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    want to connecyt my 1720 to my hdtv, but it isn't working!

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Recipe7, May 23, 2008.

  1. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    i had a e1705 connect to my hdtv. it was a simple plug and play. all i had to do was get a DVI to a HDMI cable, and a 3.5mm to RCA audio and that was that.

    now, for my 1720 laptop, it doesnt have a dvi port (WHY?!?!?!?!) but only a vga port.

    i went to radioshack and bought a vga to dvi adapter, and then tried connect the hdmi cable to the tv, but the picture didn't show.

    i got the svideo cable going, but it only outputs a 1024x728 resoultion on my TV (which is highly unacceptable).

    how come there is no video coming out of my VGA port? am i missing something?
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  2. SeanOfOz

    SeanOfOz Notebook Consultant

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    You did of course press Fn+F8 to switch it on?
     
    SeanOfOz, May 23, 2008
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  3. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  4. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    Yeah, try that cable, it would be your best bet. That's pretty cheap actually. I remember Radio Shack got me for $40 for a S-Video to RCA cable.
     
    atbnet, May 23, 2008
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  5. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    alright, i suppose i will try it out.

    so the vga port will not produce a display on my HDTV?
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  6. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    I know my Samsung TV has a PC input which is VGA. But if yours does not, then I would say no. I am not 100% sure, but I think what you were trying to do isn't possible with the VGA to DVI to HDMI. It is just too many conversions.
     
    atbnet, May 23, 2008
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  7. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    my tv doesnt have a vga port, so i guess that isnt an option.

    i just read that the vga adapter doesnt convert digital signals, only analog. is that the reason why it wouldnt work when the hdmi end connects to the tv?
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  8. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    It didn't know the specifics, but yes this is why it isn't working. HDMI and DVI are both digital and VGA is analog. So, there was never any signal getting to the TV. Good information, I'll have to remember that.
     
    atbnet, May 23, 2008
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  9. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    glad i could help you out, hehe.

    i have another question. here is a better picture of the adapter http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Cam_86/S-videotoComponent.jpg .

    now, i dont know much about connections for TVs, but how come there are 4 ports here?

    im reading the manual for my tv and it says there is a y, a pb, and a pr port. what is the 4th port for? what does it connect to?

    and im guessing i have to buy separate rca cables for each of thge 4 connections?
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  10. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    The kit from Dell will come with that adapter and the cables. The colored ones carry the video and the black carries the digital audio if your TV has a SPDIF input.
     
    atbnet, May 23, 2008
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  11. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    so im suppose to connect the black cable to my audio reciever? my audio reciever has only the L and R audio ports.

    where does the black cable go exactly? im asking this while staring at the manual... i dont see where that black cable would go, hmm..
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
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  12. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    If you don't have SPDIF in, then the black cable will go unused. You will need to use the 3.5 mm audio to RCA (red/white) adapter to send the audio to your TV.
     
    atbnet, May 23, 2008
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  13. Recipe7

    Recipe7 Notebook Guru

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    atbnet, im gona message you on aim, ive got so many questions, hehe
     
    Recipe7, May 23, 2008
    #13