Why doesn't it work?

[Ben M]

Why can I not simply connect my laptop to my TV to watch films on my TV by using the vga output of my laptop, and the component input on my TV?

I have a vga - component cable, which I tried connecting to two TVs, both straight into component sockets, and through a component>scart adaptor.

Both TVs received no signal from the video input, and just buzzed from the audio inputs.

Can someone explain? What else do I need? They are analogue TVs, so there's no dvi/hdmi input.

 

[d_brennen]

Does your laptop have a key combo you need to press to send video to an external monitor? It is usually the "fn" key and one of the function keys along the top of the keyboard

 

[PhillyDee]

My laptop is the same. Inspiron 6400. The TV seems to know theres something there, but the PC refuses to let it display anything. Tried different drivers etc, but nothing works. It always just refuses. So I gave up in the end!

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Are the cables in a known "good" condition?

I'd avoid the latter example, as it's probably due to the adapters you're using causing problems. e.g. VGA > Component > Scart

 

[Caged]

Because VGA and component aren't the same signals. You'd need to output a component signal through the VGA port on your laptop, which to my knowledge, none can do.

 

[Ben M]

Does your laptop have a key combo you need to press to send video to an external monitor? It is usually the "fn" key and one of the function keys along the top of the keyboard

When connecting via hdmi to a TV/monitor this doesn't need to be done =\

Because VGA and component aren't the same signals. You'd need to output a component signal through the VGA port on your laptop, which to my knowledge, none can do.

What is the point in the cable which I bought then? Stupid thing.

My laptop is the same. Inspiron 6400. The TV seems to know theres something there, but the PC refuses to let it display anything. Tried different drivers etc, but nothing works. It always just refuses. So I gave up in the end!

The laptop (an inspiron as it happens) sees the "secondary monitor" and displays it as the correct resolution, and the mose dissapears off the side of the laptop screen when moved towards the TV, but the TV is just blank/ fuzzy.

Are the cables in a known "good" condition?

it's brand new.

 

[Caged]

What is the point in the cable which I bought then? Stupid thing.

It's for devices that can output/input component signals over VGA connections. A lot of projectors, for example.

 

[d_brennen]

When connecting via hdmi to a TV/monitor this doesn't need to be done =\

Brill but I think he's asking about VGA out rather than HDMI. He says that his TVs have no HDMI...

Only thing I can think of is screen resolution. Is your laptop asking too much of your TV? What is the native res of the laptop and what do your TVs display?

 

[Ben M]

Brill but I think he's asking about VGA out rather than HDMI. He says that his TVs have no HDMI...

Only thing I can think of is screen resolution. Is your laptop asking too much of your TV? What is the native res of the laptop and what do your TVs display?

The laptop is 1280*800, but can output any res, it beings up the correct res of the TV.

I think that "Caged" is correct, and it's the wrong signal altogether =(

 

[xxalxx]

What is the make and model of your tv ?

 

[Deadude]

when you say component do you mean Red green and blue or composite yellow white and red? because component wont go into scart well it would but you would only get b/w

 

[ugly ferret]

Caged IS correct. There's no need to keep on speculating as to what the problem is, whether it be cable quality or resolutions.

If you want an explanation, there's a difference between types of cables/connectors and types of signals. Component (YPbPr) is a signal, and both output and input devices must be compatible. This signal usually travels through a triple coaxial RCA cable, often referred to as a component cable. The VGA signals are called RGBHV and are not at all compatible with YPbPr, and they usually travel through VGA cables which are very high bandwidth and can also carry componet signals. However a traditional component cable won't be able to carry a RGBHV signal, you'll need another two coaxial cables to carry the H+V part of the signal. So you'll never be able to send a VGA signal from your PC to a component input. Unfortunately the graphics chip in your laptop won't be able to output a component signal. It is also likely that the VGA input on your TV can't accept a component signal, though there a few that can.

The VGA to component cable you have is a highly specialised cable for the few that have VGA inputs that can accept component signals, as someone mentioned earlier many projectors have this, as well as some TV's.

So basically it won't work, sell the cable and stop trying! Sorry.

 

[Corasik]

VGA -> Scart is possible though, as scart includes an RGB mode, which is more or less comparible with the VGA output. However there is a catch, you have to be able to configure the graphics card to output at Pal's native resolution, and 50hz interlaced otherwise it doesnt work. So while its possible in theory, in practice even that doesnt normally work out.

What you'll need really is some kind of convertor that takes a vga signal, and outputs the result as pal/scart/rgb. That would work, although it still wont be the greatest resolution. (720x576 normally)