Acer 8204 TV-out

So, I bought my 8204 a while ago, noticed that it had a video-out connector, somewhat non-standard in that it's not an S-Video output, it has 7 sockets instead of 4. Seems that an S-Video cable would fit, so I give it a go (I have 2 S-Video to composite cables which work fine on my Toshiba). No dice - check catalyst settings, force TV detection, all that, still no signal.

Figure it needs a proprietary ATI cable. So I find one, it's like a "Y" cable, it has this proprietary connector on one end that fits into the Acer, and the other end splits to a composite and S-Video out. Seems like the right product.
Unfortunately, no dice there either.

I dig out a cable from one of my old ATI video cards which is the proprietary connector to composite. Still no luck.

Talk to the place that sold me the Acer. They try a couple of cables, and then say, "Well, I guess you have to get the proprietary cable direct from ACER..."

So I call Acer. They don't sell any such cable, or so the CSR says. I talk to him for quite some time, he walks me through the catalyst settings, talks to mostly like I'm an idiot, and never comes up with a solution. I ask him if anyone there knows of a particular brand of cable that will work. He says "any standard S-Video cable will work". I explain that the pinout on the back is not standard S-Video, but he's not being any help. Acer doesn't sell the right cable, and he doesn't know which ones would work.

I'm getting pretty frustrated here...

I'd call ATI, but I'm sure since I've tried 2 ATI cables on this thing they're just going to direct me back to ACER...

Anyone have a suggestion? Has someone gotten an S-Video to composite adaptor working with the TM8204? Has anyone got the "proper" cable for this notebook? I need composite, not S-Video, BTW...

Arrrrrgggghhh!!!

-Andy.

 

So you tried one of and these and it didnt work




Have you tried a 7-Pin SVideo + Audio to 3 RCA Cable
http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html
I have no experience with it but it might be worth a try.

 

Thanks for your reply!

I haven't tried that specific brand, but I have tried several others. The ones I've found have 9 pins instead of 7 but they do fit. (See pics) I cannot find any that are exactly the same connector.

I guess I was hoping for an exact make and model if I have to order it since I won't be able to return it. A better solution would be a brick-and-mortar store where I can go (in Calgary, AB) that has the right product, so I can try it there and not buy it if it doesn't work. Ordering from Canada has the added cost of shipping from the USA, customs, duty and so on and then if I get it and it doesn't work, I'm screwed.

Hopefully someone out there has found one that works "for sure" and can send me the info as to where to get it. Ridiculous that Acer doesn't sell them for their own notebooks!!

 

I'll try to check tonight, I'm 99% sure I have used my notebook with S-Video cable that I got from RadioShack, it's S-Video one end, RCA the other, seemed to work just fine (if I recall)

 

Thanks!
Did you have any luck?

 

Sorry got distracted into planning my wedding, I'll get around to it tonight.

I did manage to get the HDCP port (think that's what it is) to work just fine, but that's probably NOT what you wanted to hear.

I'll do it tonight.

 

Well, some things ARE more important than computers!

I think you mean the DVI connector, there's no HDCP on the Acer...

I'll be interested to hear if you are able to get the TV-out working but I understand if you don't have time!

Thanks!

-Andy.

 

Yes, DVI that's it, couldn't remember, all I knew was I had to get a connector to change it into HDMI to connect it to my TV, but that all seemed to work beautifully.

I'll test TV-Out via S-Video tonight

 

A standard 4-pin S-Video should work. I've gotten S-Video output on TV before. Windows/Catalyst are able to automatically pick up the TV.

 

Yeap, just tested it, I've got a standard 4pin S-Video out to RCA plug and it worked just fine, had to open up the display properties and turn the TV display on, but otherwise it seemed to work just peachy.

 

Thanks for testing that.
I wonder what the hell is wrong with my setup then.
How frustrating!!

 

Um, well few things to check.

1. What version of drivers are you using? I'm using Omega 3.8.330 and it seems to work.

2. Did you open the display options, Advanced, Displays Tab, that should show what is connected, and in theory, should display if you have a TV connected or not.

 

1. Here's the driver info:

Code:

Driver Packaging Version	8.201.2-051124a1-028716C-Acer	
Provider	ATI Technologies Inc.	
2D Driver Version	6.14.10.6587	
2D Driver File Path	System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{EB0E6F3F-4DA0-4F0D-A8BD-9C87A1DB2F5C}\0000	
Direct3D Version	6.14.10.0362	
OpenGL Version	6.14.10.5523	
CATALYST® Control Center Version	1.2.2154.38250

2. I did that, it never shows a TV connected. I even used "force TV detection", still no joy.

I heard before that the Omega drivers don't support the low-power modes (powerplay settings) of the ATI card so I've been using the ACER approved ATI driver. Not sure if that's changed.

 

Have you tried updated Catalyst drivers? Omega supports Powerplay so there's no problem there, but I'd still try the ATI drivers first, and then Omega if that doesn't work.

BTW, you tried Extending/Cloning your desktop already right? Because until you tell Windows/Catalyst to do either one of those, you won't get a signal out to the TV. Just making sure and all.

 

Thanks - 6.14 is not the latest? I got it from the Acer Support site...
Definitely did all the cloning/enabling, etc.

Really sucks that I can't figure out what's wrong. I though for sure it was the cable, now I don't know!

 

Acer Support site will NOT have the latest driver, notebook manufacturers are notorious for never updating drivers.

I'd still recommend either the newest ATI drivers or Omega drivers from either of those sites, I've never tried the ATI ones but had very few issues with Omega ones.

 

Where can I get a more recent driver?
The mobility catalyst drivers from the ATI site, ATI says that they are not compatible with my notebook. Even though it says not to use them, I tried one a while ago, and every time I turned on Powerplay it locked up the notebook. I need powerplay to get decent battery life.
Is there any advantage to the Omega driver? (I don't care about video performance, just battery life). Does it support the Avivo video conversion tool?

Thanks for your help!

 

Update to this problem...

I figured the S-Video out on this computer was just screwed, but since I need the laptop for work I wasn't about to ship it to Acer to get it fixed, and I'd just live with it until I bought a replacement notebook...

But yesterday, a friend had an S-Video cable and a TV with an S-Video input, so just for fun I tried it. What do you know? It works fine.

So, I'm back to square one. The S-video output on this PC works, but only S-Video to S-Video. The S-Video to RCA (composite) adapters will not work. I have literally tried 6 different adapters and none of them work.

Anyone with a working adapter care to share what brand it is and where they found it???

So annoying that I can't just buy one from ACER!!!!

-Andy.

 

Anyone have any suggestions?