How to Guide - Connecting Your Laptop to HDTV Or TV

!±8± How to Guide - Connecting Your Laptop to HDTV Or TV

I'm writing this guide after being asked a few times on ways to connect a laptop to a TV. People want to achieve this for several reasons. First, it's great for presentations at work, school, or home. It's also convenient for viewing pictures and videos to friends, watching DVDs, and it is now even being used for viewing Blu-ray and other high definition content on the HDTV.

First, we want to make sure you're getting the most out of your laptop when it comes to displaying it on the TV.

If you have an HDTV with HDMI inputs, check if your laptop has an HDMI output. If it does, you're in luck! Your HDTV can display from your laptop in HD resolutions. All you need is an HDMI cable to connect them. If your HDTVs HDMI inputs are used up already. An HDMI switch would be the best solution for you. We supply switches that can connect up to 5 different HDMI sources to 1 HDMI input. If you don't have an HDMI output on the laptop, check if it has a DVI output. Some ASUS, and Dell laptops have them. If you do, you can connect your laptop to an HDTV with an HDMI to DVI cable. They are both digital cables so this will produce the same HD resolutions as a standard HDMI cable. If your laptop doesn't have HDMI or DVI out, it should have a VGA output. Connecting with VGA is capable of high resolutions. However, different TVs support different resolutions with VGA. You must check the maximum resolution your TV model supports with VGA. Pretty much all laptops come with an S-Video output. It's not going to be as great of a picture, but it will certainly do the job with an S-Video cable.

After you have connected your chosen cable, boot up your laptop and see if it has detected your TV. If not, you have to go into your display properties and look for the settings that will enable your TV to display from your laptop. Where to find the setting will vary depending on your graphics card (just look around). If you are having trouble getting your TV to show a picture, make sure you have updated the display drivers on your laptop. Now you're probably going to want sound from something other than your laptop speakers. So you can choose to output it to your TV, or blast it from your home theater audio receiver.

The best way to connect audio to your TV or receiver is through a digital audio cable. Both a digital coaxial cable or Toslink optical audio cable will work great for crisp high quality audio. Just make sure your laptop has either a digital coaxial or an optical audio output. Some laptops use the headphone jack to double as a digital coaxial (S/PDIF) output. If you use this method, your going to need a 3.5mm to RCA adapter with a digital coaxial cable. If your laptop has none of these outputs and you still really want that high quality sound. Don't worry! You can still get an external (USB) sound card that has digital coaxial out or optical out. I recommend the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 SB1090 with Toslink Optical audio out. Another way, which won't require any add-ons, is to use the headphone (3.5mm) jack on your laptop to the RCA (red and white) inputs on your TV or receiver. To do this, all you need is a 3.5mm to 2 RCA adapter with a 2 RCA audio cable.

I know all of these cables can seem confusing to you. If you're having trouble finding out what each cable looks like or find out more about a cable, check out the Cable Guide at CableTrain.com. All of these cables are available for you on our website as well. I hope you can now successfully connect your laptop to the TV in the best way possible!

How to Guide - Connecting Your Laptop to HDTV Or TV

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Serial To USB Adapter - It's Indispensable!

!±8± Serial To USB Adapter - It's Indispensable!

What is a Serial to USB adapter?

A serial to USB adapter is an adapter that allows a user to use legacy serial devices on newer PC's, or simply put, it allows a serial device to be connected to a USB computer. This device can come in various configurations, from a simple cable with a 9-pin connector on one end and a USB plug on the other end, to a hub that allows multiple serial devices to be attached.

What can I use the adapter for?

There are many older (and some newer) serial devices that are still useful.

Some personal examples are:

- Serial communication cable,

- Older data collection hardware,

- Older Point of Sale (POS) applications,

- Or, you may have an older printer or fax modem. that could still be useful.

The list can go on, but you can see that this handy little device can be indispensable!

What to look for in an adapter.

Although the serial to USB adapter is usually a simple device there are some technical specifications to consider:

Connector Types:

USB Connector - This should always be "USB A Female". I've never seen anything else, but check to make sure as standards can change.

Serial connector - This is usually described as either DB-9 Male, DB-9 Female, RS-232 Male or RS-232 Female. Just confirm that the polarity (Male/Female) is correct for your needs. If you do get the wrong gender, you'll need to get a gender changer (usually about the cost of a generic cup of coffee).

Number of connectors (sometimes called number of ports) - In the case of a hub, the serial end will have more than one connector, confirm that there are enough connections for all your devices.

Data Transfer Rate:

Look for 230 Kb/s or better - This appears to be the standard. It is slower than standard USB but faster than most serial communications needs.

Physical size:

Always check the physical size to make sure it will fit in an out-of-the-way location. Also make sure the cable length is long enough for your needs.

Power:

Most non-hub and some hub adapters do not require external power as they draw power directly from your computer. However some do and some offer it as an option. If you are using a hub and it will have a few serial devices plugged in, you probably should consider this as an option. Of course always confirm that the voltage matches the location where you are installing this device.

Operating System Compatibility:

This is very important, make sure the serial to USB adapter is compatible with your operating system, and when installing the drivers that are included with the product, check for the latest update. Manufacturers are frequently updating their software to fix bugs and add features. Its free, so take advantage of it.

What to watch out for.

While most serial to USB adapters on the market are compatible with current technology, always confirm that the cable and associated drivers are compatible with your system. Check the hardware requirements on either Amazons product page or the manufacturers' web site.

Conclusion

While serial computer devices will eventually become extinct, with a serial to USB adapter you can extend the life of many old reliable devices. In my 30+ years in the electronic and computer fields I've come to appreciate any device that can extend the life of my equipment.

Serial To USB Adapter - It's Indispensable!

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