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ACD as TV/Computer Monitor?

A

AlexGFX88

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 12, 2007
73
0
Hello,

I was wondering if I could use he ACD as a tv as well as a computer monitor? I see that it oly has a VGA(or DVI) thingy, but is there anyway to get an adapter so it will work with an analog cable line?(Coax cable, I think).

(I can also get component cables to work, just would need a cable box...)

Basically I want to set it up so my room only has one monitor... for both computer and TV and I'd like to use AppleTV as well...

I just confused myself o_O hope someone knows what I'm jibbring on about.

Thanks.
Alex
 
I'm relatively sure the ACD only has one DVI input. I think you can adapt that to a number of things, but unless you could find some sort of a switch or adapter: only one at a time.

Elgato makes some interesting Mac-compatable products.
 
Dell 2407WFP Have Video Inputs Your Cable Box Can Drive. EyeTV Hybrid

AlexGFX88 said:
Hello,

I was wondering if I could use he ACD as a tv as well as a computer monitor? I see that it oly has a VGA(or DVI) thingy, but is there anyway to get an adapter so it will work with an analog cable line?(Coax cable, I think).

(I can also get component cables to work, just would need a cable box...)

Basically I want to set it up so my room only has one monitor... for both computer and TV and I'd like to use AppleTV as well...

I just confused myself o_O hope someone knows what I'm jibbring on about.

Thanks.
Alex
Click to expand...
Do you already have an ACD? If not buy a Dell 2407WFP with video inputs you can drive from your cable box.

Can you get off air reception of digital broadcasts? If so, buy an EyeTV Hybrid analog/digital tuner that turns your Mac into a TV and a Tivo.

What Mac model are you driving your screen with?
 
Multimedia said:
Do you already have an ACD? If not buy a Dell 2407WFP with video inputs you can drive from your cable box.

Can you get off air reception of digital broadcasts? If so, buy an EyeTV Hybrid analog/digital tuner that turns your Mac into a TV and a Tivo.

What Mac model are you driving your screen with?
Click to expand...

MBP, and I'm not sure, how can I find out? (If it supports off air)

Cheers,
Alex
 
You Appear To Be 60 Miles From Knoxville TN & Winston-Salem NC Broadcast Towers

AlexGFX88 said:
No I do not.

I live in Bristol, TN.
Click to expand...
OK then the Dell 2407WFP is your solution. It has component, composite and S-Video inputs as well as VGA in addition to DVI. Yes 5 inputs. Here's the link to Dell 2407WFP on sale now for $674 page (10% off).

EyeTV Hybrid can be used with your MBP to also use your Dell 2407WFP as an HDTV and TIVO with the addition of a large external FW or USB2 drive from off air digital broadcasts.

Looks like Bristol is 60 miles away from Knoxville TN & Winston-Salem NC Broadcast towers. Are they high enough for you to get analog TV signals in the air? If so digital is there as well. Are you facing SOUTHWEST toward Knoxville or SouthEast toward Winston-Salem?
 
Multimedia said:
OK then the Dell 2407WFP is your solution. It has component, composite and S-Video inputs as well as VGA in addition to DVI. Yes 5 inputs. On sale now for about $675.

EyeTV Hybrid can be used with your MBP to also use your Dell 2407WFP as an HDTV and TIVO with the addition of a large external FW or USB2 drive from off air digital broadcasts.

Looks like Bristol is 60 miles away from Knoxville TN & Winston-Salem NC Broadcast towers. Are they high enough for you to get analog TV signals in the air? If so digital is there as well. Are you facing SOUTHWEST toward Knoxville or SouthEast toward Winston-Salem?
Click to expand...

I'm face towards knoxville, I usually go get all my stuff from the Apple Store in Knoxville
 
Google: "HDTV Reception Bristol TN" Alex

AlexGFX88 said:
No I have no antenna, it comes from the pole lines.
Click to expand...
Here's the link to the EyeTV Hybrid for $150. Here's the link for the Dell 2407WFP for only $674 on sale now.

You seem to be replying as if off air reception is impossible. Is that what you mean to say? It is not impossible as I was able to find out with a simple Google.

I googled "HDTV Reception Bristol TN" and found many links to help you understand your situation. For example:

From HDTVPub.com Reception Reports Forum said:
Search on Zip Code 37901
Exact Location:
City: Tellico Plains
ZipCode: 37385
County: Monroe
Just inside city limits
Terrain: Hilly, trees, located in valley.Poor reception area!
Antenna Model: Channel Master CM 3671 UHF/VHF
Ant. Location: Outside, next to home. 25 feet of mast height!
Ant. Information: No amplification
Tuner: Sony SATHD200
Installation: Self install
Comments: My area is a headache for UHF/VHF and FM reception!
I am located approximately 60 miles from the transmitters in Knoxville, TN., more or less in a valley surrounded by hills, trees, and some houses.
An outside antenna is a MUST for good reception of UHF/VHF/FM. My antenna cable has a splitter and runs to both my tv, and to 2 FM tuners with excellent results.
I tried 4 different brands of outside antenna before deciding on the Channel Master CM 3671 crossfire VHF/UHF combo antenna.
The others were 2 Radio Shacks including their biggest VU-190XR, their VU-90XR, UHF/VHF combos, and the AntennasDirect DB-8 UHF only antenna.
All worked good. The AntennasDirect DB-8 SLIGHTLY outperformed the Channel Master, but not by much!
But since it was UHF only, I could not receive WMAK channel 7.
The biggest Radio Shack was great, but I could not receive Channel 7 on it either.
The smaller Radio Shack was good as well. I could receive channel 7 with it, but I could not get channel 8 [WVLT-DT], or channel 15 [WKOP-HD] with it.
My mast has to be exactly 25 ft. long for optimum reception of all the channels. In other words, my antenna is located approximately 25 feet up from the ground. Any higher or lower and Channel 8 and channel 15 drop completely out!
An indoor antenna does absolutely NOTHING in my area.
I do not use a seperate box for local OTA HD broadcasts. My tv is a Sony KDS-36XS955 36" CRT tv, and has the digital HDTV tuner already built into it.

Receiving Other Stations Not Listed Above:
PBS [WKOP-HD]and [WKOP-SD] Channel 15. [17 on UHF]. Very, very, rare drop-out. Signal strength usually averages 62%. Must have 25 ft. of antenna mast height to receive it. [WMAK-HD] and [WMAK-SD] Ch 7 VHF.Usually excellent reception. Averages 84 to 88% signal strength. Still it very rarely drops out for some reason?
Click to expand...
Looks like you have digital in the air Alex. You need to do some reading from a Google like the one I did. EyeTV Hybrid with a Roof antennae or a flagpole type mast antennae like he describes should do the job.

TIP: Use this link to the Forum Spy page to know when anyone makes a post so you can follow any thread up to the second.
 
Multimedia said:
Here's the link to the EyeTV Hybrid for $150. Here's the link for the Dell 2407WFP for only $674 on sale now.

You seem to be replying as if off air reception is impossible. Is that what you mean to say? It is not impossible as I was able to find out with a simple Google.

I googled "HDTV Reception Bristol TN" and found many links to help you understand your situation. For example:

Looks like you have digital in the air Alex. You need to do some reading from a Google like the one I did. EyeTV Hybrid with a Roof antennae or a flagpole type mast antennae like he describes should do the job.

TIP: Use this link to the Forum Spy page to know when anyone makes a post so you can follow any thread up to the second.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't mean to come off as dumb :p

I have cable through Charter Communications, could I not go thorugh the cable box as normal and then into the monitor? I'm still confused by all this, I'm not really big on TV's so I don't know much about them :( Sorry. Or could I go through EyeTV through the box? Hmmm I think I seen on the site where that isn't possible. Isn't putting an antenna on my roof and stealing signals illegal?

Sorry for my misunderstanding,
Alex
 
We Need To Talk

AlexGFX88 said:
Sorry, I don't mean to come off as dumb :p

I have cable through Charter Communications, could I not go thorugh the cable box as normal and then into the monitor? I'm still confused by all this, I'm not really big on TV's so I don't know much about them :( Sorry. Or could I go through EyeTV through the box? Hmmm I think I seen on the site where that isn't possible. Isn't putting an antenna on my roof and stealing signals illegal?
Click to expand...
Stealing signals? Are you an American? Broadcast signals are public property and belong to all of us for the taking FREE. It's not only legal, it's encouraged by the National Assn of Broadcasters.

This is too complicated to cover with text for someone like yourself. Do you have an AIM account for iChat setup? You have iChat Video built into your MBP for FREE you know. Let's do an audio chat.

my AIM name is "kungag5". What's yours?
 
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