[Bluehamsterjam]

I'm a complete newbie to this, so please bear with me.

I have just connected my Toshiba laptop (in a docking station) to a 26" Philips LCD TV in the living room. Due to the limited type of outputs on the docking station, I have had to use the RCA connectors (Red, White, Yellow) for audio left and right and video. Everything works, but there are still a couple of minor problems that are bugging me.

1. Although the picture on the laptop screen is crystal clear, the output to the TV is slightly blurred. I have been told that this may be something to do with different refresh rates, but before I start changing any settings, I'd like some advice please.

2. At the moment, the only way I can get the output to transfer from the laptop to the TV is to leave the laptop open and press FN/F5 several times until the picture appears. I know that when the docked laptop is connected to a standard monitor (with the lid closed) this happens automatically - albeit through the VGA port. Is there any way to make this happen with the RCA output?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Ian.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehamsterjam

I'm a complete newbie to this, so please bear with me.

I have just connected my Toshiba laptop (in a docking station) to a 26" Philips LCD TV in the living room. Due to the limited type of outputs on the docking station, I have had to use the RCA connectors (Red, White, Yellow) for audio left and right and video. Everything works, but there are still a couple of minor problems that are bugging me.

1. Although the picture on the laptop screen is crystal clear, the output to the TV is slightly blurred. I have been told that this may be something to do with different refresh rates, but before I start changing any settings, I'd like some advice please.

It's because you're using the absolute lowest quality connection possible - doesn't your TV have a VGA or DVI socket on it?, if so connect via that.

Quote:

2. At the moment, the only way I can get the output to transfer from the laptop to the TV is to leave the laptop open and press FN/F5 several times until the picture appears. I know that when the docked laptop is connected to a standard monitor (with the lid closed) this happens automatically - albeit through the VGA port. Is there any way to make this happen with the RCA output?

Use the VGA connection, and it will solve that problem as well.

[Bluehamsterjam]

Thanks Nigel, I'll take a look and let you know.

[Bluehamsterjam]

OK, in more detail now, this is what I have available:

Rear of Laptop:
15 pin D type (VGA) video out
Yellow (Coaxial?) video out

Rear of TV:
2 x Scarts
2 x HDMI
1 x S-Video
Component Video (Pr, Pb, Y)
Also, one of the EXT panels has a single Yellow (Coaxial?) "Video In" connection - this is what I currently have the Yellow Video Out of the laptop connected to.

There is also a DVI connection on the TV for Audio In, but I am running my audio straight to my surround sound system, so this is not an issue.

Is it possible to get a VGA to HDMI cable, and would this be the best option?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehamsterjam

OK, in more detail now, this is what I have available:

Rear of Laptop:
15 pin D type (VGA) video out
Yellow (Coaxial?) video out

Rear of TV:
2 x Scarts
2 x HDMI
1 x S-Video
Component Video (Pr, Pb, Y)
Also, one of the EXT panels has a single Yellow (Coaxial?) "Video In" connection - this is what I currently have the Yellow Video Out of the laptop connected to.

There is also a DVI connection on the TV for Audio In, but I am running my audio straight to my surround sound system, so this is not an issue.

Are you sure it's a DVI socket?, DVI is picture, and not sound, and would accept a VGA input from your laptop.

Quote:

Is it possible to get a VGA to HDMI cable, and would this be the best option?

No, they are completely different things (VGA is analogue, and HDMI digital only - DVI can be, or is, both).

[Bluehamsterjam]

Nigel,

I've scanned the connection diagram from the manual, which shows you all of the different connection points and in particular, the DVI audio connectors. Trouble is, I have no idea how to paste the JPEG into this post (or link to it somehow). Any suggestions?


cheers, Ian.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehamsterjam

Nigel,

I've scanned the connection diagram from the manual, which shows you all of the different connection points and in particular, the DVI audio connectors. Trouble is, I have no idea how to paste the JPEG into this post (or link to it somehow). Any suggestions?

DVI stands for "Digital Video Interface", and doesn't include audio.

I'll PM you my email address, and you can email me the scan.

[Chris Frost]

The manual for your TV will be on philips support site www.p4c.philips.com/

If you know its model then post a reply so Nigel and the rest of us can check out the specs. That'll be much simpler.

[Nigel Goodwin]

OK, I've got the scan now - looks like you're stuffed I'm afraid

There are two HDMI sockets, with phono audio inputs between them, presumably as an option for one of the HDMI sockets.

Philips have historically fitted DVI rather than HDMI, and it looks like they have now moved to HDMI, but not re-labeled the sockets on the back

[Bluehamsterjam]

Good idea Chris.

I've already emailed the scanned copy to Nigel, but for anyone else who fancies helping me out, the model number is:

26PF5321

Best of luck, and thanks for all the help so far.

[Bluehamsterjam]

Nigel,

Is there anything I can do with the laptop?
Put a graphics card in with HDMI or DVI output?

If so, any suggestions on which type and where from?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehamsterjam

Nigel,

Is there anything I can do with the laptop?
Put a graphics card in with HDMI or DVI output?

If so, any suggestions on which type and where from?

USB 2.0 seems more popular than PCMIA or Expresscard, have a look at http://www.cooldrives.com/usb-hdmi-adapter-dvi.html