PC IN on LCD Television

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wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#138345 31-Dec-2013 08:50

If I'm running short of HDMI sockets on an LCD television, is there anything wrong with using a HDMI to VGA adapter on the redundant "PC-IN" socket for video and the 3.5mm "PC AUDIO IN" for the sound?

I know the picture wouldn't be anywhere near HDMI quality but it should be okay in a pinch aye?

trig42

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#959446 31-Dec-2013 08:59

In a pinch yes, although I imagine it will look pretty bad. You would be better off finding an HDMI switch. Not sure what an HDMI to VGA convertor is worth (probably not cheap, it has to do an active conversion, not like HDMI to DVI).

Jaycar has a few switches: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productResults.asp?w=hdmi+switch&keyform=KEYWORD&SUBMIT=Search

Their HDMI to VGA convertor is more expensive than a two port HDMI switch.

wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#959458 31-Dec-2013 09:29

Thanks. I was looking at a few on TM and they range from $8 to $50 odd but it's difficult to gauge quality etc off TM.

HDMI switch sounds good. I very rarely need to connect my S3 to the TV and I saw the PC-IN sitting there doing nothing and thought, gee I wonder.

sonyxperiageek

2958 posts

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#959473 31-Dec-2013 10:01

Well if the HDMI to VGA adapter are cheap you could just buy one and try it out and see if it works for you first.

Sony

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#959507 31-Dec-2013 11:26

We are going through this at work at the moment. We have just bought new laptops which only had hdmi out and a lot of projectors are still VGA. Someone in our CS dept has bought 3 hdmi-vga adapters so far and none of them have worked correctly. He may be doing something wrong, but he is pretty good with computers generally. Thus far they are looking like finnicky buggers to get working. If they are not plug and play they will not fly with our end users. If you find one that just works, I would be keen to know about it.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#959512 31-Dec-2013 11:34

paulmilbank: If you find one that just works, I would be keen to know about it.

No worries, just ordered one off TM, if it works I'll report back.

gehenna

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#959515 31-Dec-2013 11:42

+1 HDMI switch. I got one on Deal Extreme for about $20 delivered, comes with a remote as well. Now sharing 3 devices on one HDMI port :)

EDIT: Also the HDMI/VGA converter won't transmit the Audio stream will it?

wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#959526 31-Dec-2013 11:58

gehenna: +1 HDMI switch. I got one on Deal Extreme for about $20 delivered, comes with a remote as well. Now sharing 3 devices on one HDMI port :)

EDIT: Also the HDMI/VGA converter won't transmit the Audio stream will it?

Yep no audio, have to use the PC-Audio In.

Remote control you say... I do like the sound of that, I wonder if it's Harmony remote control able.

Equinox IT

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wklie

191 posts

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MagicTV

#959635 31-Dec-2013 16:14

Converting digital HDMI to analogue VGA does not make sense to me, and there are issues of resolution limit of the VGA input port of your particular device, and HDCP to worry about. Cheap cables do not actually do this conversion and therefore do not work.

+1 HDMI Switch.

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