Laptop tv-out to 7" LCD monitors - resolution problem

hercem · 04-15-2007, 06:26 PM

Hi,

I have searched a bit but have not managed to find any answer to this yet. It seems that my 7" 16:9 lcd monitors(video composite) don't accept the tv-out resolution(640*480) from my laptop. The picture don't have any colors and is unclear.

I got a Dell 8600 laptop with 64MB NVIDIA Geforce4 4200 Go video adapter. I have four Soundstram VHR-76 lcd monitors connected to a video composite amplifier/splitter.

The lcd monitors supports this resolution 1440 x 234 and have before worked with a dvd player in the car.

I can't find any option to change the resolution with nvidia software. I have installed Ultramon but haven't had time to see if it can lower the resolution.

I am planning to use them as dual monitors to f.ex. show movies. I use my 7" indash vga k301 as controll unit running Roadrunner with the Lsxvoid 2.0 skin.

Does anybody have any tips on how I could solve this problem? Im in a hurry because I really want it to be in function next weekend when there is a streetmeet in the hood

hercem · 04-15-2007, 07:26 PM

Please reply if you have experience with tv-out to LCD using video composite.

mezz64 · 04-15-2007, 07:47 PM

The video-out from your 8600 is s-video is it not? Have you checked the converter that you are using to convert to composite? Because that sounds like the problem to me. Also, i think you've got the lcd monitor resolution wrong, 1440x234 is really really wide.

bbalazs · 04-15-2007, 07:58 PM

Yes. That data is just the commercial for idiots (MORE! MORE!)

For the true resolution you must divide it by 3, because they thought the 3 basic color stripes together as horizontal. They can not trick with the vertical, so it is true.
Real res. is approx. 480*234

hercem · 04-15-2007, 08:17 PM

The Dell 8600 have s-video kind of plug and a connection thing with video composite, s-video and digital audio coaxial.

This is the monitors,
http://www.soundstream.com/ceiling-monitor-vHR76.htm

mezz64 · 04-15-2007, 08:19 PM

You need to check the laptop output on some other device. My bet is the problem is dealing with that adapter but you should check with a regular tv or something first.

hercem · 04-15-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mezz64

You need to check the laptop output on some other device. My bet is the problem is dealing with that adapter but you should check with a regular tv or something first.

Okay. Tomorrow(norwegian time) I will connect the laptop to my 32" lcd tv and see if it works or not(I can't remember it at the moment but I think I have succesfully used the video composite earlier). Should I just determinat if it works or not? btw, I think I am available to see what kind of resoultion it is on my tv.

mezz64 · 04-15-2007, 08:32 PM

You just need to follow troubleshooting steps of some sort to determine what exactly is causing the problem. You already said the LCD monitors have worked with a different source so they're out. Now you need to check the signal from the laptop, if thats good then it's got to be a combination of either the cabling in between, or a resolution problem. Although when resolution it too high you typically either get no signal or a very fast rolling picture instead, not black and white fuzziness.

hercem · 04-16-2007, 06:59 PM

I think the problem is that the signal is not correctly converted from s-video to video composite. I should try to use a s-video to video composite cable connected to the s-video output. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

Here is what someone wrote regarding the black and white problem:

Quote:

P.S. s-video is just composite video split into 2 parts therefor you get the half that contains picture not color, hence black and white. DO NOT attempt to combine the signals back together with an RCA splitter/combiner, I found out the hard way that there is supposed to be a special resistor inline to prevent a small power surge from damaging your laptop. I replaced a motherboard do to this little spark.