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I need a tutorial on how to connect my PC to the HT receiver to do Netflix downloads.
Problem: My laptop has a 7-pin S-video and a mini VGA port. I presume that audio will come off the headphone jack. Because my old CRT TV doesn't have an S-video port, I will need to convert to composite. I have a 4-pin S-video to composite gender changer.
Does a 7-pin to 4-pin converter exist? Where? Does this solve the problem?
Second thought: How will I configure the computer?
TIA for helping the uniformed.
Bob
Follow Ups:
Go to WalMart and get a video switch box...$10-$15 at most. Look at the connections on the back, the one you want will accept S-Video in and then output composite or coax.
Best,
Ross
Did a little research. Located the cable on line. 7-pin S-video to 3 RCA's. Carries both picture and audio. Well, THAT's simple! When it gets here, I see about a Netflix plug-in or not.
Bob
Hi Bob,
What type of OS are you running? Win 7 Media center now includes Netflix in its menu. There is possibly a plug in for this as well? If you have an older version of Media center. I thought I saw one a few months ago, but haven't investigated it further.Yup a newer HD TV would be the ticket if you were inclined to drop the dough. Maybe once you get a taste of it, you'll give it a go.
There are some very inexpensive bare bones refurbished HTPCs online for as little as $350 for $400.
By the way, I'm still enjoying your speaker!
You may very well be better off the something like the Netflix Roku player.
Edits: 10/30/09
> > What type of OS are you running? Win 7 Media center now includes Netflix in its menu. There is possibly a plug in for this as well? If you have an older version of Media center. I thought I saw one a few months ago, but haven't investigated it further.
I'm running Vista, but I will be buying the 3-1 Windows 7 pack soon
> > Yup a newer HD TV would be the ticket if you were inclined to drop the dough. Maybe once you get a taste of it, you'll give it a go.
I know, I know. I will probably pick up a new ~50" plasma after Christmas.
> > There are some very inexpensive bare bones refurbished HTPCs online for as little as $350 for $400.
Probably not, since this is only a means to get at old TV shows when there are nothing but reruns on. This is NOT an investment! We rent the CD's of the serials we like, but missed early seasons.
Thanks,
Bob
By the way, I'm still enjoying your speaker!
You may very well be better off the something like the Netflix Roku player.
You can go to Hulu.com as well and watch older series of certain shows. It's free..you don't have to rent anything. Just download the Hulu desktop to your PC when you get it hooked up. The new Win 7 Media center also has internet TV. There's always shows on it to watch as well. All of this is free.My family uses this a lot. We don't pay for cable anymore! I have my HTPC hooked to three displays. One 52 inch LCD flat panel, a 100 inch screen with projector and a 19 inch wide screen monitor. Correction, actually four displays connected to the HTPC..I also have an Media center extender(Xbox 360) in the bedroom connected to a 42 inch Plasma.
I miss all the shows because of my job. It's nice to watch them on a 100 inch screen while having the ability to stop them, come back the next day and start from where I left off! You can setup a projector and screen for less than a 50 inch plasma cost and still have plenty money left over. ;-)
Edits: 10/30/09 10/31/09 10/31/09
> > I miss all the shows because of my job. It's nice to watch them on a 100 inch screen while having the ability to stop them, come back the next day and start from where I left off! You can setup a projector and screen for less than a 50 inch plasma cost and still have plenty money left over. ;-)
Can't do projection. Room layout will not permit it. 50" seems about right for size yet not overpower the room. I think I need the plasma because I am highly susceptible to flicker, although the 120Hz LCD's are not too bad. I did see a 240Hz LCD and I could not see the flicker. Also, we watch TV in a pretty dim environment, and LCD is too washed out that low.
Bob
The laptop may have come with an adapter to split the 7 pin to SVHS and composite. Or it's an optional accessory that they no longer sell. Study the docs for the laptop carefully; they ought to explain what comes out that port.
As for configuring, with video cards, you're sometimes limited to a couple of resolutions for TV out, like just 640x480 or 800x600; newer chipsets can be more flexible. Have a browse through the video properties settings. (Right click on the desktop...) Sometimes the output will recognize that it's hooked to a TV and become active, othertimes you'll have to enable it in the video settings.
May I suggest that you get a better TV? People are giving away perfectly good 27" sets that are new enough to have SVHS inputs (try Freecycle), or you can score one from a thrift store for under $50. For more money, widescreen, HD-capable CRT sets can be bought cheap (Craigslist, eBay if the seller is within pickup distance), since early adopters have "upgraded" to LCD or plasma. Sony made some up to 36 or 40", but they weigh a great deal.
> > The laptop may have come with an adapter to split the 7 pin to SVHS and composite. Or it's an optional accessory that they no longer sell. Study the docs for the laptop carefully; they ought to explain what comes out that port.
I didn't get an adapter with the computer. It does seem that such a part should be available with a little searching. As I answered to the last post, this is not a priority project and I don't intend to spend much on it.
> > As for configuring, with video cards, you're sometimes limited to a couple of resolutions for TV out, like just 640x480 or 800x600; newer chipsets can be more flexible. Have a browse through the video properties settings. (Right click on the desktop...) Sometimes the output will recognize that it's hooked to a TV and become active, othertimes you'll have to enable it in the video settings.
Always good advise: "Read the directions!" I'll do that.
> >
> > May I suggest that you get a better TV? People are giving away perfectly good 27" sets that are new enough to have SVHS inputs (try Freecycle), or you can score one from a thrift store for under $50. For more money, widescreen, HD-capable CRT sets can be bought cheap (Craigslist, eBay if the seller is within pickup distance), since early adopters have "upgraded" to LCD or plasma. Sony made some up to 36 or 40", but they weigh a great deal.
> > And a new plasma after Christmas will fix this!
Thanks.
Bob
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