Mini-dvi to Video output adapter

I've searched the forum and couldn't really find an answer for this, just something explaining it's an output only device, which is fine.

My question is this, I just bought the mini-dvi to composite video output. I tried plugging my macbook into an input on the front of my dvd player that's attached to an older tv (just has a coaxial input), well the The TV didn't display anything, I"m wondering if I have to have a digital TV or if I need to have some kind of software that I need to run in order for the adapter to work. Any help would be appreciated... thank

Rob

 

it's old school stuff... not really anything weird... maybe I'm using the wrong terminology, I thought almost all dvd players had inputs so that you could run your cable TV through the DVD player first.... anyway, I still can't figure it out... I know it's on the right channel and whatnot because I can input something else and the screen display is fine.... oh well.

one other question.... does anyone else's macbook display automatically change when they attach the mini dvi portion of the adapter?

 

I've noticed as I change the display settings they TV is obviously getting some kind of signal at 60hz is the most interference. I've read elsewhere that it might work best with the refresh rate at 50 HZ, I don't have a predetermined setting at 50 hz is there a way to change my display to that?