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PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:04 pm 
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I'm looking for something that will convert from VGA to RCA composite video.
I use 1024 X 768 pixels screen resolution.
I bought a cheap one of these type of things a year or so ago:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/PC-VGA-to-TV-AV-Comp ... 3efe97a98e
, but could never get it to work. All I got was scrolling, like my horizontal and vertical was off, but no amount of adjusting got it to work. I tried with both my lappies to no avail.

This is for my "new" lappy I bought to run gigs with, but it's Vista (half my proggies won't run on it) and it only has VGA out, unlike my old lappy that has VGA and S-vid. I plan on wiping Vista and throwing XP on it and using it for what it was intended for: running my shows.
Can you suggest anything that will definitely work to convert the video to RCA, or even to female s-vid (I can convert from female s-vid to RCA no problem)?
I'm willing to spend if I have to. I just want to be sure that it will work.
BTW I DO have the dual screen option.
Thanks in advance, guys!


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:20 pm 
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Ok, I have one of those little boxes and at first I couldn't figure out how to get it to work. It does work well when you do the following.

The laptop screen and the external display/big screen TV need to be set at different resolutions. Go into the display properties and set up where the laptop is the primary and the external is #2 then click once on the external and set to the lowest resolution like 640x480 or there might be an even lower resolution. Then click once on the laptop display icon to select it, set the laptop display to whatever you need to make your Karaoke program look right and to fit in the screen properly.

Run the VGA cable from the laptop VGA out into the little box and run the yellow composite video cable from the little box to the big screen TV. You can buy longer composite video cables on ebay for cheap and they have inexpensive splitters too if you need to go to two TVs or a TV and a monitor that has composite input.

In my case I was running a VGA computer monitor off the little box for the singer's screen and a composite cable to the big screen TV. Worked fine once the resolutions were adjusted. You can also go S-Video out of the little box to a big screen TV. I think I paid around $28 or $32 or $38(don't recall) for mine sometime last ear and never used it until last week. But however you go out of the little box, you go from the vga on the laptop to the vga input on the little box.


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:34 pm 
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Well, you gave me hope for a bit. I tried your suggestion. No dice. I get the same thing. I tried it reversing the resolutions. Still no dice. I tried switching the NTSC and PAL switches. NADA. I give up on this thing, but I still want a solution that will work. As I said before, I don't mind spending a little more if I know it will work. I'm getting desperate as my old lappy may just die one day and then where will I be? ( I know! I Know! I'll have to dig out my discs, but that would be a huge mess as I have not kept them organized :( )
Thanks for the awesome suggestion, though. I'm sure it will help someone else one day.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:14 am 
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This is the one I use and it has worked for years: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1430

On the one that you purchased.....maybe you got a bad one?


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:32 am 
BruceFan4Life @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:14 am wrote:
This is the one I use and it has worked for years: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1430

On the one that you purchased.....maybe you got a bad one?


Wow, I may get this cool little box as a back up to my S Video... Just in case. Cool box. Thx for sharing.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:12 am 
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Sorry it didn't work. I forgot to mention in my post above that there is a USB cable that goes from the laptop to the little converter box, I'm sure you know that but I thought I would mention it just in case. Mine works just fine. It's possible that you have a defective one? Mine works well enough that I would get another one if necessary.

Another option is to use the laptop with just VGA for something else or sell it. Then get a laptop that has VGA and S-Video out. There are lots of converters and splitters and cables on ebay-lots and lots.

If you use a small LCD TV there are usually lots of inputs to choose from, I'm using an LCD computer monitor that's about 2 years old and it only has VGA or HDMI inputs-no composite or s-video inouts. I just went to Best Buy and their small LCD TVs and computer monitors have VGA, composite video and S-Video inputs.

By the way, my laptop is about a year old-Dell Inspiron 1720- and it has both VGA and s-video outputs and coaxial cable in/out. With S-Video out you can go into a standard distribution amplifier that has S-Video in, composite in, and both of those as outputs too. You can get one for around $20 or so.

I saw some inexpensive VGA to Composite Video cables on ebay for dirt cheap, but I read somewhere that they don't work. Maybe someone here can elaborate or explain?


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:56 am 
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stogie @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:12 am wrote:
Another option is to use the laptop with just VGA for something else or sell it. Then get a laptop that has VGA and S-Video out.

I just bought this laptop. It's the new one and they aren't making them with s-video anymore, so selling it is not an option. I can't just use the VGA out as I hook into various Tvs at the venues I work at, so I have to be able to hook into all types. Not all the bars have the newer TVs with the VGA inputs. If all I needed to use was just a singer's monitor and my lappy, I would have no issue as I use a flatscreen TV with VGA, RCA, and s-video inputs. But it's hooking into the various venues that is the issue.. My main venue has RCA inputs and no other way to get to his projection screen. It's definitely a must have!
stogie @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:12 am wrote:
I saw some inexpensive VGA to Composite Video cables on ebay for dirt cheap, but I read somewhere that they don't work. Maybe someone here can elaborate or explain?

I bought one of those originally. Doesn't work.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:58 am 
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BruceFan4Life @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:14 am wrote:
This is the one I use and it has worked for years: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1430

On the one that you purchased.....maybe you got a bad one?

Thanks for the link!
It's entirely possible that I got a bad one and I'm beginning to think that's the case, since it doesn't work on either lappy, but I'm loathe to spend more on the same item if it really doesn't work with my systems.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 1:39 pm 
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diafel @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 12:56 pm wrote:
stogie @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:12 am wrote:
I saw some inexpensive VGA to Composite Video cables on ebay for dirt cheap, but I read somewhere that they don't work. Maybe someone here can elaborate or explain?

I bought one of those originally. Doesn't work.

Those are usually only for old Dell machines that had an S-Video embedded in the extra pins of a VGA. A very good idea that didn't, unfortunately, take hold.

This is an inexpensive option:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

I know these folks were compromised, but being in the business myself I know that often those who have been humbled often get to be the ones with the best security procedures. Also, if you pay with PayPal you probably won't have too much trouble -- that's what I did so I am pretty safe.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:04 pm 
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mckyj57 @ Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:39 pm wrote:
rtunately, take hold.

This is an inexpensive option:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

I know these folks were compromised, but being in the business myself I know that often those who have been humbled often get to be the ones with the best security procedures. Also, if you pay with PayPal you probably won't have too much trouble -- that's what I did so I am pretty safe.


That's pretty much what I already have, just a different color.
As I said before, I don't mind spending the money if I know it will work.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:00 pm 
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That's the one I have and now that I think about it, I think I got it at monoprice. It's been a while and I'm not too good about keeping receipts etc. They have them on ebay too, but monoprice is a good company IMO. The have everything you could ever need and their prices are excellent.

It was a bit tricky knowing what to do at first, but once the resolution issue was discovered and set, it worked just fine. Unfortunately it needs to be set every time you set up. If you leave the little box and all the cables at the venue, you still need to hook up the USB cable to the laptop, the VGA cable needs to be plugged in to the laptop, the display properties needs to be set for 2 monitors, the display resolution for internal AND external monitor needs to be set independently, composite cable needs to be plugged into big screen if it isn't already. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. If you leave everything there except the laptop, you might be able to eventually get it down to 5 minutes.

If you have Vista I'd leave it that way and make sure it's upgraded to all the most recent Microsoft service packs and patches. My Vista works great and it's very stable. Better than XP IMO.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:33 pm 
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I won't keep Vista because I hate it. I find it to be nothing but bloatware that bogs down my system. My new computer, with is 3 years newer and much more powerful than my old computer, should be blowing the old one out of the water. Sadly, the opposite is true. It constantly freezes, locks up and crashes. The new lappy, consequently, has very few hours on it.
Everyone I talk to has the same issues, including hubby who has 3 new lappies. The other reason I'm scrapping Vista is that I have several programs that I need to run that will not run on Vista.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:14 pm 
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I don't know how you feel about a higher end wireless solution but I purchased this item:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320501083229&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1369wt_1167

and it's been performing flawlessly. I love that fact that it's wireless so I can take my input, from VGA to RCA and transmit to a remote unit and you can attach either RCA or in my case, VGA monitor.

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:32 pm 
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It's a fair bit more than I was hoping to spend but as I stated before, I'm willing to look at anything at this point... Thanks for t he suggestion.
Anyone else got anything?


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:12 am 
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Hi diafel:
I use this one http://www.meritline.com/pctv-vga-to-tv ... 35680.aspx
it is pretty much the one listed above. I would bet since they all look the same, that they are.

It works like a champion. First you can use whatever resolution y ou want upto like 1280. Set your second videio output to 1024x768 resolution, and the color quality to Medium 16bit. Set the monitor to standard tv ouput, and set the refresh rate to 60hz.

Now on the little converter, set switch 1 to the down position, and switch 2 to the up position. Make sure the converter is plugged in and powered on with the usb power adapter. Turn on your laptop. Your laptop should detect the second display.

I have been using this since December, and carry a spare. It has never let me down.

Hope this fixes it,
Felix the KJ
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:09 pm 
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$23 with free shipping that is dirt cheap.


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PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:00 am 
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letitrip@A Caution about Monoprice PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:32 am wrote:

I'm posting this here because it seems more fitting in the tech section than the general Karaoke section and since it is related to our profession I didn't want to hide it in the anything goes forum.

I know a number of folks here order from Monoprice. I just made my first purchase from them a couple months ago. Over the weekend I got a notice from them that their systems had been compromised and data has been stolen. The data includes personal and credit card information. Since receiving the notice I've gone and done some research and found out how long they sat on reports from customers about a potential breach. I've also taken the necessary safeguards from my end.

I'm posting this for two reasons, one to make sure that anyone here who orders from them watches their accounts and credit reports closely. I work in a profession that deals with breeches like this and their subsequent forensic investigations. I can tell you that companies only notify those that they believe may have been compromised but it is often times very difficult to tell just how much data an attacker had access to or how long they had access. So even if Monoprice hasn't notified you, if you've ordered from them I would recommend just being watchful of your accounts.

Second reason I post this is that I generally try to shy away from vendors who've had compromises such as this. Credit Card data should only be used and stored long enough to process the transaction. Storing after that just exposes the potential for issues like this. I never consented to monoprice storing this information and so I'm not really very happy with them. I deal with Visa PCI compliance issues all the time (although unfortunately vendors aren't required to be compliant) and I know what leads to these types of breeches. Proper due diligence could have prevented this breech, but obviously they have gaps in their controls.

So they've given me 12 months of identity theft protection, well great that doesn't help if they use my CC info, so I had to have new cards sent (and Monoprice won't cover the cost of having the process expedited so that I wouldn't be without a card for 2 weeks). Again I'm not thrilled with them and probably will not return as their customer.


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