Bruce A

Q: non-VGA TV - how to connect?

Good evening.

 

I'd like to be able to use a non-VGA capable TV as a screen for a slideshow from my G4 PowerBook.

 

What options do I have?

 

Thanks for my time.

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G4 1.67 mHz 15" A1138 aluminum

Posted on Sep 11, 2015 6:45 PM

Close

Q: non-VGA TV - how to connect?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Sep 11, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Bruce A
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Bruce A

    Hi,

     

    Does the TV have HDMI, and/or other ports (if necessary, please post the exact TV make and model)?

     

    If HDMI, there are adapters/converters from VGA. A device that does not require special drivers could possibly be worth testing (together with the adapter already needed for VGA).

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 11, 2015 9:10 PM in response to Bruce A
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 11, 2015 9:10 PM in response to Bruce A

    Non VGA doesn't tell us what it is, only what it is not.

     

    What type of connector does it use, MDP, DVI, something else?

  • by Bruce A,

    Bruce A Bruce A Sep 12, 2015 7:01 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 3 (689 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 12, 2015 7:01 AM in response to Bruce A

    Thanks for your reply.

     

    It's a recent Sony KDL - 40R380B that came along with minimal inputs:  only HDMI, component, composite, and USB.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 12, 2015 7:15 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2015 7:15 AM in response to Bruce A

    OK, you can't use the USB, it's not a video input, and as the max resolution of this TV set is only 1080 the quality is not going to be great. Composite or component are your only options that will work.

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Sep 12, 2015 7:25 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Sep 12, 2015 7:25 AM in response to Bruce A

    There are several options available. To begin with, you may want to take a look at the Sony support article https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/42805/c/65,66/prods/KDL40R380B / for an overview.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 12, 2015 7:27 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2015 7:27 AM in response to Bruce A

    Use an Apple TV, plugged into the HDMI input

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Sep 12, 2015 8:33 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 5 (7,966 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 12, 2015 8:33 AM in response to Bruce A

    You need to convert from VGA to Composite (I have seen a 'tail' length cable, reasonably priced)  Click > HERE

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Sep 13, 2015 9:03 AM in response to Bruce A
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 9:03 AM in response to Bruce A

    The manual at https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA573/en_US/PowerBookG4_15inch1.67-1.5G HzUserGuide.pdf appears to describe your PowerBook. The available ports for the connection of an external monitor or TV are shown on page 8 (DVI and S-video out). At least according to the text on page 45, a DVI-to-VGA adapter and an S-video-to-composite adapter came with the computer.

     

    The specifications for the TV are at https://docs.sony.com/release/specs/KDL40R380B_mksp.pdf.

     

    The best way would probably have been to establish a direct connection from the DVI port of the computer to an HDMI (PC input) port on the TV, providing that an appropriate DVI-to-HDMI cable or adapter could be found. However, the existence of various DVI variants complicate matters (see also the note about DVI-to-HDMI cables or converters in the aforementioned Sony support article).

     

    Otherwise, as indicated earlier, one could possibly use an existing DVI-to-VGA adapter, combined with a new VGA-to-HDMI converter (maybe something similar to the device at http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/VGA-to-HDMI-Adaptor/Pr384705000), for a connection to HDMI on the TV.

     

    Alternatively, you should be able to directly use an existing S-video-to-composite adapter for a connection to the composite video input on the TV.

     

    You may have to carry out a few experiments in order to find a suitable solution. Good luck!

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 13, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 13, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

    What about the sound? DVI (and VGA) do not carry audio. S-Video is probably the best choice for Video, that still will need a solution for Audio though.

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Sep 13, 2015 10:13 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 5 (7,966 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 13, 2015 10:13 AM in response to Csound1

    Old school? headphone/line out jack?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 13, 2015 10:15 AM in response to ChitlinsCC
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 13, 2015 10:15 AM in response to ChitlinsCC

    That will depend on the TV, not the Mac. If there is an audio input that can be selected simultaneously with a useable Video input or not.

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Sep 13, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Csound1

    If sound is needed, you could use a separate cable connection for audio. See, for example, the aforementioned Sony support document in fine.

     

    See also, as an example of another method, the VGA-to-HDMI device (link above).

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 13, 2015 10:27 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 9 (50,953 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 13, 2015 10:27 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

    There is no audio over VGA, so how would that work?

     

    As I said before it depends on whether the TV has an audio input that can be active at the same time as a separate video input (that the Mac can use). Don't simplify this too much, you're leaving bits out.

     

    If the TV can not combine inputs then a separate audio system will have to be used.

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Sep 13, 2015 2:48 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 2:48 PM in response to Csound1

    Csound1,

     

    >There is no audio over VGA, so how would that work?

     

    The VGA-to-HDMI converter (link above) has a separate audio input. There are similar devices with audio capabilities from other sources (for example, http://www.aten.com/doc_data/pdf_dm/vc180_converter_ss_en.pdf). These converters may or may not work together with the DVI-to-VGA adapter mentioned in the PowerBook manual, and they may or may not work with the HDMI input of this very TV.

     

    >As I said before it depends on whether the TV has an audio input that can be active at the same time as a separate video input (that the Mac can use).

     

    That should not be too difficult to determine (a good start could be to read the technical specifications and the user manual for the TV in question).

     

    >Don't simplify this too much, you're leaving bits out.

     

    It is not that complicated. We do not even know whether sound through the TV is needed in this case. My intention has been to provide ideas/options, not necessarily a ready-to-use pre-packaged solution. As I said, a few experiments may have to be carried out.

Page 1 Next