Korean Job Discussion Forums

[machinoman]

Here's what I am working with. I moved into an apartment with my new contract, and it came with a pretty decently sized TV. Being cheap, I am not interested in paying for cable, or even a DVD player if I don't have to. I want to be able to watch movies and play games on my tv. I am having trouble finding a solution

TV Specs:
My tv has a composite input (red, white, yellow), an S-Video input, and even a YPbPr input (green, blue, red)
There is NO HD/HDMI input on this TV.

Laptop Specs:
My laptop has several USB ports, and an HDMI video output port.
There is NO S-Video or typical monitor output

I have deduced that there is no single cord that will connect my laptop to my TV. My basic question is this: If I want to use my TV as a monitor, what is the easiest / most effective way? Should I buy a Bluray player with an HDMI input that can connect to my tv? Is there even a bluray player that had an HDMI input AND composite output? Is there some USB device I can use?

I am confused, and tired of looking at this tiny screen. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

[detourne_me]

I just di a google search for "HDMI to S-Video convertor" and there were a ton of options... mainly set top boxes though. perhaps if you went to one of the electronic accessory stores in Yongsan they could help you out.

[Italy37612]

Find an HDMI to YPbPr conversion cable. That will give you the best picture quality(currently my setup). Bought mine in Yongsan for 15,000 Won. Then find a headphone to component conversion cable if you want to run the sound through your TV speakers. They are very cheap, maybe 2,000 Won or so.

[machinoman]

[wishfullthinkng]

What you are trying to accomplish is somewhat difficult. You have four barriers you're trying to get over, those being:

1. You are trying to convert a native digital signal (HDMI) into an analog signal (YpBpr).

2. You are losing your audio signal that would normally be transmitted via HDMI. You would have to make sure your computer can separate the audio signal from the HDMI video stream and run it through your laptop speakers or the audio out jack. (I hope you have good laptop speakers and enjoy fiddling with your computer's sound settings)

3. You run the risk of buying the cable and it not working at all due to your television not being HDCP compliant. Depending on when your laptop was made a lot of the earlier HDCP compliant HDMI ports are really hit or miss, even over HDMI. You can read all sorts of horror stories of people trying to use a HDMI to DVI cable and having problems.

4. If you could get it to work you will get poor picture quality, most likely maxing out at 480p on an assumed HDTV which will look blown-up and full of artifacts. The downgrading of the HDMI's video (most likely 1080p) to SD would not look good at all. You will most likely experience all sorts of fun cropping and aspect ratio problems that will not be able to be easily remedied.

Instead of hunting down an expensive cable that will be a shoddy solution at best, I believe it'd almost be a prudent decision to get a cheap 24 inch HDMI LCD monitor made for a computer. They can be found at a bargain if you do a little searching (look for people who are moving away on craigslist and these forums) and is more than good enough sized for most small apartments. Plus you'd have full 1080p HD (if that's what your laptop outputs) and get sound out of the monitor (if it has speakers built in) and you'd have a larger monitor to use to boot.