No Signal To Projector

iKettles · 6 Mar 2011 at 21:52

I've acquired an old projector - CTX EzPro 550.
It only has a component input on the projector so I bought a VGA - RCA adapter and then some coaxial cable to hook up the video channel to the projector.
The projector works fine on a DVD player with a yellow video input but I can't seem to get it to pick up signal from the computer.
I already have 2 monitors and even when just hooking up the projector on its own it still has no signal. There is a source button on the remote but the menu's inaccessible unless you've got an input and even then it can't be changed.
I'm led to believe from reading around that I need to force detection on the projector? I have an HD4870 1GB and in catalyst control centre I've forced detect TV but again can't seem to be able to get it to recognise the projector.
Not really sure where to go from here, I'm positive it isn't a cabling problem as they've been tested so I guess it needs to be configured. Any help would be appreciated

lucid · 6 Mar 2011 at 22:12

Are you sure your graphics card is giving you a component output? And are you sure that the projector can take a component input at a resolution better that 576i, and if so is it limited to 576p?

Scrap the above - It looks like there is no component input on the EzPro 550 (manual link here).

Your best bet is to hook up with a VGA to VGA cable and drive the projector at its native resolution - 800x600. Try a 1:2 VGA splitter/distribution amp to share one output between the monitor and the projector

iKettles · 6 Mar 2011 at 22:29

It's not a component output it's a VGA port with a VGA - component adapter. I'm not really sure on the projector, it came with no manual or any information about it and it's been discontinued by it's manufacturer. These are the specs -
http://www.aboutprojectors.com/CTX-Technology-EzPro-550-projector.html

lucid · 6 Mar 2011 at 22:32

iKettles said:
It's not a component output it's a VGA port with a VGA - component adapter. I'm not really sure on the projector, it came with no manual or any information about it and it's been discontinued by it's manufacturer. These are the specs -
http://www.aboutprojectors.com/CTX-Technology-EzPro-550-projector.html

User manual link on that page you linked to!!

iKettles · 6 Mar 2011 at 22:56

lucid said:
User manual link on that page you linked to!!

Well spotted, I've had a read through and none of it's really relevant to my hardware as instead of using the black RGB cable port I'm use the component port.

lucid · 6 Mar 2011 at 23:12

Is the component port on your projector shown in the manual?

iKettles · 6 Mar 2011 at 23:30

Yep, the component port works fine on a DVD player just doesn't get signal from the PC.

lucid · 6 Mar 2011 at 23:45

iKettles said:
Yep, the component port works fine on a DVD player just doesn't get signal from the PC.

That's not component. It's composite (yellow). The manual shows that the EzPro doesn't have a component input.

The cable you got going VGA to RCA looks something like this then I guess? (it may not be exactly the same but has a yellow RCA end)

That's composite video - same as the DVD player yellow connection. The cable doesn't make any conversion. That's really an important bit of info. All it does is give you a convenient connection point for those VGA cards that can be switched to output composite video via the VGA port.

If your VGA card can do this then once you have the right options selected then the signal will get to the projector.

TBH, the quality of composite video from a VGA port is only good enough for watching videos. Even then your DVD player may look a bit better.

I'd still go with a VGA feed from the PC direct to the VGA port on the projector. A cheaper alternative to a VGA distribution amp is a VGA switch. I don't think OCUK list anything... so have a look here at what you need, then scout about for pricing. LINK

iKettles · 7 Mar 2011 at 00:21

Yep, that's the exact converter I've got. The projector doesn't have a VGA port which is why I've chosen a composite connection. Thanks for the help

lucid · 7 Mar 2011 at 21:32

iKettles said:
Yep, that's the exact converter I've got. The projector doesn't have a VGA port which is why I've chosen a composite connection. Thanks for the help

Unless your particular example has been modified then the CTX EzPro 550 certainly does have a VGA port - but just not using the standard 15 pin VGA socket