Connecting a laptop to a TV, to display iPlayer

John_Gray

I have gathered from previous posts that, to display on a modern flat-panel TV screen whatever is playing on a laptop, for example Youtube videos or BBC iPlayer content, then you need:

1. SVGA male-to-male cable for the video
2. stereo audio cable with 2½ mm stereo jack plugs for the sound

Then it's presumably a matter of getting the laptop to treat the TV as a projector, selecting the right AV channel on the TV, and adjusting the sound to suit.

In a nutshell, is this correct?

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Being a new TV, it also has a HDMI socket, I'm told. I don't suppose there is any way of connecting this to a laptop (which certainly doesn't have such a socket)?

Are there any other good ways of connecting laptop to TV for displaying picture and sound?

Thanks!

MentalDesigner

Yeah spot on. If your laptop and TV have HDMI then it will carry both audio and video. Get you cables online and avoid Maplins or Currys they'll tear you a new one.

If it's just the iPlayer you want yo use the Wii and PS3 can both play iPlayer and may be an easier option for you.

almillar

Problem with HDMI is that it carries sound and picture, and your laptop is only outputting picture, so there'll be nowhere on your TV to put the separate sound in when using HDMI.
One problem with VGA on some TVs (like mine!) is that they may not actually accept a 1080 signal over VGA, so maybe worth checking your TV manual first.

R34GTT

almillar wrote: »

Problem with HDMI is that it carries sound and picture, and your laptop is only outputting picture, so there'll be nowhere on your TV to put the separate sound in when using HDMI.
One problem with VGA on some TVs (like mine!) is that they may not actually accept a 1080 signal over VGA, so maybe worth checking your TV manual first.

Depends on the laptop, my 2 year old laptop has an HDMI output which carries both picture and audio. However most laptops do not have HDMI so the OPs original post would be the only option if he doesn't have a PS3 or Wii. The TV should accept video via the SVGA lead if it has such an input and the audio via stereo mini plug/phono lead. My TV also doesn't support 1080p Full HD via the VGA input, luckily my laptop has the HDMI output so I never use VGA. :cool:

Darksun

almillar wrote: »

Problem with HDMI is that it carries sound and picture, and your laptop is only outputting picture, so there'll be nowhere on your TV to put the separate sound in when using HDMI.
One problem with VGA on some TVs (like mine!) is that they may not actually accept a 1080 signal over VGA, so maybe worth checking your TV manual first.

My laptop outputs audio as well as video on the HDMI, I suspect most other laptops with a HDMI port do as well.

If only I could get it to actually work in Ubuntu :mad:

John_Gray

Darksun wrote: »

If only I could get it to actually work in Ubuntu :mad:

That's what I said about my laptop's cardbus wireless card...!

JasX

Darksun wrote: »

My laptop outputs audio as well as video on the HDMI, I suspect most other laptops with a HDMI port do as well.

same here, if your laptop is an odd one that only outputs video (even after 'fiddling' with the different sound output device options) you simply end up in a similiar position to havign a VGA cable and needing to pipe the sound in differently.

eg the 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable previously mentioned, easy if you have a separate/surround sound system or TV thats happy to take a 3.5mm input, can cause problems if your TV isn;t very intelligent and will refuse other sound sources if it 'thinks' it should be getting sound via the HDMI only.

John_Gray wrote: »

Being a new TV, it also has a HDMI socket, I'm told. I don't suppose there is any way of connecting this to a laptop (which certainly doesn't have such a socket)?

there is but it tends to involve an 'active' xxx to HDMI converter box that will likely be horribly overpriced and not very good.

almillar

Everyone read again: 'Problem with HDMI is that it carries sound and picture' is what I said. Everything HDMI involved sound and picture. The problem with going VGA or DVI to HDMI is that you're taking picture only and putting it into a picture and sound port on the TV. Therefore you have nowhere to send the sound into the TV. Problem is solved if you have a seperate sound system.