Cables & Leads Blog

SCART Frequently Asked Questions
 March 3rd, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

This is another of the cables & leads series of FAQ’s which have been developed to help you our customers get a better understanding and options available to you for your home entertainment equipment  connection needs.

Syndicat des Constructeurs d’Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs or SCART as it’s most commonly known was originally developed and mainly used in Europe for connecting audio and video equipment together. Developed in 1977 it soon became popular and in France it was a required fitment on all new TV’s. Although now it’s usage is on the decrease due to newer, faster better connection technologies like HDMI cables have had to be developed to meet the ever increasing demands put on their equipment by users.

Will a scart switcher damage my tv?
If the SCART switcher is of good quality and care is taken when using it and the cables then there should be no damage from using is. Always remember to follow manufacturers instructions carefully and if in any doubt contact them for help.

What is SCART?
SCART is a connection type which was developed to connect audio and video devices together. SCART is most commonly found in Europe although attempts were made to re-brand SCART and introduce it in to America and Asia with little success.

What is a SCART socket?
SCART sockets are rectangular in shape and carry 21 pins inside them. Developed and very popular in Europe.

Do phono leads give a better picture than scart lead?
If by phono leads you mean RGB cables then SCART in theory should be better but this will most likely be a very minor improvement and hardly noticeable to the majority of people.

How to convert SCART cables to video and audio cables?
There are many SCART adapters and SCART converters available to suit your equipment and needs. Giving you the ability to use your older equipment with newer devices.

How to connect RGB SCART to DVD?
Connecting SCART RGB to your DVD will depend heavily on the type of equipment that you have and the connections available. There are SCART kits available to connect RGB outputs to SCART sockets and many other things besides.

Can I share SCART sockets?
You can if you use a splitter device to give you more SCART socket connections. Although if you have round RCA connections available it may be possible to use this instead.

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VGA Frequently Asked Questions
 February 18th, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

Here is the latest in our series of FAQ’s which we have been developing to help you our customers understand a bit more about the technologies which are now all around us.

VGA originally developed by IBM in 1987 and remained the most popular way to connect a computer display for many years. As time has gone by expectations of computer users has grown with the wealth of digital media which is commonplace now in our lives now we are in the digital age has seen a need for new faster and better technologies to be developed. Things like HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort have been developed to fill this need.

What does VGA stand for?
In its original guise it means video graphics array which was developed by IBM originally. It is also used as a term to mean the 15 pin connector used for the connection.

What is better DVI or VGA?
DVI due to it’s higher bandwidth and the quality of the transferred data to the display / screen. Also DVI is able to support higher resolutions.

What is the difference between DVI and VGA?
The two are very different in the way they work and the way that they interact with your display. DVI works on a pixel by pixel basis and interacts with them individually. Where as VGA sends the whole image to the display and it has to work out where to display them. DVI offers far greater image quality and better performance than VGA.

How convert VGA to component?
To be able to convert VGA to a component connection you will need a adapter cable available at cables and leads.

What is VGA resolution?
Technically the original VGA resolution was 640 x 480 although some of the later updates to the VGA display standard claim to be VGA and will support higher resolutions.

What is VGA?
VGA is a display standard that was first released and developed by IBM. Although in recent years many people call the 15 pin connector VGA now.

Are VGA monitor cables and power cords universal?
Yes they are. Although some monitors came with the VGA cable hard wired in to them.

What is a VGA camera?
A digital camera which can take photo’s at the standard VGA resolution 640 x 480. Good enough for email and internet use not so good if you want to print them out.

Which is better VGA or DVI for lcd?
To get the most from a lcd display it is far better to use a DVI connection due it’s increased speed and image quality.

How to connect VGA to HDMI?
You can buy a converter which will allow you to connect the two together. Although the image will not be in HD as VGA is only a analogue signal and not a digital one like HDMI is. Also the VGA interface is not fast enough to transfer the amounts of information needed by a HDMI cable.

What is a VGA monitor?
VGA monitors are the now old and outdated computer displays that were commonly connected to computers in the 90’s and very rarely used nowadays for various reasons.

What is the difference between VGA and megapixel?
VGA’s resolution of 640 x 480 holds 0.3 megapixels of information about the photo. So the more megapixels the camera is rated at the better the outputted image quality and detail. A old school 35 mm camera image will have around 20 million pixels worth of information.

What is a VGA port?
It is a graphics port which passes a analogue signal to a display a rounded rectangle in shape with a 15 pin connection.

How to use VGA laptop to TV?
First you need to make sure that you have the correct cable, connectors and any adapters to suit your equipment. Once you have then it is simply a process of plugging each end in to the respective ports and selecting the correct input channel on your TV. Before turning on your laptop you will also need to alter it’s resolution, it may be necessary to check your help documentation if you are unsure on how to do this.

Do you use both DVI and VGA cables?
No, only use one preferably a DVI connection if you can as they give far superior image quality to the older VGA standard.

What is better VGA or component?
For quality output a good quality component cable will give far better results than a VGA connection.

What is a VGA cable?
VGA cables are used to connect a computer to it’s display although this is now outdated and nowadays you are more likely to see DVI or DisplayPort technologies used for the same purpose. VGA cables have 15 pin connectors on both ends and will vary in length.

How long can a VGA cable be?
There are a number of things that can affect the length of VGA cable that you can use things such as cable quality, resolution, refresh rate of the output and display. As a general rule though with standard retail cabling you will possibly start seeing interference at around 10 feet in length. Over this you would most likely need higher quality cables or take it over a cat5e/6 network cable.

How to convert VGA to s-video?
It is a very simple process to convert VGA to s-video all you need is a adapter cable then plug them in.

Why use a DVI to VGA adapter?
There are number of reasons for this, you may want to use two monitors but have only one DVI output and one VGA output. You may want to use a older display on your DVI only computer and the list goes on..

How to connect VGA to your TV?
This will depend on the TV and what sockets you have spare then you will need a adapter or converter to connect the two together. This can be achieved by using a USB to VGA adapter from a computer.

VGA connector on TV is that good quality?
VGA is a legacy connection type now being outdated by newer and faster technologies which will give far better results.

Can dual monitors work if VGA and DVI are on motherboard?
Yes they can work seamlessly together although you should only connect one to a monitor at a time.

Laptop only has VGA out how do i connect to a TV?
You will need a laptop to TV kit which will include all the cables and connectors you will need to connect them together.

How to use RCA cable with VGA monitor?
To use RCA on your VGA monitor you will need a converter cable or converter plug.

What is a VGA adapter?
VGA adapters are used when you don’t have a VGA input on one of the devices that you want to connect together popular VGA adapters are available for many things like DVI, HDMI, RCA etc..

How do I connect my laptop to my TV using a VGA cable?

There are kits available to suit most laptops that allow you to do this take a look on our site for TV to laptop kits.

Cant get sound from TV when in the VGA mode?
This is because VGA does not transmit sound only images. You will need to connect the sound from your laptop / computer using a phono / RCA lead.

Can VGA be converted to component?
You can convert the connection using a adapter but the signal will be only as good as VGA.

How to fix no VGA detected?
Check the connections are both ok and that they have both been tightened up correctly also check the condition of the cable itself to see if it is in good order.

Is there a real difference between DVI and VGA?
Most people who have looked at a computer display using both connection types that they can see a big difference in image quality and crispness when using DVI.

Can VGA to HDMI converters increase picture quality?
Some people say that they can see a difference but there shouldn’t be any, as you are restricted by the VGA connections limitations.

Can VGA cable carry an HDMI signal to a TV?
Simply put, no. As they are both completely different technologies one HDMI is digital and one is analogue.

Can you covert direct TV signal to VGA monitor?
Yes you can do this conversion but you will need to use a dedicated signal converter.

Can I connect my VGA cable to an RCA input?
Connecting VGA to RCA is possible with the correct converter kit.

Related Articles:
HDMI Frequently Asked Questions

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Apple iPad Mania Will Grow as Release Nears
 February 4th, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

A ridiculous amount of coverage has already been devoted to the iPad, and you know what? This is just the beginning.

As incredible as it may seem, we’re just on the cusp of iPad mania. That’s because Apple’s introduction of the iPad last week signalled the start of a nebulous period of roughly 60 days before the iPad is actually available in late March. Though you might reasonably assume there would be a lull in iPad coverage, just the opposite is the case. The mania seems to reach new heights each day, stoked by Apple’s secrecy, the fervour of Apple fanboys (and detractors), the questions and uncertainties raised by Apple’s announcement and the anticipation over actually being able to purchase an iPad.

Every nuance of Apple’s announcement, every decision about the iPad’s features or omissions (no camera, no Flash technology), every element of the iPad’s design and technology is being dissected in a seemingly endless stream of news articles and blog posts, with headlines like “Four of the iPad’s Biggest Whiffs,” “Apple iPad: 25 Unanswered Questions” and “The iPad’s Five Flaws, and Why They Don’t Matter.”

And, from all indications, iPad mania is not limited to rabid Apple enthusiasts. Everyone, it seems, wants to know what it’s really like. Stephen Colbert appeared at the Grammy Awards with an iPad, generating a fury of Twitter posts. The iPad isn’t even in stores, and yet it’s already a cultural icon. No wonder several friends of mine, when asking me about it, were surprised to learn you couldn’t order one yet.

It will be a relief when the iPad finally arrives.

Steve Jobs Showing the New iPad

Steve Jobs Showing the New iPad

Until then, here’s a primer on some of the key issues and questions to emerge about iPad, as well as spots to help you keep tabs on the latest iPad news, speculation and commentary.

• The publishing industry: In one extraordinary development, the iPad — and its iBookstore for e-books—apparently led to a weekend of brinksmanship between Amazon and Macmillan, a major book publisher, over pricing of books for Amazon’s Kindle device. (Macmillan wanted to raise prices.) Amazon relented, issuing a statement saying the company would “capitulate and accept Macmillan’s terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own books.”

As technologist John Gruber wrote at his blog, Daring Fireball: “Just me, or does it seem like an Apple device that won’t ship for another 53 days already upended Amazon’s Kindle business? What kind of sense does it make to accuse a publisher of having a ‘monopoly’ over its own titles?”

• The disappearing file system: Yes, that sounds technical, but bear with me; this issue has implications for everyone using computers. For years, computer users have gotten used to navigating through folders and files to find documents. Files, folders, documents — that’s the vocabulary of what it means to use a computer. If you want to work on a file, whether it’s a spreadsheet or an image, you find it, then open it, and start working.

But the iPad, like the iPhone and (as well as popular Apple applications, like iTunes), largely does away with the traditional file system, or so it seems. You want to work on a presentation? You open an app. To add cool effects to a photo? You choose the right app. It is quite possible this is a shift we will increasingly see in the software used on personal computers.

• Magazines: I was hoping for a whiz-bang demo of a tablet-friendly magazine at the iPad launch. No luck. The Unofficial Apple Weblog asked, “Where’s the iMag store?” But maybe Apple is counting on magazine publishers to develop new ways of distributing magazine via apps, as is already happening with the iPhone, or via websites optimized for the iPad’s touch-screen capabilities.

• Too much control of apps?: Pretty much anyone can develop and sell software for Macintosh and Windows computers, but if you want to sell an application for the iPad or iPhone, the app needs to get Apple’s OK. That’s controversial with the iPhone, but even more so with a device likely to have many more uses, including many professional ones. Such a system raises a lot of legitimate concerns about whether one company should have this level of control, and the possibilities for its abuse to harm competitors.

Plenty of other questions are being discussed and dissected in minute detail. What was Apple thinking by not including a camera? (That one’s mystifying to me.) Will the use of Flash, a technology used at many websites, decline in use because it’s not part of the iPhone and iPad? Will future versions of the iPad allow for multitasking — the ability to use several apps at once?

by Allan Hoffman
Article Source: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/apple_ipad_mania_will_only_gro.html

Related Articles:
HDMI’s Role in The Future of 3D TV

USB 3 – The Next Generation of USB Connections

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What is the difference between Cat5 and Cat6
 January 22nd, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

As with most things these days’ things get smaller and faster but they seem to come with more features or more potential for expansion. Even the humble network or Ethernet cable hasn’t managed to escape from this trend. There is a drastic need for this though and that is with the take up of digital devices within our homes and the need to transmit vast amounts of data between these digital devices.

Whether you are using your computer connected to your TV for watching High Definition Movies or listening to MP3’s stored on your computer on your home entertainment system you will be able to do all of this and potentially a lot more as time goes by.

So what are the differences between Cat5 Cable and Cat6 Cable?

Cat5 cable has been around now for many years, although they have managed to keep pace with what was needed from them being able to transmit at either 10 or 100 mbps. Unfortunately this is now just too slow, with all the changes in the equipment that has gone on. There is also a enhanced version of the cat5 cable called cat5e which is capable of transferring at up to gigabit speeds (1000mbps) also offering better shielding and less corruption of data although they can not be certified to run at these speeds.

Click Here to Buy a CAT5 cable

Click Here to Buy a CAT5 cable

Cat6 cable on the other hand has been developed to allow for far greater transfer speeds while offering even better protection against data loss. This has been achieved by changing the way that the cables are made offering a separator which runs the full length of the cable. Cat6 Cable is certified to at least gigabit speeds and most Cat6 cables are more than capable of running at 10gigabit.

To achieve the faster speeds stated previously from a Cat5e cable or Cat6 cable it is not just a case of plugging the cable into existing equipment as many people believe it to be. A network connection is only every as fast as the slowest component, so if your existing equipment is not able to run at the faster speeds then it will not be any faster than it is at present. With all of that said you would be able to expand in the future without having to get new cables if you chose Cat6 cable now.

Related Articles:
What is SCART
What is DisplayPort


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How to convert SCART to USB
 January 15th, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

If you are trying to convert SCART to USB you will be happy to know that there are SCART to USB kits available that allow you to do this very easily. Whether you are trying to record TV programs to your laptop or recording your old videos and writing them to DVD’s. Some kits even supply you with not only the connectors and adapters to allow you to connect your video recorder or other output device such as a Sky HD box to your laptop. But they also supply you with the software that you need to record your videos or TV on to your computer in a simple and easy way.

Even when you have a kit with everything you need there are as always a few things that you will need to take care of and keep an eye on to make sure that your recordings are as good as you would want them to be.

Click Here to buy a SCART to USB Kit

Click Here to buy a SCART to USB Kit

Ensure you have enough space on your hard drive to store the recorded files uncompressed video files are large in size and take up huge mounts of space. If you are short of space then backup as much data as you can to a DVD or another computer / hard drive to increase free space before recording. Similarly between each recording also back them up as you have made them, this will help with the performance and quality of the recordings.

Make sure that the cables are connected not only the correct way around but also are connected tightly and not much chance of them falling out. Also make sure that they are not trailing across the floor where people can trip of them and pull them out mid-recording.

Familiarise yourself with the software before hand and possibly do a test recording before hand.

Following the above process and advice will help make the entire project go without too many hiccups giving you the ability to watch and relive all of those happy memories again.

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How to convert USB to HDMI
How to Connect a Laptop to a TV

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How to Convert USB to HDMI
 January 11th, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

Converting a USB port to allow a connection through a HDMI cable to a HD ready display is easily achievable; although at first glance it can seem a little complex, fortunately you can get a USB to HDMI Kit to help make the whole process a lot easier to do. By doing this you can use two displays on your PC or laptop this can be used to duplicate what is showing on your initial display or as a extra screen so for example you can be writing a document / surfing the web while watching movies or videos on the other. I am sure you can appreciate the benefits of both. But how can it be done and what do I need in a USB to HDMI Kit.

As USB is not designed to transmit video signals that your display can read then you need to do a little bit of manipulating, converting the connection first to DVI and then out through a HDMI lead to the display. To make this operation easier there are kits available that give you everything you need,

A USB to DVI converter that plugs in to a spare USB slot on your PC or laptop, this then makes the operating system see the USB slot as a new display port.

USB to HDMI Kit

Click Here to Buy a USB to HDMI Kit

A DVI to HDMI converter that allows the connection of a HDMI lead to your high definition display for you to do whatever you want with it.

A set of audio leads RCA type, as both DVI HDMI can transfer both audio and video channels at the same time your USB ports will not allow this so it is necessary to use separate cables for the audio channels.

The idea of the USB to HDMI Kit is to help utilise existing equipment in different ways, having two displays for your computer can have many benefits including watching modern internet based media through your high quality TV display etc…

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How to Connect a Laptop to a TV
How to Mount a Flat Screen TV

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HDMI’s Role in The Future of 3D TV
 January 7th, 2010
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

CES 2010 is abuzz with stories about the impending arrival of 3D HDTV, but what does that really mean for consumers? Do you need a new TV? A new Blu-ray player? What about new cables?

HDMI has become the standard interface for delivering high-quality audio and video content to HDTVs. TheHDMI consortium just released new guidelines for 3D certification. The 3D requirements in the v1.4 spec requires that displays support all mandatory 3D formats and that source material must support at least one of the mandatory 3D formats.

PCMag had the chance to ask what this all means to Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, before he headed off to CES this year. Here’s his insider’s take on where this technology is heading.

How big will 3D TV and peripheral sales be this year?
As HDMI Licensing, LLC is just in charge of licensing the HDMI specification; we are not privy to the product plans of our adopters. However, we certainly do receive first-hand information about the types of features that Adopters are excited about. From those conversations, it is clear to us that 2010 will be the first real year that 3D is launched into the home in a mainstream manner. While we don’t have specific sales forecasts, all of the major brands of HDTV manufacturers are launching 3D sets this year.

Will 3D displays essentially require HDMI? Is there any other way to send that much information?
No.3D can be done through other interfaces such as DisplayPort, DVI or analogue. However, each manufacturer will likely have to create proprietary 3D communication structures/meta-data structures that would be specific to each manufacturer or technology vendor. HDMI is the first interface to define a common 3D communication structure to enable 3D interoperability. HDMI has given manufacturers assurance that 3D devices will work together.

What will consumers need to buy to get a real 3D experience? A new set top box? A new HDTV? A new cable?
They will need new devices that support 3D. Some devices, such as the [set top box], may be software upgradable depending on the service provider and (the STB) hardware combination. Upgradability is determined by the service providers. Consumers will [also] need an HDTV that is HDMI 3D capable. Consumers will not need a new cable as long as their cable is a high-speed HDMI cable capable of supporting the full 10.2 Gbps bandwidth of HDMI.

What exactly are the 3D requirements within HDMI 1.4?
We have divided up the specification into two formats: mandatory and informative. We have done this because the market is still nascent, and there are many competing formats that many manufacturers are working with. Thus, we have stated that HDMI requires certain mandatory formats that anyone who implements 3D over HDMI must use. Therefore, manufacturers are free to use any or all of the “informative” formats that are contained within the specification. This way, the HDMI Consortium allows a variety of formats, but ensures that devices that implement 3D over HDMI will interoperate.

Article Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357710,00.asp

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HDMI Frequently Asked Questions
 December 30th, 2009
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

We get asked all kinds of questions about HDMI cables day in day out, so we have decided to put together this useful HDMI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) article to help answer some of your questions.

If you cannot find the answer to your HDMI questions, feel free to post a comment at the bottom of the article and we will add it to to our FAQs’. Alternatively why not give us a call on 0845 009 9134 and speak to one of our technicians.

What is HDMI?
HDMI is the industry standard for connecting high definition devices such as Sky HD box’s and Blu-Ray players to high definition TV’s & screens.

What does HDMI stand for?
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.

What is a HDMI input on a TV?
A HDMI input on a TV is an interface for connecting High Definition devices such as SKY HD box’s and Blu-Ray players.

What is the difference between DVI and HDMI?
Both DVI & HDMI are used for delivering High Definition signals; however the main difference is that DVI will only deliver Video Signals, it will not deliver audio signals, whereas HDMI delivers both. As a result of this their main uses are varied. HDMI cables are used for TV devices whilst DVI tends to be used more for computer monitors and displays.

What is better HDMI or DVI?
Both HDMI & DVI support High Definition resolutions, however DVI cannot distribute sound. HDMI’s ability to support both sound and video makes it the more versatile of the 2, and the preferred choice amongst professionals.

What is the best HDMI cable?
There is a lot of confusion about whether you should spend a lot of money on a high quality HDMI cable or whether a cheap cable would be just as good. To help answer this question we have written an article about choosing the right HDMI cable. Click Here To Read “Why HDMI Doesn’t Have To Cost As Much As You Think”

Are all HDMI cables the same?
The functionality of HDMI cables remains the same throughout. This is because HDMI uses a digital signal, so the signal is either on or off. The quality of that signal cannot vary like analogue signals can. There are 2 main aspects that can change from cable to cable. The first is the speed at which the cable delivers the signal, and the second is the quality of the components used to manufacture the cable. The more expensive HDMI cables tend to run at higher speeds and use more expensive components.

Why use a HDMI cable?
HDMI cables are a very inexpensive way of delivering a High Definition signal. Their cost effectiveness means that they are the perfect way of connecting High Definition Devices to TV screens.

Who makes the best HDMI cable?
Although this is down to personal choice, Monster Cables are widely regarded as being the market leaders in high end HDMI Cables.

Do I need a HDMI Cable?
It all depends on what you are looking to connect and what kind of quality you are looking to achieve. Because this is such an open question, we feel the best way to answer this would be on an individual basis, so why not give us a call and speak to one of our technicians on 0845 009 9134

What are HDMI cables used for?
HDMI Cables are used for connecting High Definition devices to High Definition Display’s like TV’s. Some of these devices include Sky HD boxes, DVD players, set top receivers, Blu-Ray players, and games consoles.

Are Flat HDMI cables better than round ones?
No. There is no difference in the quality these 2 cables deliver; the only difference between them is cosmetic.

Does HDMI deliver 7.1 sound?
Yes as long as the device you are connecting from outputs 7.1 via HDMI. For example SKY HD boxes only output stereo sound via HDMI, if you want digital sound you need to output you sound via an optical cable.

Can I run a laptop through the TV using HDMI?
Yes! We have even written an article about how to do this. Click Here To Read “How to Connect a Laptop to a TV”

What is HDMI 1.3?
HDMI 1.3 is an industry standard. It was released on the 22nd June 2006 and supported a higher bandwidth of 340 MHz (10.2 Gbit/s) than the previous 1.2 standard. Most cables manufactured these days support HDMI 1.3.

What is the maximum distance HDMI Cables can go?
HDMI can travel to around 25 metres without the signal needing to be amplified. Any further than 25m then you will need to use a HDMI over Ethernet Extender to distribute the signal.

How can I extend HDMI?
For Distances over 25 metres you can extend HDMI using a HDMI over Ethernet Extender.

Why buy a monster HDMI cable?
Monster HDMI Cables offer a high end solution for true high definition resolutions. Monster Cables use high quality components allowing the HD signal to be delivered at high speed. Monster Cables also come with quite a long warranty giving you piece of mind that your cable will be remain of the high standard you would expect.

Do HDMI cables really make a difference?
Yes, a HDMI cable can deliver 1080p true HD resolutions.

Is HDMI better than Component Video?
Yes, although component video cables support High Definition they are not digital cables, they are analogue. Therefore are not quite as good as HDMI Cables. Also, component does not support audio.

How do you distribute HDMI?
If you are looking to split the signal and distribute to more than one screen you should use a HDMI Splitter. If you are looking to distribute the signal over distance you should use a HDMI over Ethernet Extender.

Why is my HDMI picture no better than terrestrial TV?
HDMI is just the cable that is used to send the signal and will only ever be as good as the signal it is sending. Most TV stations do not transmit in High Definition instead they have dedicated HD channels e.g. BBC HD. These channels are the only channels you can currently watch in high definition; all other channels will seem no different. There will be a time when all TV channels are transmitted in HD; however we are some way off that at present.

Can you get 1080i using HDMI to component video cable?
Yes, Although HDMI is digital and Component is Analogue, both support 1080i resolutions so converting one to the other should not pose any problems.

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How to Connect a Laptop to a TV
 December 16th, 2009
Cables & Leads

Cables & Leads

The increase in popularity of people using Laptop and notebook computers rather than the larger traditional PC has lead to more people using there TV’s instead of a computer monitor. Although the quality of the image displayed will be dependant on your TV. Whether you want to watch movies from your Laptop or use it for surfing the web, with the right know how it is a very easy and can be very worthwhile to connect your laptop to a TV.

In this guide on how to connect a laptop to a TV we will help give you the knowledge you need to be able to get the task done as easily as possible.

Getting your laptop connected up is basically as easy as getting a cable and connecting the two together, then changing the display settings on the laptop to allow the best image possible for the particular TV you are using.

Choosing the right cable for your equipment is where the problems start, there are so many available with different types of connectors to suit a full range of equipment that has been made over the years. Particularly in the last few years there have been so many changes in the types of cable used. To help make sure that you get your laptop connected to your TV as easily as possible it is necessary to identify what type of ports you have available on both your laptop and on your TV. We’ll go over the most common here and describe them as best we can to allow you to make the right choices, no matter if you have the latest equipment or it is a little older.

The majority of TV sets and Laptops will use one of the following Composite or RCA, S-Video, Scart, VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort don’t worry if your laptop and TV don’t have the same type of connections available as there are a number of converters / adapters available to take care of this.

So what are they all and how do I tell the difference?

Flat Screen TV

Flat Screen TV

Composite Cables or sometimes known as phono leads were very common a few years ago using three round coloured connectors and used to transmit analogue data. The three connectors are yellow for video, white for the left channel audio and red for right channel audio.

S-Video cables or Super Video is still popular and consists of a round connector with between 4 and 7 pins for the video signal and two audio cables for the left and right audio channels the same as RCA.

Scart Cables are rectangular in shape and have 21 pins in two horizontal rows. Commonly used on European TV’s and are capable of transferring both audio and video signals in standard definition. Now of course they are outdated and if your equipment is modern it is unlikely to use them.

VGA cables commonly used on older laptops and desktop computers and are a 15 pin connector and have a rounded rectangle shape. The VGA cable is only capable of transferring video information for audio you will normally have to use RCA cables.

DVI cables are rectangular in shape and have three horizontal rows of 8 pins giving a total of 24 pins. These were the standard connector for digital video until recently with the advent of newer and faster technologies.

The HDMI Cable is now the standard for digital connections and used for watching HD TV etc… They are rectangular in shape and about half the size of a DVI connector having only 19 pins in the connection. One of the advantages of these is that they can transfer both digital audio and video.

DisplayPort Cables have been specifically developed for connecting computers to there displays and to home entertainment systems and allowing the transfer of High definition data both audio and video.

Once you know what connection types you have on your equipment from the list above it is then time to start looking for a laptop to TV cable that will suit your equipment.

Can’t find the right cable? Click Here For Help Finding A Cable

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How to Mount a Flat Screen TV

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Christmas Support Opening Hours
 December 15th, 2009
Seasons Greetings From Cables & Leads

Seasons Greetings From Cables & Leads

The Festive season is upon again. Mince pies and after dinner mints will no doubt be consummed by the plenty. And whilst we endevour to offer a second to none support service, we will however be closing for a short period to allow our staff to embrace the Christmas Spirit. We would therefore like to provide you with our Christmas & New year opening times.

Seasonal / Christmas Support Times

Our telephone lines are open until 17.00 on Wednesday 23rd December and re-open as details below:

  • Thursday 24th December – Christmas Eve – Closed
  • Friday 25th December – Christmas Day – Closed
  • Saturday 26th December – Closed
  • Sunday 27th December – Closed
  • Monday 28th December – Bank Holiday – Closed
  • Tuesday 29th December – 9.00 to 12:00
  • Wednesday 30th December – 9.00 to 12:00
  • Thursday 31st December – New Years Eve – Closed
  • Friday 1st January – New Years Day – Closed
  • Saturday 2nd January – Closed
  • Sunday 3rd January – Closed

    • Deliveries

    From the above dates, the only working days we would expect deliveries to be made via Royal Mail and Fedex Couriers are:

  • Christmas Eve (am only)
  • Tuesday 29th December
  • Wednesday 30th December
  • New Years Eve (am only)

    • Deliveries and full support hours to return to normal on Monday 4th January 2010. Online Support and the Cables & Leads website is open as usual over the holidays.Wishing everyone a great festive holiday and we look forward to serving you in 2010.

    Best Wishes

    Cables & Leads

    Not sure which cable you need? Click Here For Help Finding A Cable

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