on the hard drive of the computer, have any impact on the TV not picking up any signal?

 

[bobtomay]

There is only one HDMI connected at one time because that is all the tv will allow so I unplug the Tivo when wanting to connect the computer.

disconnect and reconnect all connections - adapter and cable

You need to work thru all the troubleshooting steps in post # 2 - Item 1 at the top of this thread.

I've downloaded a lot of music recently. Would having less space on the hard drive of the computer, have any impact on the TV not picking up any signal?

??? No.

 

[robertgarven]

Great post I just resurrected a similar post asking the same info. I just got a new Samsung 46d8000 which is way cool. I want to attach it. I currently have audio rca cables running under my house about 25-30 feet and they work great. I am using a m-audio firewire digital audio interface to connect to the stereo. how long can I run a HDMI cable without data loss???

Thanks for all the great info!

I hope i can get to work may make happy to crawl under my house again!! HAA