Macbook connection to CRT TV help

[ETZepplin]

I'm trying to connect my Macbook to a CRT TV. I've googled and read all i can find online, but none of their solutions have helped me yet.

I have an adaptor that takes mini-DVI and spits out both component video and S-video. I first tried connecting via S-video directly to the S-video input to my television. No matter what resolution / freq setting, I can't get this to work. (I can get the audio to pass through via another cord, so I know the TV is looking in the right place).

Then I tried passing it from my computer through my DVD burner, which has an input option for S-video. Again i can pass the audio through in this manner, but could not get the video to pick up.

I've also tried using the component output. What I'm always getting is a message on the TV saying "Unusable Signal". It's an older RCA TV...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Erik

 

[kevinspellman]

I'm guessing you're using this to connect it?

I would try to check that the S video cable you are using is functioning properly by attaching another device and using that same S video cable, because S video does not carry audio, and the signal for audio is pretty concrete over the years.

 

[DewGuy1999]

Which MacBook? Which adapter?

 

[techound1]

When you do get a signal passed to the TV it will be pretty nasty - sure it's worth the hassle?

 

[Wehrwolf]

+1.

Tried the same thing with my older Mac Mini some time ago - DVI to S-video to connect to a 20" CRT TV. The resulting image made me want to vomit all over the screen. Text is illegible up close, and too small to read far away; images are fuzzy and look horrible.

 

[ETZepplin]

I'm guessing you're using this to connect it?

I would try to check that the S video cable you are using is functioning properly by attaching another device and using that same S video cable, because S video does not carry audio, and the signal for audio is pretty concrete over the years.

Yes, this is the type of adapter, though it is a generic brand. I have used the S-video between my DVD and TV to test, so I know the cable is good. I've also tried using the yellow RCA component output, which produced the same results.

I don't think the type of macbook matters... but it's the black one from a few years back. running 10.5.

I know that this will NOT be a second monitor, as the resolution will not be good enough to use it as such. I just want to watch videos when seated across the room.... I have friends who have done this effortlessly with a PC.. so I'm disappointed that its proving difficult on the 'plug and play' mac...


thanks for your responses!
Erik

 

[DewGuy1999]

I don't think the type of macbook matters... but it's the black one from a few years back. running 10.5.

Yes, it does matter, because according to Apple: the Mini-DVI to Video adapter and its S-video and composite connections are not supported on MacBook computers with NVIDIA graphics cards fortunately this doesn't apply to your MacBook

 

[ETZepplin]

Yes, it does matter, because according to Apple: the Mini-DVI to Video adapter and its S-video and composite connections are not supported on MacBook computers with NVIDIA graphics cards fortunately this doesn't apply to your MacBook

Ah, gotcha. I checked and I do not have an NVIDIA card, but an Intel one. So that shouldn't' be the issue. I noticed that signal modulators for TVs have an RCA video input... thinking about trying that, then connecting to TV via co-ax. I'm figuring signal is only going to get crappier the more adapters I put inline though...

 

[DewGuy1999]

One other thing I thought of, are you in a NTSC or a PAL country? Apparently some of the adapters are one or the other. If you don't see a setting in Display Preferences for NTSC/PAL then you have one or the other that is specific to the format and if you need the other it won't work.