MacBook (2008) doesn't recognize Acer K11 projector over HDMI

Question

MacBook (2008) doesn't recognize Acer K11 projector over HDMI

I just bought an Acer K11 mini projector. Tried to hook it up with my MacBook (white, 2008) over a Mini DVI to DVI adapter and a DVI to HDMI cable (HDMI goes into the projector), but the projector doesn't recognize a signal. The same cable/MacBook combination is working fine with my LCD-TV. So I guess the cables are okay.
When I connect the projector over VGA (Mini DVI to VGA adapter and the VGA to VGA cable, which came with the projector), everything is working fine. So this means, the MacBook generally recognizes the Acer K11.

My guess was, that the projectors HDMI port must have some problem. So I tried to hook up my second Mac, a MacBook Pro (2009), using a Mini Display Port to DVI adapter and the same DVI to HDMI cable I used with the MacBook. And I couldn't believe, this worked like a charm.

So, fact is, the Acer K11's HDMI port doesn't talk to the MacBook or vice versa. But TV's HDMI port does. And Acer K11's HDMI port DOES talk to the MacBook Pro.
(BTW, both Macs have Mac OS 10.6.4 installed.)

Of course I'm familiar with the displays preference pane and tried all the settings.

Does anyone have an explanation for that behaviour? Or even better, a solution to make it work?

Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 9, 2010 2:42 PM

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Answer 1

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Sep 9, 2010 8:04 PM in response to scheibenreiter

have you tried changing the resolution being sent to the mini projector?
http://www.madrau.com/indexSRX4.html will let you add new resolutions if need be.

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Answer 2

Sep 10, 2010 2:29 AM in response to TeenTitan

I tried all the possible resolutions, the display preference pane allowed me to.
I will check out SwitchResX. Thank you for the link!

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Answer 3

Sep 10, 2010 4:05 AM in response to TeenTitan

I tried SwitchResX now. Holy moly, this tool should have a big warning sign on it! I added the new resolution of 858x600px since the projector states this is his native resolution. I was not sure what to add for the frequency, so I typed in 50. I hooked up the projector, but still no signal. So I switched the resolution of the MacBook's display to 858x600, hoping this might make display synchronisation possible. What happend is, the display turned black and I had no possibility to go back. I did a restart, but as soon as the system was up, the screen turned black again.
Lucky me I had a bootable back-up, from where I could trash SwitchResX and all the settings on the internal harddisk. No blame on SwitchResX. It seems to be a handy tool, as long as you really KNOW what you do.

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Answer 4

Sep 14, 2010 3:46 AM in response to scheibenreiter

Problem solved!

Instead of using the chain Mini DVI to DVI adapter (from Apple) and a DVI to HDMI cable I bought a Mini DVI to HDMI adapter (from LMP) and a regular HDMI cable. Works perfect now!

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Answer 5

Nov 2, 2010 2:19 PM in response to scheibenreiter

Glad you solved your problem. On a slightly unrelated note, what do you think of the Acer K11?

I am thinking of getting one to watch movies and maybe do some browsing from my Mac Mini (as I currently do from my 40" inch TV. Do you think it's usable at all by day?

I am not a FULLHD home cinema maniac but just wondering if the light is good enought to be used in semi-dark.

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