Connecting a MacBook Pro to Philips HD TV

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Connecting a MacBook Pro to Philips HD TV

Hi,

I am trying to connect my MacBook Pro, late 2011, to my Philips 32" HD TV. I am trying to use the thunderbolt connction to connect to it's HD port. However when I click on "Detect Displays" the mac does nothing. I usually connect it to a smalled LG HD TV on my desk for a second monitor, and this works fine. I plug it in, click the "detect displays" and it does it's little thing of turning both screens a pale blue before starting the dual desktop view.

It doesn't even do the blue screen thing when I connect to my Philips TV and click "detect displays".

I have heard that apparently Apple and Philips TV have trouble talking to each other via HD, is this true? Sounds pretty bad if it is coming from two large technology companies! I've had a look in other forums and online etc, but haven't found a solution yet, perhaps I'm missing something?

If anyone can help me solve this problem I would be very grateful, as I don't watch TV and only want to use the TV to stream from my laptop, so it's a bit of waste if it doesn't work!

Thanks,

Martin.

P.S. I'm using a MacBook Pro, late 2011 version.

Posted on Jan 8, 2013 3:16 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 8, 2013 4:28 PM in response to Martin Banks

Connect the MBP to the HDMI to the TV, using a DVI to HDMI, (I ususally use HDMI 1)I just plug it in and it just shows up. If you have an isues go to system preferences> displays> click detect diplays. If there is an issue click gather windows, make sure mirror is clicked and you should be good to go. This post was done on a Philips, and it went fine. Click gather windows for audio. This was done on a 10.6.8, but have done it mant times on 10.7.5. If you have a problem post back and i will do what we need to help. All the best

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Answer 2

Martin Banks Author

Level 1

56 points

Jan 8, 2013 4:43 PM in response to sanjampet

This doens't help as I don't have a DVI on my MBP, just thunderbolt so I can't use a DVI to HDMI cable.

I spent 7 years working in video projections and live AV using macs to output to large festival screen and tvs etc and have never had a problem connecting with DVI or VGA with Macs before. Could it be the thunderbolt that's causing issues?

I am using 10.7.5, I don't know if information might help solve it at all?

Any other suggestions?

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Answer 3

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 8, 2013 4:48 PM in response to Martin Banks

The DVI and Thunderbolt works in the same way, I have 30= YEARS IN PRO AUDIO/AV AS WELL, the reply was done on mt Philips. I have a very early call tomorrow, but will be more than willing to help if I can.

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Answer 4

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 8, 2013 5:14 PM in response to sanjampet

This works for me, I won't use MTN lion as is it is too unstable. But this has worked for me many times.

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Answer 5

Martin Banks Author

Level 1

56 points

Jan 8, 2013 5:41 PM in response to sanjampet

I not using Mountain Lion, OS 10.7.5 is Lion.

If you have any other suggestions tomorrow I would be very grateful.

It seems like it would be the Philips TV that is causing the problem as I have a smaller 20" LG TV that I link the MBP up to on my desk as a second monitor and it works fine, along with numerious projectors I have connected it to.

If anyone else has had a similar problem but found a fix I would love hear from you!

Thanks,

Martin.

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Answer 6

Martin Banks Author

Level 1

56 points

Jan 10, 2013 8:36 PM in response to Martin Banks

Does anyone from Apple know how to fix this?

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Answer 7

sdpitbull

Level 3

965 points

Jan 10, 2013 8:50 PM in response to Martin Banks

Apple does not monitor these boards.

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Answer 8

Martin Banks Author

Level 1

56 points

Jan 10, 2013 9:11 PM in response to sdpitbull

I guess it must be the Mac experts or "Genuiuses" or whatever they are called that I used to see posting in here in the past.

I woud love a solution to this problem.

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Answer 9

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 11, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Martin Banks

Martin,

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, the Apple site was down most of the day. I've included screen shots of my MBP 10.6..8/The Lion is exactly the same. I've had both Philips and mbp hot , used all 3 HDMI inputs and connected them and they work. You can try creating a standard account and try that, also you can try a pram reset. Connect the units, power them up, leave the Philips on and zap the pram on the MBP.

Pram reset: Power off MBP, power back up holding the following keys, option,command,P,R(no commas) continue to hold these keys)before the start chime) till you hear the start chime 2 times then release.

Reboot all of it.

Hope this helps.

Also maybe the adapter or cable is not happy.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219

Other than the above, I just don't know, as my MBP's work fine, video/audio.

Maybe a hardware issue?

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Answer 10

GlynRB

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2013 2:28 PM in response to Martin Banks

Hi Guys,

I've totally failed to get to the first base here. When I connect my MBP to the Philips TV this is what I see:

I don't see the Arrangement tab, and the system doesn't detect the TV - How do I get the Arrangement tab to show? There's no Gather Displays and pressing Alt and clicking on Detect Displays does absolutely nothing. I'm running OS X 10.8.2 (12C60). Any ideas?

thanks,

Glyn

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