Connect Macbook to TV- How

[i-sidd]

As the title says, I have a bunch of TV shows from my country that are not available here on US cable, So I have to watch them on the internet, I was wondering I I can connect my Macbook to my tv (Standard definition Philiphs 21") and watch the videos on the tv instead of the Macbook.

Please if someone can tell me how to do it and what will I need to do this.

[CrzyCanuck72]

it depends what inputs your TV has...

if all it has is standard RCA (red/yellow/white) or S-Video inputs, you just need a Mini-DVI to Video adapter from Apple. Then you need a RCA-minijack adapter for the audio. Then you need a male-male RCA cable.

these are what you need:

http://www.synaptech.com/catalog/images/922-5930.gif
http://www.robertschofieldaudio.co.uk/images/products/minijackadaptor.jpg
http://www.dgkale.com/UploadFiles/200819112625987.jpg

[SFStateStudent]

I've used the mini-DVI to VGA adapter (costs about $20) and connect to my Sony Bravia 40" and even classroom projectors for movies, keynote, powerpoint, just about anything on the big screen really. Go to Displays and check the box for Mirrored Displays, and you should be good to go. Also, plug in some speakers to the MB, since the sound is coming from the MB and not the television. Enjoy. :cool:

[zoinkers]

Okay, I have a slight problem/confusing with the adapters. I got the Mini-DVI to Video Adapter:
http://www.synaptech.com/catalog/images/922-5930.gif

and I also got an adapter that looks like this:

http://images.marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/hi/61/61482/pothsvdoaud3_acc_l.jpghttp://images.marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/hi/61/61482/POTHSVDOAUD3_2_acc_L.jpg
It has a 3.5mm Male Audio Connector along with a 4-Pin Male S-Video Connector. I read that the Mini-DVI uses a 3.5mm Male connector, which I learned from:
http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:Uhtl9F5GAcsJ:store.apple.com/us/reviews/M9319G/A%3Frs%3DmostUseful+apple+mini+dvi+rca+3.5mm&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
(I supplied the cached link to make it easier to see what I was looking at)

The connector, however, doesn't fit into the Mini-DVI. I thought it was the wrong size, so I tried putting it into my macbook and ipod headphone jacks. It fit perfectly, so that means the connector is indeed 3.5mm.

The Mini-DVI is able to connect to a male-male RCA connector, which I used to see if the Mini-DVI's size was weird.

I am really confused right now and really can't understand what is going on. If I can't get the RCA adapter to work, I'm guessing I'm stuck with a picture on the TV with sound coming out of my macbook.

Also, I looked up the RCA-minijack adapter size. It is also 3.5mm and I'm not even sure if the sizes go any lower. So what is going on??

Any help would be awesome!! And thanks to any advice!!!

[zoinkers]

Oh, and also I tried connecting the S-Video to the Mini-DVI and the 3.5mm connector to my macbook's headphone jack, but no sound came out of the TV. Is it even able to work that way?

[NewMacbookPlz]

Oh, and also I tried connecting the S-Video to the Mini-DVI and the 3.5mm connector to my macbook's headphone jack, but no sound came out of the TV. Is it even able to work that way?

The 3.5mm jack then has to be plugged into the TV on the other end via the red/white RCA cables to the audio-in plugs on the same "input" as the s-video (video 1, 2, etc)

[zoinkers]

Yeah...I had that all connected...

[Chris Rogers]

you can get the DVI/HDMI adapter and connect via HDMI to TV

That's what I do

(assuming you have the HDMI in/out on TV)

I don't think sound is transported from the DVI - I usually have to connect to my surround sound or have sound coming right from my MacBook.

That's why I'm looking into Apple TV

[zoinkers]

you can get the DVI/HDMI adapter and connect via HDMI to TV

That's what I do

(assuming you have the HDMI in/out on TV)


That would require me to buy another adapter and then more pieces...

I just don't understand how it is that other people use these connections and have had success...plus my tv only has rca connections.

[Chris Rogers]

Have you considered Apple TV? eBay or something

[zoinkers]

Have you considered Apple TV? eBay or something

i don't really want to purchase a brand new tv when i already have a working one...i mean...this is just a matter of finding the right connections. and there has to be a way otherwise why would apple sell this adapter and how have other people done this?

[mrmayor92]

.

[Chris Rogers]

i don't really want to purchase a brand new tv when i already have a working one...i mean...this is just a matter of finding the right connections. and there has to be a way otherwise why would apple sell this adapter and how have other people done this?

No, Apple TV is a peripherral (spelled correctly? no spell check on iPhone) that connects to your tv just like a DVD player or VCR would. It's not an actual TV check out apple's online store. It's awesome, I'm picking one up for the holidays. eBay had them for between 150-200 for 40GB plus 25% off through live.com

[Beric]

If I just want to run a slide show from my Macbook to television, what do I need?

[freeloader]

i don't really want to purchase a brand new tv when i already have a working one...i mean...this is just a matter of finding the right connections. and there has to be a way otherwise why would apple sell this adapter and how have other people done this?


I had problems with the sound when i was connecting my MacBook to the my T.V, which is a Philips 42".

I used: Mini DVI>DVI adapter; DVI > HDMI that was for the display connection
For sound i just used a Jack 3.55m > Jack 3.55

If your display works fine and the only problem is with the sound, just get the Jack to Jack cable and I'm pretty sure it'll work cos I had the same problem, where the display worked but not the sound and after buying the different types of cable all I needed was the Jack adapter!

I hope i helped :)

[zoinkers]

I had problems with the sound when i was connecting my MacBook to the my T.V, which is a Philips 42".

I used: Mini DVI>DVI adapter; DVI > HDMI that was for the display connection
For sound i just used a Jack 3.55m > Jack 3.55

If your display works fine and the only problem is with the sound, just get the Jack to Jack cable and I'm pretty sure it'll work cos I had the same problem, where the display worked but not the sound and after buying the different types of cable all I needed was the Jack adapter!

I hope i helped :)

Okay, I tried that and it worked! Thanks so much!

[freeloader]

Okay, I tried that and it worked! Thanks so much!

Your Welcome!

[alloqba]

Please take a look here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=292175 for further questions/answers.

Thanks :)

[jsalazar2007tx]

Okay i have a ten year old Sony Trinitron TV. I am trying to connect my Macbook witch has a mini Dvi port to my TV that only has the S-video and RCA inputs. I have the DVi to VGA adapter and a VGA to S-video/RCA adapter. when i plug everything in i get nothing on the tv and my computer does not seem to detect the Tv What do i do? i have been looking and cant seem to find a answer. Anyone?:confused:

[NewMacbookPlz]

Okay i have a ten year old Sony Trinitron TV. I am trying to connect my Macbook witch has a mini Dvi port to my TV that only has the S-video and RCA inputs. I have the DVi to VGA adapter and a VGA to S-video/RCA adapter. when i plug everything in i get nothing on the tv and my computer does not seem to detect the Tv What do i do? i have been looking and cant seem to find a answer. Anyone?:confused:

We've answered your issue in the thread you made: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=780989 . You cannot use the adapters the way you did, you need the adapter shown above.

[Buskape]

No, Apple TV is a peripherral (spelled correctly? no spell check on iPhone) that connects to your tv just like a DVD player or VCR would. It's not an actual TV check out apple's online store. It's awesome, I'm picking one up for the holidays. eBay had them for between 150-200 for 40GB plus 25% off through live.com

Useless junk, op just needs a simple cable and he can do waaaay more with his macbook then an expensive Apple TV. :rolleyes:

[GBO]

How do i connect my mac book pro to tv that has s video, rgb connection or the red, white yellow rca connections

[Scottrinka]

I have a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to connect it to a flatscreen TV. I'm using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and an HDMI cord to connect to the TV. I connected the cord to the TV and MacBook Pro, turned the TV on first, made sure it was displaying the HDMI port I had plugged my cord into, and then turned on the MacBook Pro. At first I see a blue screen on the TV and my MacBookPro, then on the TV I see what looks like an outerspace graphic, but it is not my MacBookPro screen.

Any ideas on why I'm not seeing my MacBookPro screen?

Update: I solved my screen issue. By using the Mirror Display option I'm now able to see my MacBook Pro screen on my TV, but I only get audio through my laptop. I thought the HDMI would allow the output to come from the TV. How do I get the audio to play from the TV. I also tried using an audio cable from my laptop to the TV, with no luck. Can anyone help me?

[moka]

I have a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to connect it to a flatscreen TV. I'm using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and an HDMI cord to connect to the TV. I connected the cord to the TV and MacBook Pro, turned the TV on first, made sure it was displaying the HDMI port I had plugged my cord into, and then turned on the MacBook Pro. At first I see a blue screen on the TV and my MacBookPro, then on the TV I see what looks like an outerspace graphic, but it is not my MacBookPro screen.

Any ideas on why I'm not seeing my MacBookPro screen?

Update: I solved my screen issue. By using the Mirror Display option I'm now able to see my MacBook Pro screen on my TV, but I only get audio through my laptop. I thought the HDMI would allow the output to come from the TV. How do I get the audio to play from the TV. I also tried using an audio cable from my laptop to the TV, with no luck. Can anyone help me?

if your macbook pro was purchased before april 2010 you will need to run the audio through the audio jack, or get a Mini Displayport Male and USB Male Audio to HDMI Female Converting Adapter (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2). The mini display port does not support audio on older macbook pros, it only supports audio on the new mid 2010 macbook pros.

[SupremeTeam]

I had problems with the sound when i was connecting my MacBook to the my T.V, which is a Philips 42".

I used: Mini DVI>DVI adapter; DVI > HDMI that was for the display connection
For sound i just used a Jack 3.55m > Jack 3.55

If your display works fine and the only problem is with the sound, just get the Jack to Jack cable and I'm pretty sure it'll work cos I had the same problem, where the display worked but not the sound and after buying the different types of cable all I needed was the Jack adapter!

I hope i helped :)

this is is the best way to go!

[Jorn R Jensen]

I hope somebody can help me make this work.

I have connected my MacBook6.1 to my LG LCD TV using a RGB cable (recommended by and bought at the local Mac dealer).

The connection works - there are colours on the screen instead of "No signal", and sometimes the curser moves from the MacBook screen to the television screens.

I receive Danish television programmes (from a Slingbox in Denmark) perfectly well on the MacBook screen, but that's were they stop - no pictures, no sounds on the television.

What did I miss? Best, Jorn R Jensen

[TheZA]

I hope somebody can help me make this work.

I have connected my MacBook6.1 to my LG LCD TV using a RGB cable (recommended by and bought at the local Mac dealer).

The connection works - there are colours on the screen instead of "No signal", and sometimes the curser moves from the MacBook screen to the television screens.

I receive Danish television programmes (from a Slingbox in Denmark) perfectly well on the MacBook screen, but that's were they stop - no pictures, no sounds on the television.

What did I miss? Best, Jorn R Jensen

You likely have the TV set up as an extension of the monitor rather than a mirror of the monitor. That is why you can sometimes see the cursor if you drag it all the way to one side. Setting up the TV as a mirror is one of the preferences in the monitor under system preferences.

For sound, you do realize that the RGB form the video port doesn't carry audio? You will need a cable from the sound jack on the Macbook to the corresponding audio inputs that are paired with the RGB video input on your TV. I'm thinking you are going to need a mini (3.5 mm) to two RCA audio cable.

I would recommend all cables from Monoprice.com.

[june.hayhurst]

I am also trying to connect a Macbook to LG flatscreen TV/Monitor via a DVI Cable but cannot get a picture on the TV. I want to watch bbc iplayer. Where do I find Mirror Display?
Would appreciate some help. Thank you June



I have a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to connect it to a flatscreen TV. I'm using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and an HDMI cord to connect to the TV. I connected the cord to the TV and MacBook Pro, turned the TV on first, made sure it was displaying the HDMI port I had plugged my cord into, and then turned on the MacBook Pro. At first I see a blue screen on the TV and my MacBookPro, then on the TV I see what looks like an outerspace graphic, but it is not my MacBookPro screen.

Any ideas on why I'm not seeing my MacBookPro screen?

Update: I solved my screen issue. By using the Mirror Display option I'm now able to see my MacBook Pro screen on my TV, but I only get audio through my laptop. I thought the HDMI would allow the output to come from the TV. How do I get the audio to play from the TV. I also tried using an audio cable from my laptop to the TV, with no luck. Can anyone help me?

[Loonitunes]

Hi

I know answering this may mean going round in circles but could pls spell it out for me as I'm new to all this - as to how and which cable I need to connect my Macbook (10.4.11 version) which has a Mini-DVI port to my new Samsung TV which has
HDMI
VGA (15pin D-Sub)
ports

I thought a DVI to HDMI cable would do BUT I could be sooo wrong!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

[arsonking]

I have a Macbook and all i want is to hook it up to my TV. I had a bad experience already where i bought some cable but the didn't work. I was unaware that the apple cable was DVI-D and the other was DVI-I. I thought it was all the same. So now im right where i started with money spent. Is there a definitive Apple computer to Tv walk-trough if not what do people suggest (people with real know how, that can talk from a place of authority). I have an older Tv with no HDMI its Component,S-Video or composite. What to do???!!!???


What i tried and failed with

-Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
-DVI-I to 3 RCA Component Cable

-----------------------------------------
My Mb specs
OSX10.5.8
2.13 GHz intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 800 MHz DDR2
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Pre 2009

[MacRumorsuser20]

I was told to buy a Minidisplay Port to HDMI Adapter and hook it up to a HDMI cable and plug it in the back of T.V.
Got it. Now I am running Lion so what I see in the tv monitor is the secondary desktop. How do I switch to primary monitor?

[Phyguy]

I was told to buy a Minidisplay Port to HDMI Adapter and hook it up to a HDMI cable and plug it in the back of T.V.
Got it. Now I am running Lion so what I see in the tv monitor is the secondary desktop. How do I switch to primary monitor?

Try this: go to Mission Control (four finger swipe up on the trackpad) and drag the window you want to see to the 2nd desktop. All of your desktops will appear at the top of the screen. You can easily drag applications from one desktop to another.