signal out of range

I just acquired a DVI to VGA & Component splitter and was all excited to try it out with my Samsung HDTV (no HDMI or VGA inputs). It seems like it wants to work, but the image is all distorted. So I disconnected and plugged my the same monitor I've been using for months and It goes black and says "Signal Out Of Range". After a couple of hours of tinkering, I discovered two things:
The old monitor works on startup but goes to black "SIGNAL OUT OF RANGE" at login
If I start the computer with the splitter and only the component hooked up to the TV and then attach the VGA to the splitter I'm able to use the old Monitor.

I don't have much tech experience but I figure it is a revolution problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
I just want things back to normal

Mac mini 1.83 GHz Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 6, 2007 1:04 AM

21 replies

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Mar 6, 2007 1:38 PM in response to col. cabbage

col. cabbage, there is no Macintosh made that can output component video so I am sure of that being the problem. The only options to run a TV such as yours is from S-Video or Compostie Video.

col. cabbage Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2007 8:19 AM in response to BSteely

Well there you have it. Thanks BSteely. Where do I find such information?

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Mar 7, 2007 8:37 AM in response to BSteely

As a matter of curiosity, would an adapter such as http://sewelldirect.com/dvivideoadapter.asp not work to convert DVI output to component video?

col. cabbage Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2007 3:12 PM in response to AndyO

Very possibly. I just read somewhere that somebody used a converter to change Y Pb Pr signal to RGB to get a usable signal, but it had bright fluorescent tones. Where was that thread...?

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Mar 7, 2007 3:29 PM in response to AndyO

No, a simple adapter won't do the job. If you read the fine print it says "...HD display that uses RGB video." You will only get RGB out of this thing from a Mac. If your TV can be switched to have it's component input work from RGB (very few TVs have this, but some do) then you can use the adapter. Otherwise, no.

There are DVI and VGA to Componet video translator boxes, but these typically cost $100 or more. They have active electronics inside them so they are not simple adapters. They need to do an RGB to YUV color space translation which is why they have electronics inside.

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Mar 8, 2007 3:52 AM in response to BSteely

Ah, thank you, that explains a lot!

Sadly I can't give you a star, but that deserves one!

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signal out of range