Connect Laptop to TV: TV

Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Connect Laptop to TV Wirelessly via USB

We offer many simple cable solutions for connecting your laptop to your TV, but each one of those solutions requires a physical cable to be plugged from your TV to your laptop. Of course, that way you're able to experience the highest quality audio and video your laptop can provide on your television without breaking the bank, but some of you could care less and just hate wires! For those of you in this category, you're in luck... Thanks to this:

Warpia Wireless USB PC to TV

This handy little device provides seamless integration between your laptop and TV. Simply plug the USB adapter into your laptop, take 5 minutes to install the appropriate drivers, and attach the command station to your TV with the included HDMI cable. The unit supports wireless video streaming via HDMI, DVI, or VGA and audio connectivity through HDMI or 3.5mm mini-jack.

Currently the Warpia Wireless USB PC to TV adapter is only capable of running on Windows, but it provides resolution up to 1400x1050 pixels (almost pure 1080p, but not quite). The Warpia has a solid 20 foot range from laptop to TV, preventing you from having to purchase any extra-long cables that would otherwise be exposed throughout your living room.

Right now the Warpia is the only wireless option for connecting your laptop to your TV. So, if you're looking for a clean, reliable method of connection, you need to get the Warpia Wireless USB PC to TV adapter today.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Connect Xbox 360 to TV Instead of Laptop

Chances are you're visiting this site because you want to figure out how to connect your laptop to your TV. You're likely looking for some cable or adapter that will allow you to mess with some settings on your laptop and get it to successfully connect to your television. But, what if I told you you didn't need to connect your laptop to your TV if you already have an Xbox 360? If you're just looking to stream video, music, Netflix, or Hulu from the Internet to your TV you can probably leave your laptop in its bag.

Connecting Xbox 360 to Your TV

The Xbox 360 has dropped significantly in price since its launch price of $399 back in November of 2005. Now you can purchase the basic model for around $199 and have your media connected to your TV within minutes of taking it out of the box. The Xbox 360 allows for HDMI connection (via a $5 cable) so you can connect it to your TV with 1080p crystal clarity. You can control your media with the standard Xbox 360 controller or a proprietary remote control designed by Microsoft.

To play your media on your Xbox, you'll first need to copy the videos or songs you wish to play to a USB device. The USB device must be FAT32 formatted, not NTFS. If you don't know the difference between the two, thumb drives generally will work as they are FAT32, whereas larger external hard drives will not as they are generally NTFS. This 32GB flash drive from SanDisk should work just fine.

NOTE: Make sure that your videos are converted to AVI, MPEG4, or MP4 before copying them to your USB drive. If your files are not in one of those four formats you can convert them to one using the free Videora conversion software.

Once your videos are in the proper format and stored on your USB drive, plug the drive into your Xbox 360 and power it on.
Once your Xbox has booted up, scroll to the My Xbox menu and select the Video Library option.
From the list of storage options, select your USB flash drive.
Select the video you wish to play and hit Play.

Xbox 360 Internet Streaming Options

If you don't have many videos downloaded, have no fear. The Xbox 360 is a native supporter of Netflix (meaning it has its own Netflix software built in). All you need to sign into your Netflix account and start streaming movies in full HD is a subscription to Xbox Live.

Simply buy the Xbox Live subscription card featured on the left, create or login to your Xbox with your Xbox Live account, and launch the Netflix program on your Xbox from the Video menu on your Xbox. All of your Netflix Instant Queue titles will appear on the screen and be available to watch.

Connect Nettop to TV | Home Theater PC

One solution, and the solution that I personally use for connecting my laptop to my TV, is to get rid of my laptop all together. Instead of constantly messing with cables, changing resolutions and screen settings, and booting up my laptop all the time, I decided it was worth the investment to buy a Nettop for about $350.

A nettop (half netbook, half desktop) is a very small computer that runs silently, puts off very little heat, and uses hardly any power. They're about the size of the Nintendo Wii, so they'll fit easily in your entertainment center, and can run any media file you can run on your laptop.

At my house I have an Acer AspireRevo 1600, but they're currently discontinued. The new Acer model is the AspireRevo AR3700-U3002.

Acer AspireRevo AR3700-U3002

With a 250GB hard drive, 2GB RAM, an HDMI-out port, 6 USB ports, and an Intel ION graphics card, this device will be the last thing you ever need to connect to your TV. The AR3700 comes with Windows 7 pre-installed, so all you need to do is plug in the power cord, included mouse and keyboard, and connect it to your TV with a garden variety HDMI cable. Then just power the nettop on, use the built-in WiFi to connect to your home network, and you instantly have yourself an excellent Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC).

Of course, there are a few things that you could consider purchasing to make your HTPC setup that much more enjoyable...

4GB SODIMM DDR3 PC3-10600

While the AR3700 comes with 2GB RAM pre-installed, you can get a lot more power out of it by simply adding more RAM. It is not recommended to mix RAM modules, as it can cause blue screens and other technical problems. If you buy this 2GB x 2 set from Crucial you can't go wrong. Installing it is simple and it is the single biggest DIY hardware improvement that will make your nettop faster.

HDMI Cable

Without an HDMI Cable it will be difficult to connect your nettop to your TV. Simply plug one end into your AspireRevo's HDMI output and the other end into your TV's HDMI input, switch your TV's input to HDMI, and your nettop is successfully connected to your TV. Of course, if your nettop or TV doesn't have an HDMI connection you can check out your other options with my easy to use form that shows what cables you need to connect your laptop to your TV.

Logitech diNovo Mini

Lastly, and probably my favorite gadget in my entire house, is the Logitech diNovo Mini. This small device featured in several episodes of 24 makes controlling your TV-connected nettop (or laptop) as easy as possible from the comfort of your couch. The diNovo mini connects to your nettop or laptop via a USB Bluetooth connection, allowing you to wirelessly control your HTPC from up to 30 feet away. It allows for control of both keyboard, mouse, and media buttons through possibly the most intuitive compact controls I've ever used.

In my experience it holds a charge for 3-4 days of regular use before needing to be plugged in. It fits perfectly in the palms of your hands and takes up a lot less space than a full-sized keyboard and mouse would in your living room.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Connect VGA Laptop to S-Video/RCA TV

Your Laptop (VGA Out)

Your TV (S-Video/RCA In)

If you have both an older laptop and older TV, you probably have the input/output configuration listed above. While you will lose quality going from high-resolution VGA to low-resolution S-Video/RCA, this setup is still better than nothing. To connect your laptop's VGA output to your TV's S-Video/RCA inputs, you'll need the following items.

VGA cable

The VGA cable will carry an analog signal from your laptop's VGA OUTPUT to the VGA to S-Video/RCA converter. Any simple VGA cable will work, so if you have an extra VGA monitor cable lying around your house you can use that and save yourself a few bucks.

VGA to S-Video/RCA Converter

This VGA to S-Video/RCA converter will take your laptop's analog VGA signal and convert it into a format usable by S-Video and RCA cables. Plug your VGA cable into the converter's VGA INPUT and your S-Video and RCA Video cables into the device's OUTPUT.

S-Video Cable

While not completely necessary to connect your laptop to your computer, the S-Video cable makes your picture noticeably crisper than just connecting the converter to your TV using an RCA video cable. Plug one end into the converter's S-Video OUTPUT and the other end into your TV's S-Video INPUT to make the connection.

RCA Video Cable

The RCA Video cable takes the converted video signal from your S-Video/RCA adapter's video OUTPUT and transmits it to your TV's RCA Video INPUT. It is necessary in order for your laptop's video to be successfully transmitted to your TV.

VGA to S-Video/RCA Audio Options

There are several options for transmitting your laptop's audio to your TV's speakers, but the most reliable one in this scenario would be to use a 3.5mm to RCA Stereo Y-Splitter like the one pictured to the left. Plug the 3.5mm end of the cable into your laptop's headphone OUTPUT jack and the other end into your TV's RCA Stereo (red and white) INPUT jack and you're instantly good to go.

Connect Laptop to TV via VGA

Your Laptop (VGA Out)

Your TV (VGA In)

Do you ever feel like you're writing the same thing over and over again, just switching out a few words and trying to put a clever spin on the next iteration of the exact same instructions? Sort of like "If your laptop takes Output A and your TV takes Input B, use this cable or converter..."

No?

If your laptop has a VGA output and your TV has a VGA input, this VGA cable is all you need to connect your laptop's video to your TV screen. Also known as a "blue monitor cable," chances are if you're reading this on a desktop computer you're sitting within a few feet of one. While a VGA cable carries an analog signal, unlike its digital HDMI and DVI counterparts, it is the only (common) analog cable that can also carry a resolution comparable to a 1080i TV (1920x1080 pixels).

This particular cable comes equipped with a built-in 3.5mm audio cable that allows for a quick and easy method of connecting your laptop's audio to your TV's speakers. Next to using an HDMI cable, this single VGA/3.5mm cable is probably the easiest solution available to fully connect your laptop to your TV.

Of course, if 3.5mm audio isn't your thing, there are other options...

Connect DVI Laptop to VGA TV and Vice Versa

Your Laptop (VGA Out)

Your TV (DVI-I In)

Your Laptop (DVI Out)

Your TV (VGA In)

If you don't have a digital input available to you on your TV like HDMI or DVI, using a VGA input is the next best thing. While it doesn't carry a perfect signal like its digital cousins, VGA is capable of at least providing a higher resolution than any other non-digital cables. Known commonly as a "blue monitor cable," chances are if you're reading this on a desktop computer you probably have one within a few feet of you. VGA outputs are common on most laptops, but if you have a small netbook, DVI output may be your only option. If that's the case, you'll need this DVI to VGA converter cable. Just connect the DVI end into your laptop's DVI OUTPUT and connect the VGA end to your TV's VGA INPUT and you're all set.

Converting VGA to DVI

Unlike many of the other conversion processes on this site, converting a VGA signal to a DVI signal isn't always as straight-forward as you would think. This is due in part to the fact that there are several types of DVI ports and only a few of them will work with the cable listed above. The simple rule is this: If your TV's DVI INPUT has a small group of 4 pins off to the side this cable will work. If there is not a group of 4 pins, then it won't and you'll have to find a VGA analog to DVI digital converter like the one pictured to the left.

If your TV INPUT looks like a DVI-I connector, the cable will work.
If it looks like the DVI-D connector, you'll need a converter.

VGA to DVI and DVI to VGA Audio Options

Like every video cable, with the exception of HDMI, using the methods above will only get you half way in connecting your laptop to your TV. If you want your laptop's audio to play on your TV's speakers, you'll need to select one of the following options. While I recommend using an optical to optical cable or coaxial to coaxial cable if at all possible, if those options aren't available you can try one of the following.

Connect Laptop to TV via DVI

Your Laptop (DVI Output)

Your TV (DVI Input)

The simplest solution for connecting your laptop to your TV is to find a matching laptop output and TV input and get a single cable that connects the two. Currently, the only two ways to transmit a crystal clear digital video signal from most laptops to TVs is either with an HDMI or a DVI cable. If HDMI is not an option for you for one reason or another, DVI is your second best option.

DVI was developed in 1999 to transmit digital signals between two devices and its makeup is extremely closer to that of its newer cousin, the HDMI cable. The only main difference between the two is that DVI cables are unable to carry sound. With this cable, all you need to do is plug one end into your laptop's DVI OUTPUT and the other end into your TV's DVI INPUT and you're in business... For video anyway.

DVI Audio Options

Since DVI is incapable of carrying an audio signal on its own, you'll have to choose a separate option for transmitting sound from your laptop to your TV. My personal recommendations would be either optical to optical transmission or coaxial to coaxial transmission. However, if neither of those options are available, you'll have to pick a different one from the following list:

Optical (Toslink) output to Optical (Toslink) input (recommended)

Optical (Toslink) output to Coaxial input

Optical (Toslink) output to 3.5mm (mini-jack) input

Optical (Toslink) output to Composite (RCA) input

Coaxial output to Coaxial input (recommended)

Coaxial output to Optical (Toslink) input

Coaxial output to 3.5mm (mini-jack) input

Coaxial output to Composite (RCA) input

3.5mm (mini-jack) output to 3.5mm (mini-jack) input

3.5mm (mini-jack) output to Composite (RCA) input

Composite (RCA) output to Composite (RCA) input

Composite (RCA) output to Optical (Toslink) input

Composite (RCA) output to 3.5mm (mini-jack) input

Composite (RCA) output to Coaxial input

Connect HDMI Laptop to S-Video RCA TV

Your Laptop (HDMI Out)

Your TV (S-Video/RCA Out)

When dealing with newer laptops and older TVs, sometimes the only option is to take that excellent digital audio and video quality provided by your laptop and bastardize it down to an analog technology originally designed in the early 1940's. That's when you have to convert your laptop's HDMI output to your TV's S-Video or RCA input. Fortunately, it can be done for less than $50... Which is a lot cheaper than buying a new TV! Here's what you need to make it happen.

HDMI Cable

A simple HDMI cable will carry a digital signal from your laptop's HDMI OUPUT to your HDMI to RCA converter's HDMI INPUT port.

HDMI to S-Video/RCA Converter

This device converts the digital HDMI signal from your laptop into an analog source that is output via S-Video and RCA cables. There are many models out there, but this one so far carries the best reviews and the most reasonable price.

To use it, plug the HDMI cable originating from your laptop into the adapter's HDMI INPUT end, and plug one end of your S-Video and RCA cables into the adapter's OUTPUT end.

S-Video Cable

While not entirely necessary for the HDMI to RCA conversion to work properly, the use of an S-Video cable will improve your video quality. It won't be mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination, but it will make your image crisper and text easier to read.

One end of the S-Video cable will plug into your adapter's S-Video OUTPUT and the other end will plug into your TV's S-Video INPUT port.

Component (RCA) Cable

The old tried-and-true, 3-color RCA cable is still probably the most common A/V connector cable available. Each of the three cables are physically identical, but are color coded for ease of use. Traditionally, the yellow cable carries video, red carries right-channel audio, and white carries left-channel or mono audio.

As with the S-Video cable, one end of each of the three cables will plug into the adapter's Video, Left, and Right OUTPUT while their corresponding ends will plug into your TV's Video, Left, and right INPUT port.

HDMI to S-Video/RCA Audio Options

If you are able to transmit audio through your HDMI cable, there's nothing else you need to do. The converter takes care of the audio and you're in business. However, if your video card is unable to transmit audio over your HDMI cable, there are a few other common options for you to connect your laptop's audio to your TV's speakers.

Connect HDMI Laptop to VGA TV

Your Laptop (HDMI Out)

Your TV (VGA In)

If connecting your laptop to your TV directly with an HDMI cable or with an HDMI to DVI converter cable isn't an option, the next best option is to use an HDMI to VGA converter. While VGA is not a digital signal like HDMI or DVI, and therefore will never be quite as crystal clear, it does allow for higher resolutions than its component, S-Video, and RCA counterparts.

Using an HDMI to VGA converter to connect your laptop to your TV will allow for 1920x1080 resolutions (the same pixel resolution as 1080p), but when viewing the same picture at the same resolution through an HDMI cable, the trained eye will notice a slight difference in quality. In order to successfully connect your laptop's HDMI output to your TV's VGA input, you'll need the following items.

HDMI cable

First, you'll need a standard HDMI cable. Nothing fancy is necessary; a simple, $3-$5 cable with good reviews is all you need. Don't get tricked by a salesman at Best Buy into buying a $200 "guaranteed for life" Monster cable that carries the exact same 1's and 0's as a $5 BlueRigger cable.

One end of this HDMI cable will attach to your laptop's HDMI OUTPUT and the other end will attach to your HDMI to VGA converter's HDMI INPUT.

HDMI to VGA Converter

Since HDMI carries a digital signal and VGA carries an analog signal, a converter is necessary to connect your HDMI laptop to your VGA TV. In addition to converting video, this adapter also will take audio from your HDMI cable if you so desire and output it to an analog 3.5mm audio format.

To use this adapter, simply plug the HDMI cable originating from your laptop into the adapter's HDMI INPUT port and plug one end of your VGA cable into the adapter's VGA OUTPUT slot.

VGA cable

Lastly, you'll need a VGA cable to carry the analog signal from the adapter to your TV. A VGA cable is your basic monitor cable and usually has a blue colored plug on each end. If you have a spare montior cable lying around (make sure it's VGA and not DVI) that will work as well.

One end of your VGA cable should already be plugged into your adapter's VGA OUTPUT port, so simply plug the other end into your TV's VGA INPUT port, change your TV's input to VGA, and you should be up and running!

HDMI to VGA Audio Options

While HDMI cables have the ability to carry audio, VGA cables, being analog in nature, do not. There are several options you can pursue when connecting your laptop's audio to your TV's speakers. However, considering the build of the HDMI to VGA converter listed above, your best bet in my opinion is to simply buy a 3.5mm analog audio cable and connect it from your converter directly to your TV. Check to make sure your TV accepts 3.5mm audio input first, but chances are if it accepts VGA video input it does. Then, set your computer to send audio over HDMI and you're in business!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Connect HDMI Laptop to DVI TV and Vice Versa

Your Laptop (HDMI Out)

Your TV (DVI In)

Your Laptop (DVI Out)

Your TV (HDMI In)

Often times you'll find your laptop or desktop is equipped with an HDMI output, but your TV (or your friend's TV) is just old enough that it doesn't have an HDMI input. Fortunately, before HDMI became as popular as it is today, DVI inputs were widely available. If your laptop has an HDMI port and your TV has a DVI port, you can successfully connect your laptop to your TV using a single cable.

Since HDMI and DVI are both digital signals that are very closely related, no converters are necessary. All you need to get a video signal from your laptop to your TV is this 3 meter HDMI to DVI adapter cable from Amazon. Be careful wwhen purchasing an HDMI to DVI adapter cable, as digital signals can sometimes only be sent in one direction. However, this specific cable has the ability to transmit both ways, so whether you want to connect your HDMI laptop out put to your DVI TV input or connect your DVI laptop output to your HDMI TV input you're good to go.

Once you have the necessary cable, plug the HDMI end into your laptop and the DVI end into your TV (or vice versa). Take note of the input name the DVI port is associated with, and set your TV to that input. Once the TV input is set, you should have a crystal clear picture... But no sound.

HDMI to DVI Audio Options

While HDMI cables have the ability to carry audio, DVI cables unfortunately do not. Therefore, you'll need to purchase a separate cable if you wish to carry your laptop's audio to your TV. Take note when purchasing your desired audio cable that some TVs will automatically associate a single audio input with the DVI input method. This is most often the 3.5mm or "mini-jack" audio input. However, some TVs allow more flexibility. If you're unsure, you should check with your TV's manual before purchasing an audio cable. I have listed the following audio connectivity options in order of highest quality to lowest quality. Click on them to read the description and connectivity methods of each.

How to Configure Your Laptop to Connect to Your TV

Getting your laptop to connect to your TV with the proper cables and converters is one thing. Actually telling your laptop what outputs to use in order to send the proper signals to your TV is another. Have no fear though, as using the following directions (or watching the video at the end) should make the process quick and painless.

Setting Up Video Output

If you're still not viewing your computer's desktop on your TV, follow these directions for any Windows 7 machine:

Right-click your Windows desktop and select 'Screen Resolution'
At the following dialog, you should see two screens. One is your laptop's screen, and the other is your TV. If you don't see two screens, ensure your cable is properly plugged in, your TV is powered on and switched to the correct input, and your video card drivers are up to date.
Under the dialog box that says Multiple Displays select Duplicate These Displays
Click OK
Your screen and TV may flash for a second, but when they come back they should be showing the exact same picture. Your screens are now set up -- time to check the audio.

Setting Up Audio Output

If you attempt to do something that would naturally carry audio (like play a YouTube video) and don't get any results, it's likely that your sound card is not configured properly. To properly configure your sound card, simply follow these steps on Windows 7:

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound
Select the Playback tab
Click on the proper icon for your audio output. If you are sending audio through a 3.5mm jack, select Speakers. If you are sending audio through an HDMI cable, select HDMI. Optical/Coax, select SPDIF and so on...
Click Set Default
Click OK

Both your audio and video should now be configured to run through the proper cables to your TV. Don't forget to switch the audio back after you're finished connecting your laptop to your TV!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Connect Laptop to TV via HDMI

Back in the day it was an accepted fact that in order to transfer audio and video from one source to another they needed to be transferred over at least two separate cables. Anyone who has ever bought a VCR is likely more than familiar with these old-school RCA cables.

With these cables, the yellow cable carried the video data, the white cable carried left-channel (or mono) audio, and the right cable carried right-channel audio. If you had all three outputs on your VCR but your TV only had the yellow and white inputs you were getting mono sound whether you liked it or not. Flash forward to 2003 and suddenly we were able to get pure digital video and surround sound over a single cable. Behold the magic of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable!

HDMI Cable via Wikipedia

If your laptop and TV both have an input in this shape, chances are this little cable is all you need. To determine whether or not that's the case, check both your TV (or receiver) and laptop for an HDMI port. It may say HDMI or BD (short for Blu-Ray Disc), or any number of other various inputs. However, if it looks like this with the two tapered corners, it's an HDMI port.

HDMI input via Wikipedia

Connecting Your Laptop to Your TV

You'll want to find an HDMI output port on your computer and an HDMI input port on your TV or receiver. Since most computers and laptops do not possess an HDMI input, we can assume any HDMI slot found on your computer is HDMI output. First, make sure your laptop is booted up and your TV is turned on. Next, using your HDMI cable, connect the HDMI output on your laptop to the HDMI input on your TV. Take note of the exact name of the HDMI input you're plugging into on your TV (e.g. HDMI-1, HDMI-2, BD, SAT, etc...)

If you're really lucky, your TV will automatically change its input to the newly detected source and you'll instantly see a duplicated version of your desktop appear on the TV. If you're even luckier, the sound card on your laptop will automatically detect the change and will route all audio directly to the TV. However, if there's one thing I've learned over the years of dealing with IT and A/V equipment, it's that no one is ever that lucky.

If your TV did not automatically switch to the new input source, grab your TV's remote and press the button labeled Input or Source or TV/Video. It may be named something else, but those are the three most common button names I'm aware of. Keep pressing this button while you see the different inputs cycle through on your TV screen. Stop pressing it once you see the input on your TV screen match the input you plugged the HDMI cable into (HDMI-1, HDMI-2, BD, SAT, etc...) Now your TV is set to the proper input.

If you are still having issues with the video or audio not appearing as it should on your TV, please see my article on how to configure your laptop to connect to your TV.

Shopping for an HDMI Cable

Cables, accessories, and other various peripherals have long been the providers of the highest margins at retail electronic stores like Best Buy (trust me, I used to work at Circuit City). They'll try (and often succeed) in selling you the "top of the line, gold plated, guaranteed for life" cables for any electronic device you may purchase. One of my friends, without consulting me first, got suckered into buying a Monster brand, gold-plated, 10-foot HDMI cable for $120. The sales rep told him that it was the highest quality HDMI cable available and that it carried the best possible quality video and audio that was on the market. He said it was gold plated so it would never oxidize like some of the other "cheaper cables" and that if anything ever went wrong with it, he was guaranteed a replacement for life.

What the sales rep failed to mention to my friend was that HDMI carries a digital signal (that's literally 1's and 0's), so any quality signal is always going to be the highest possible quality. With digital signals the picture and audio either work... or they don't. There is no in between.

So, don't do what my friend did. When buying an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to your TV, buy in bulk and buy cheap. A simple, 2-meter HDMI cable that carries every signal you could possibly need only costs a few bucks on Amazon Prime... And for the price of 1 Monster cable from Best Buy you could buy 20 of these.

About Connect Laptop to TV

Working in the IT industry, I've noticed one question has slowly begun to prevail throughout my friends and family during these tough economic times... "How do I connect my laptop or computer to my TV?"

Being somewhat of an A/V geek myself, I've had a computer connected to my TV as soon as I was able to afford it. The process can be as simple as buying the right plug and clicking a few settings, or as complex as building a home network that automatically records, downloads, and stores thousands of your favorite shows without ever purchasing a cable company-controlled DVR.

My goal with this site is to educate my readers on the best options for connecting their laptop or desktop computers to their TV in the hopes of reducing or outright eliminating their cable bills. I will try to make it as simple and straight-forward as possible in the hopes that the next time someone asks me how to perform this seemingly impossible task, I can simply point them to ConnectLaptopToTV.net and feel confident that I've helped them out.

Feel free to post any questions in the comments section of any post as I'm regularly monitoring them and am always more than happy to help someone in need.