From PC to TV video

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Looking for basically the cheapest way to play video files from my PC on a standard CRT TV. The TV has s-video in, and all the other standard RGB sockets.

I have a laptop but it has no video out capabilities...

Is there some kind of USB device I can get to link the lappie to the TV's s-video in? Or do you get really cheap dvd-players with USB? I have looked around but cannot find any for under a grand...

I know you get those hard-drive enclosures that you can hook up to a TV, but I cannot find those for less than R400 and that is without a hdd...
 
There is USB to SVideo/RCA converters for around R500, saw one in a shop the other day.

And you do get DVD Players with USB capability for around R400, not sure what make it was.
 
kiepie said:
There is USB to SVideo/RCA converters for around R500, saw one in a shop the other day.

And you do get DVD Players with USB capability for around R400, not sure what make it was.
Click to expand...

Jees, R500 seems quite steep for something so simple...Maybe the enclosure or dvd player route would be better...
 
hj2k_x said:
Jees, R500 seems quite steep for something so simple...Maybe the enclosure or dvd player route would be better...
Click to expand...

That was the first time I saw one, and yes R500 is quite steep.

Just make sure you can return the DVD player if it does not live up to the USB capability.
I tried it once and didn't work, the flash drive was in NTFS format, maybe I should try FAt32?

Will let you know on Monday. ;)
 
well if you consider that USB to S-Video is not a standard transmission mechanism, R500 is relatively cheap.

EDIT: I Mean that USB to Video products normally have an encoder in between eg TV Cards. So if you want a cable that does the business linking with no encoder in the middle, R500 is really a more than fair price.
 
Last edited:
I agree with milomak.

You also seem to be confused. If your tv has rgb inputs, you should be able to connect to your notebook's vga, no?

I've seen plenty of dvd players with USB input
 
If your laptop has a D-Sub monitor out, then you could use one of these - outputs to RCA or S-Video:

vga2tv_cable_2.jpg
 
howardb said:
If your laptop has a D-Sub monitor out, then you could use one of these - outputs to RCA or S-Video:

vga2tv_cable_2.jpg
Click to expand...

Wrong!

This will only work if your notebook has a video adapter (and associated driver) capable of outputting these signals in the first place.

And you surely mean Composite, not RCA (RCA is the connector used on the end of a co-axial cable, and is popularly used for composite video, component video, audio, etc)
 
Thanks for the replies so far :)

The lappie does have an analogue monitor out socket, but that is it. So basically I would need either something to go in there and out to s-video or something USB which outs to s-video...

CafeViva seem to have a very basic harddrive enclosure which is USB and reckons it connects to TVs and the like. I have a hdd lying around here that I could use for it so maybe that would be the better option.

I am still surprised that s-video out has become so unpopular on laptops these days. The very bottom of the range ones used to have it a few years ago...
 
sn3rd said:
I agree with milomak.

You also seem to be confused. If your tv has rgb inputs, you should be able to connect to your notebook's vga, no?

I've seen plenty of dvd players with USB input
Click to expand...

Now I am confused...What are the sockets on the laptop meant to look like to which i can connect rgb cables ?
 
Yep if your laptop has the Analogue monitor out, there is a convertor for it. I got one myself and I think I paid around R100 for it.
 
caps said:
Yep if your laptop has the Analogue monitor out, there is a convertor for it. I got one myself and I think I paid around R100 for it.
Click to expand...

What is this adapter called? Like should I want to search for it...Can you remember where you got yours?
 
VGA output (the D-Sub kind) is a form of analog RGB. Component video comes in various flavours (the best thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from :p ). Common flavours are RGB and YPbPr.

VGA <-> RGB should be straightforward; should require just a cable / adapter
VGA <-> YPbPr will require more sophisticated electronics; set-top box

Component video usually uses multiple RCA connections (basically co-axial connections).
 
Cool, so it seems I just need a straight-forward VGA - RGB cable then...Will have a look around for one.
 
hj2k_x said:
Looking for basically the cheapest way to play video files from my PC on a standard CRT TV. The TV has s-video in, and all the other standard RGB sockets.

I have a laptop but it has no video out capabilities...

Is there some kind of USB device I can get to link the lappie to the TV's s-video in? Or do you get really cheap dvd-players with USB? I have looked around but cannot find any for under a grand...

I know you get those hard-drive enclosures that you can hook up to a TV, but I cannot find those for less than R400 and that is without a hdd...
Click to expand...

Hi there

we have currently importing a DVD Player with USB port that plays , DVD, VCD, Divx , AVI and region free -selling them at R 299.00 excl vat , it also has build in games and come with two joy pads and SABS approved

we imported 500 units last month and were sold out in a week and just got in another 300 units on Friday -for the price they are excellent value - Only snag I found with them is that they don’t play with external HDD formatted with NTFS format , Fat 32 is no problem , I haven’t tried it using my laptop - will do so in the morning and let you know .
 
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