Hook Your Laptop or Desktop Computer to Your TV

Learn how to watch live broadcasts on your television using your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: This can be somewhat of an advanced procedure please read the following instruction carefully.

Overview

Many people already know that you can connect a computer to a plasma or digital TV, but it is not as well known that you can also hook up a computer to almost any TV. The process may not be as easy and the picture not as sharp as with newer televisions, but you may be surprised at the results that can be achieved with your existing equipment.

Making the Connection

Setting up a computer in your home and connecting it to your TV is not generally as hard as some think. To get started, you need to be able to make a compatible connection from your computer to your TV. In the simplest case, your connection from the computer should match the connection on your TV. For example, if your TV has a VGA input and your computer has a VGA output, you need just a cable to connect both together. If there isn't a match of video inputs to outputs, it might still be possible to make a connection, but more about that later.

Let's start with the computer connection first. Examine the back of your computer for available monitor connections. Depending on your computer's graphic capabilities, you should be able to identify one or more of the following: a 15-pin VGA output, a DVI connection, or an S-Video output. Your computer could support one, two, or all of the connections listed. If you are unsure, refer to the video section of your computer's user manual.

Next, you will need to identify the type of television you have. It will be either an analog or digital TV. If you own an analog television, look for an S-Video input. If you own a digital television, look for an S-Video, 15-pin VGA, component video, or DVI input. Many of the newer televisions, such as Plasma, DLP, or LCD, should have a PC compatible 15-pin VGA input.

Finally, we need to find a matching connection between the two. If you have a VGA or DVI match, use that for the best image quality and performance. If you have a component connection on your TV and a VGA output on your computer, choose those connections. Use S-Video if you have a S-Video match.

Before you begin, download and install the latest drivers for your computers video card. The newest software has options for making this project easier than it used to be. The most common graphics cards are the following:

•  Cards based on the nVIDIA platform. Drivers are available at nVIDIA.com

•  Cards based on the ATI platform. Drivers available at ATI.com

•  Cards based on the Intel Extreme Graphics platform. Drivers available at Intel.com

Always refer to your computer or video card manufacturer's website before installing any software. Sometimes, drivers are available there. Do not download drivers for a graphics chip set different from what your computer uses.

Connecting with S-video

To make this connection, you will need the following:

•  A computer with a S-Video output, or a VGA to S-Video adaptor

•  A TV with a S-Video input

•  A S-video cable

•  A 1/8" to Left/Right RCA cable (for sound)

•  A computer monitor (for setup purposes if needed)

If you do not have what's listed above, this kind of connection will not work. Some computers require a separate adapter to use the S-Video capability of your graphics card. In many cases, the adapter will need to be plugged in prior to making adjustments to the output settings of your graphics card.

If your computer only has a VGA output, you can still connect with S-video by purchasing a VGA to S-video adaptor. Using one of these greatly simplifies the setup process, and is virtually plug and play.

Connecting With Your Computer's S-Video Jack:

1.  Connect the S-Video cable from the S-Vide out jack on the computer to an S-Video input on the back of your television. Hookup the computer to the computer monitor at the same time.

2. Change the input on your television to the S-Video input you plugged the computer in to (video 1, video 2, etc.).

3. Turn on the computer. You should get an image on your computer monitor. If you get an image on your TV, skip to step 6. If you do not get an image on your TV, don't panic. Go to step 4.

4. Using your computer monitor. Access the graphics card setup menu. You can usually access these menus by right clicking on the desktop, click on properties, select the settings tab, and then click on advanced. The software for every graphics card will be a little different.

5. Locate the menu tab for engaging or disengaging the S-Video output. Once you turn it on, an image will appear on the TV screen. If there is a selection to make it your primary monitor, do not do so – use the “extend my windows desktop onto this monitor” setting. On many notebook computers, there is often a keyboard shortcut to do this, such as Fn+F8.

6. The image on the screen has a relationship with your resolution settings. Although all S-Video outputs use a fixed low resolution to maintain compatibility with your TV, it scales according to what the resolution of your computer is set to. Adjust your resolution in the settings tab of your display properties. Use a selection no higher than 800 x 600 with 16-bit color. A setting of 640 x 480 will be much clearer, but icons and windows will appear very large.

7. When you boot-up your computer with all this hooked up, the S-video connection should be enabled. In some cases, the S-video output needs to be enabled on a per session basis. If your software reflects this, you can leave the computer on, in a stand-by or hibernation mode when not in use. Your current settings will remain intact until the next time your computer is shut down.

Connecting With a VGA to S-Video Adaptor:

1.  Before connecting your PC to the VGA adaptor, check to make sure that your display resolution output settings are within the capable range of the adaptor. Most VGA to S-Video adaptors are not capable of scaling resolutions beyond 1280 X 1024.

2. Connect the 1/8" jack on the RCA cable to the audio output (headphone jack) on your computer then the Red (right) & White (left) RCA connectors to the corresponding audio jacks on your TV.

3.  Connect the VGA cable to the back of the PC, and the other end to the VGA input on the adaptor.

4.  Connect the S-Video Cable to the S-Video jack on the adaptor, and the other end to the television's S-Video input.

5.  Change the input on your television to the S-Video input you plugged the computer in to (video 1, video 2, etc.).

6.  Turn on the computer. You should get an image on your TV. If you do not get an image on your TV, double check your wiring, input selection, and resolution settings using a PC monitor. Also, double check to make sure your adaptor is plugged in, and receiving power.

7.  The image on the screen has a relationship with your resolution settings. Although all S-Video outputs use a fixed low resolution to maintain compatibility with your TV, it scales according to what the resolution of your computer is set to. Adjust your resolution in the settings tab of your display properties. Use a selection no higher than 800 x 600 with 16-bit color. A setting of 640 x 480 will be much clearer, but icons and windows will appear very large. Your adaptor may also offer additional adjustments and features. Refer to your adaptor's user manual.

Connecting with VGA/DVI adapter (Advanced)

You can make a connection with DVI by following the same basic steps below just substitute a DVI cable in place of the 15-pin VGA cable.

To make a connection with a 15-pin VGA cable, you will need the following:

•  A 15-pin VGA output on your computer (All PC's should have this)

•  A 15-pin VGA input on your television

•  A 15-pin VGA cable

•  A 1/8" to Left/Right RCA cable

•  A computer monitor (for setup, if needed)

Some televisions may include a 3 wire RGB input (R, G, B,). You can use this input to make a connection. However, you will need to obtain a 15-pin VGA to 3-wire RGB cable.

If you've identified a 15-pin VGA input on your television, you will need to do a little hunting in your manual for compatible display formats. Compatible formats might be listed on the back of the TV, or in the owner's manual for the television. If it's listed in letters, a chart is below to explain them. If your input is PC compatible, it will say one or more of the following:

•  VGA = 640x480

•  SVGA = 800x600

•  XGA = 1024x768

•  SXGA = 1280x1024

Your 15-pin input might not be directly PC compatible. If this is the case it will say one or a few of the following television formats. The compatible PC resolution is listed next to it.

•  480i - not compatible with PC's

•  480p - 720x480

•  720p - 1280x720

•  1080i - 1920x1080 (interlaced)

•  1080p - 1920x1080

If your input does not list any computer formats, only television formats, it's okay! We can still get this to work.

If you're hooking up a Plasma, DLP, or LCD television, you should be able to plug it in and turn it on. However, if you do this and get no picture, use the computer monitor to adjust settings before plugging the cable into the TV.

1.  Change the input on your television to the appropriate selection to engage the 15-pin VGA input (video 1, video 2, etc.).

2.  Connect the VGA cable from the back of the computer to the computer monitor.

3.  Turn on the computer. An image should appear on your PC screen.

4.  Right click on the desktop and select properties. Click on the tab that says settings. If your television is PC compatible, go to step 5. If your TV is not compatible go to step 6.

5.  If your TV is PC compatible, move the resolution slider to a compatible selection. 1024x768 is the most common choice. Hit apply. Go to step 7. Some TV's are only compatible to 640x480. If so, it may not be listed on the slider. Hit advanced, and select the adapter tab. Press "list all modes" and select 640x480, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz from the list of valid modes. Click "yes" when it asks you to keep this setting.

6.  If your TV is not PC compatible, you will need to select a format that is compatible with your TV. Within the settings tab, click on advanced. Go to the adapter tab and select "list all modes." Select 720x480, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz from the list. Click "yes" if it asks you to keep this setting. Go to step 7.

7.  Unplug the cable from the back of the monitor and plug it in to the TV. If you made the proper selections, you should have an image on your TV screen. If your TV was PC compatible, you do not need to take any additional steps. Connect the 1/8" jack on the RCA cable to the audio output (headphone jack) on your computer then the Red (right) & White (left) RCA connectors to the corresponding audio jacks on your TV.

8.  If your TV was not PC compatible, you should have an image on the screen. It's likely that the icons are very big. Using the chart above and the "list all modes" selection, you can try to find different resolutions that are compatible with your TV. When selecting resolution, the screen will blank out. If the image does not return, you found an incompatible display format. Do nothing and it should switch back to the last setting after 15 seconds.

TIP: You can make more choices appear under "list all modes" by going to the monitor tab and deselecting the box that says "Hide modes that this monitor can't display."

You will be able to shut down the computer when not in use, or use the stand by and hibernation modes. The computer will keep your current settings unless you physically change them, or install new drivers for your graphics card.

Connecting with component video

To make this connection possible, you must have the following:

•  A digital TV with a component video input

•  A 15-pin VGA output on your computer

•  A high resolution capable VGA to component video transcoder.

(A transcoder is a device that transforms RGB signals into component video signals)

•  A 15-pin VGA cable

•  A component video cable

•  A 1/8" to Left/Right RCA cable

•  A computer monitor (for setup)

NOTE: If you have a computer with an ATI Radeon graphics card, ATI sells a kit to hook up your computer to an HDTV set. If you do not have an ATI graphics card, you will need to purchase a high resolution capable VGA to component video transcoder.

1.  Change the TV input to the appropriate selection to engage the component video input (video 1, video 2, etc.).

2.  Hookup the VGA cable from the back of the computer to the computer monitor.

3.  Turn on the computer. An image should appear on your PC screen.

4.  Right click on the desktop and select properties. Click on the 'Settings' tab.

5.  Identify the compatible scan formats for your component video input. The possible formats are usually 480p, 720p, and 1080i. It is common to find that many CRT based TVs, such as direct-view tubes and CRT rear-projection displays, don't support 720p.

6.  Since the component video input on your TV is not PC compatible, you will need to select a format that is compatible with your TV. Within the settings tab, click on advanced. Go to the adapter tab and select "list all modes." Select 720x480, 1280x720, or 1920 x 1080 (interlaced), High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz from the list. Click "yes" if it asks you to keep this setting.

NOTE: 1920x1080 (interlaced) is a very high resolution, which will make desktop items and text difficult to see.

7.  Unplug the computer from the back of the monitor and plug it in to the transcoder. Hook up the component video cables from the transcoder to the component video input on the back of your TV. If you chose a compatible selection, you should have an image on your TV screen.

9. Connect the 1/8" jack on the RCA cable to the audio output (headphone jack) on your computer then the Red (right) & White (left) RCA connectors to the corresponding audio jacks on your TV.

10.  Depending on the display format chosen, you might want to try different choices to maximize image quality. In the "list all modes" selection, you can try to find different resolutions that are compatible with your TV. When selecting resolution, the screen will blank out. If the image does not return, you found an incompatible display format. Do nothing and it should switch back to the last setting after 15 seconds.

TIP: You can make more choices appear under "list all modes" by going to the monitor tab and deselecting the box that says "Hide modes that this monitor can't display."

You will be able to shut down the computer when not in use, or use the stand by and hibernation modes. The computer will keep your current settings unless you physically change them or install new drivers for your graphics card.

Using windows media player for TV display program

1. Connect to the sermon broadcast using windows media player.

2. Drag windows media player onto TV screen and extend the window to full screen.

3. When the video is playing double click in the center of the picture to extend the video to full screen.

4. The picture will completely fill the screen after a few moments with no mouse activity.

5. When services are over you can double click in the center of the video and Windows Media Player will return to normal.

6. You may now exit Windows Media Player.

Note: There are many websites that can help if your setup is not addressed here.