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Tv Out won't work

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by estreetjerseygirl

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Hi! We have a Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop, which came with a TV-Out adapter. It's an S-Video/RCA adapter; has the S-Video jack on one end, that plugs into the laptop (it looks like a PS/2 mouse port), and 2 female RCA jacks on the other end. We tried hooking it up to a TV with a male/male RCA cable, but are unable to get movies to display on the TV (there are no problems with the RCA cable). We're trying to watch .mpg files; is this the problem? Will the TV-Out only work with certain formats, such as DVDs?

14 replies

by oz_media

When runnign from S-Video to an RCA adapter, 99% of te time you will need to be running into an RF modulator (about $25.00) before the TV.

This is generally a DVD issue but also for basic connection issues.

Older TV's and VCR's have a copyright system called Macrovision that will not allow S-Video RCA connection (an old attempt to stop copying).

If this is just to get stuff to play on your home TV and you have NO S-Video input, you will need the modulator (cheap and found at any TV store).

Another thing that raises an eyebrow, yuo mention it is S-Video into TWO RCA's? You only have ONE Video input on the TV or VCR, what's the othre one hooked up to?

Here's what you need:

S-Video cable.
SINGLE S-Video to Male RCA adapter

The RCA adapter connects to the Yellow VIDEO input on the TV/VCR/RF Modulator

S-Video ONLY carries video, NOT sound, only ONE connection between S-Video and the Yellow input is needed.

Now the red and white RCA's are you left and right sound.

You will need either RCS sound outputs on th ecomputer or an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter.

It will have two female RCA's (to connect to the stereo or TV) and the other end will have a small phono plug for the speaker output on the computer.

DON'T buy cheap RCA's or adpaters, use gold plated connectors to resist corrosion.

Video

(COMPUTER)-->S-Video---->RCA----->TV/VCR/RF Modulator

Audio

(Computer)------Left/right audio inputs on Stereo or TV.

by oz_media

If my instucs are confusing (as they now seem to me)I will happily draw out a diagram and email it to you.

by oz_media

Let's see if I have this right.

Your laptop has THREE output plugs on it, Red, White and Yellow. These are the old style S-Video connections with RCA connectors.

OR I think you said it looks like a PS2 connection, which is the S-Video OUT. NO Audio from here, just video OUT.

You should also have either TWO RCS outputs for audio (Red and White) if not, you will need to connect the mini-phono jack (headphone jack) on your laptop to the RCA stereo inputs on your TV or VCR.

This is done by using a mini-phono to femail RCA adapter then running a standard left/right (Red and White) RCA cord into your TV, Stereo or VCR.

Do you get a scrambled, black and white picture or no picture at all?

I have seen this issue MANY times so there are several solutions depending on what outputs you have, what you are trying to watch and where the cords go, TV, VCR or RF Modulator.

The RF Modulator is by far the easiest solution if you don't have the 'Yellow' female RCA for Video input on your TV.

If you can scan a quick drawing and send it to ozmedia@excite.com , I will be able to help more.

by cg it

umm in addition to Oz's instructions, you have to configure your computer to use the TV in lieu of the LCD panel. The computer will want to display graphics to the LCD unless you specify to use the TV in the display settings for the graphics card you have in the laptop.

by cg it

if your laptop has a NVidia card in it, go to the NView Display mode, [you might have a NVidia settings icon in you sys tray, you can use that] and change from a analog monitor to TV.

by estreetjerseygirl

Oy. I think this one qualifies for a "Captain Obvious" award. I'm amazed at both my husband and myself for not thinking of changing the display settings. We were watching movies from the PC on the TV all weekend! Thanx! :-)

by rcom

May be too simple of a solution but after you get connected hit the input button on the TV remote.

by estreetjerseygirl

We tried everything with that damn remote - tried the input, even tried switching to channels 3 and 4! None of that worked. All we get is the regular TV picture on the TV, and the movie plays on the laptop.

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