CONNECT YOUR MACBOOK TO YOUR TV
May 28, 2010 at 10:56 am
filed under Uncategorized
If you would like to connect your Macbook to your TV, you know may have already discovered, with some confusion and frustration, that there doesn’t seem to be a simple way to hook it up to a tv that is not an HDTV.
A lot folks out there (myself included) don’t have an HDTV, but still want to watch Hulu or Netflix or YouTube on a TV screen from a Macbook.
With the new Macbook there is currently no adapter that features an RCA or s-video output that hooks up to non-HD TVs.
After some diligent research I discovered what it takes to hook a unibody Macbook up to a non-HD television. All it takes is one extra piece of equipment, and this is the missing ingredient in being able to connect your macbook to your tv.
Without going in to a lot of technical detail, the basic problem is that a non-HDTV functions on an analog signal and an HDTV functions on a digital signal.
You have to use an analog-to-digital signal converter as well as an adapter for your macbook.
It’s not really complicated, it just requires an extra component.
Depending on the model of Macbook you own, you will have one of two different video output ports on the side of you computer.
The newer Macbooks have a Mini Displayport video output on the side that is pictured at the top of this post. Click Here If your Macbook has a different port – Mini DVI to RCA Port.
So here’s what you will need:
1. A Mini Displayport-to-VGA adapter. This adapter connects from your Macbook to the next component. If You’re a die-hard for Apple products I’ve included a link to their adapter below, but other companies make this adapter as well and they should work just fine.
2. A PC to TV Converter Box. This converts the digital signal of your Mini DisplayPort to an analog signal that your TV can use.
**NOTE: The PC to TV converter I bought (VIDEOSECU 1L7) came with an RCA cable, and is USB powered. Check to see if the PC to TV converter you buy comes with any extra cables and yourself some $$$!
4. A 3.5mm to RCA cable. This is for the audio. It’s the same cable you need to hook an Ipod or Iphone up to a stereo, so you may already have this around too. This can be found at any electronics store also. Again, more expensive is not necessarily better when purchasing this cable.
There you have it, a frustrating problem solved.
Everything gets connected in this order:
Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter —>VGA input on the PC to TV converter —> RCA out to your TV.
The 3.5mm plug goes from your headphone jack on the side of Your macbook to the RCA audio jacks on your TV.
Now, procure these items, hook everything up, and enjoy watching video from the internet on your TV via your Macbook!
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Oh, one last thing, and this is optional, but it makes a big difference. I bought a wireless mouse with a far-reaching range to act as a remote since Youtube videos and Hulu shows are sometimes short and I didn’t want to get up to go to my computer every few minutes to click on a new video. A wireless 2.4 Ghz mouse will have a range of about 30 feet, which is plenty of distance.
Am I just lazy, or smart?
There you have it, connecting your Macbook to your tv should be very simple with these parts.
meg
this is a great help but i also found this product and wondered what you thought about it..http://kanexlive.com/products/item-id-3495.html
admin
Thanks for that! I have not heard of this adapter until now. It looks interesting and could streamline the whole connection process, but I wonder about the optical audio plug…
I’ll do some research on it.
Thanks again!
admin
Linz,
The PC to TV converter is what worked for me, along with the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter. The VGA cable that comes with the PC to TV converter box (VideoSecu VGA2TV) that I use does come with a MALE to MALE VGA cable, so it fits exactly between the converter and the adapter.
I would be sure to check that the male to male VGA cable comes with the converter you purchase, if you decided to get one. Amazon usually has a picture of everything that comes with the package, just so you know what you will be getting.
Hope this helps you understand out how to connect your TV and macbook!