Laptop VGA Out to CRT TV via Scart Possible?

Speed · 31 Jul 2010 at 17:08

Hi Guys,

I have a friend who wants to use their laptop (which only has a VGA out) to play video on their CRT Tv. So I purchased a VGA to TV converter S-Video/RCA composite Cable to be used in addition to a SCART converter. The VGA connector is basically a VGA connector with both an S-Video and RCA Composite connectors and I can't get it to work with my Laptop that also has VGA out.

I've tried it on two TVs, CRT and a Plasma, all I get it scrambled images with high speed flickering. I've tried a SCART converter I have, S-Video cables etc with no real joy. The only way I got it to work was just to use a straight VGA to VGA cable to my Plasmas VGA PC port, which at least proves it works. But this isn't any good as all I know this TV has is SCART and maybe S-Video.

I was going to buy a direct VGA to SCART cable, but a lot of them appear to be for DVD or Projectors rather than PC. Most actually state they won't do what I want.

So it is possible? Anyone doing it it? What cables are you using?

Thanks,

Mark

Sone · 31 Jul 2010 at 17:18

prety sure you can't. Used to be able to do it with CGA (9 pin). I assume if you want to do this you would need some kind of video scaler device.

Jez · 31 Jul 2010 at 17:45

You cant do this with a direct cable. You need a video converter.

Speed · 31 Jul 2010 at 17:57

Right ok, thanks guys. I'm assuming these converters are not cheap? £30-40?

Jez · 31 Jul 2010 at 18:02

That would be cheap, i wouldnt have thought you would get anything for that price unless its a chinese item off ebay. A quick google for "vga to tv" brings up a google shopping result for a Lindy device which would work at around 80 quid.

lucid · 31 Jul 2010 at 18:35

Jez said:
...A quick google for "vga to tv" brings up a google shopping result for a Lindy device which would work at around 80 quid.

...and that's pretty much the bottom of the heap, cheap as chips product... so in the grand scheme of things £80 should be considered the bottom budget figure.

There used to be quite a few laptops that could output a TV compatible signal from their VGA ports. The signal was 15kHz @ 60Hz refresh. That's what the cheap cable you have is for. The PC does the work, the cable just handles the physical connection. The feature is less common now that LCD and Plasma screens are more the norm. They take a standard PC signal. Anyway, have a look at what the graphics chip in the laptop can do. If need be, go check the manufacturer's web site for more info.