How do I connect my PC to a TV, without a TV port?

jazabelle

I have a Toshiba Tecra A10-104 laptop, and I'd like to connect it to the TV.

As far as I know I don't have any kind of TV port on the laptop, but I'm rather ignorant on this subject.

The list of things the laptop has is here:

1 x DC-in
1 x external monitor
1 x expansion bus connector
1 x RJ-11
1 x RJ-45
1 x serial
1 x i.LINK® (IEEE 1394)
1 x external microphone
1 x built-in microphone
1 x headphone (stereo)
1 x 5-in-1 Bridge Media slot (supports SD™ Cards up to 16 GB, Memory Stick® up to 256 MB, Memory Stick Pro™ up to 4 GB, MultiMedia Card™ up to 1 GB and xD-Picture Card™ up to 2 GB)
3 (Right 3) x USB 2.0
1 (Left 1) x USB 2.0 Sleep-and-Charge/eSATA

I have just copied and pasted from the website - obviously I know most of those aren't relevant!

More info on the laptop here.

So is there another way to connect it? Can I buy a TV card for the laptop? Or connect wirelessly? If so, does anyone know what the cheapest option is for this please?

The TV is a reasonably old one, a Panasonic TX32PK1. So I'm not sure on the compatibility of this. Is there a specific port on the back I should look for?

Any help would be much appreciated please!

scottishblondie

If your TV has a SCART socket, I'd suggest a VGA (that's the external monitor connection) to SCART cable. It'll cost about £10-£15. In the unlikely event that the TV has a VGA port (unusual for TVs older than a couple of years), you can use a VGA-VGA, which shoule be less than £10.

jazabelle

Thanks for the info! Is the VGA the one with the pins? It has a row of 5 pins, then 6. If I go into a shop and pick up a VGA to scart will they all be the same? I googled it and there seemed to be different kinds.

Oh wait, I think I'm looking at the wrong one. There is one on the back that has 15 holes, which I assume is actually it.

jazabelle

Just to confirm - if I bought something like this, it would work?

jazabelle

I'm spamming my own post here!

Can anyone give me an idea of a name to look for? I have some vouchers for Comet and Argos - but I can't find a wireless pc to tv connector thing. I've done loads of searches, which were completely useless. Argos came up with a hairbrush for dogs.

I get results on googling it, but nothing on an actual shop. I want an idea on price. While buying it online would probably be cheaper, I'd like to use my vouchers if it's affordable. Any tips/links please?

piggeh

jazabelle wrote: »

Just to confirm - if I bought something like this, it would work?

That one wont work as it's to send a signal TO a PC rather than from, but you're on the right lines. you need a VGA TO SCART lead rather than a SCART TO VGA

edit: I might be wrong though, if it fits in the VGA out port then it will prolly be ok..

CHR15

Are you just thinking of viewing photo's on your TV??

If you want to play movies you are going to have to get the sound into the TV as well (unless you use the laptop speakers).

scottishblondie

@piggeh: You might be right, I had a cable before that had a switch on it to control the direction of the signal, so one that says "VGA to SCART" would prob be safer.

On a side note, why do you want to hook it up? Because if you need sound too you'll need a separate cable - VGA doesn't handle sound only image.

jazabelle

Ah, thanks for flagging that up! Yes, it is to play sound as well. I'd like to be able to play films and things through it. So is there just a second sound cable I can get, or doesn't it work like that?

It seems this will involve a lot of cables?

Could I wirelessly do this? I'm still having no luck finding one on a shop though. Any idea what term I should search please?

scottishblondie

If you could look at the back of your TV and tell us what connectios you have available that would really help

jazabelle

I have taken a pictute of the back of it for you! Sorry it's an awful pic, I had to squeeze behind it.




Please let me know if the picture is too crap to be able to tell.