Problems with SVIDEO on Toshiba Laptop

alex170872 · #1 2009-11-03, 09:24 AM CST

Hi,

I am using Fedora 9 on a Toshiba Satellite laptop, trying to connect the SVIDEO output to a normal CRT TV. When switching on the laptop, I can see the messages etc scrolling on the TV, but when I am asked for login, the TV gets black and I only see my local laptop screen. Also pressing Fn-F5 does not work anymore.
Do anyone any idea how I can fix that problem? Is this key combination somehow blocked? (xev does not show any activity when I press these two keys). Maybe there is a software way to activate the output of the laptop screen to the TV? Or something else to check?

Help, comments and questions welcome.

Alex

David Batson · #2 2009-11-03, 08:11 PM CST

I believe under System > Preferences > Display you should be able to get it to work. You may have to set the computer display and TV display to the same resolution (not sure). If you do not see: System > Preferences > Display, you may need to install system-config-display.

Note, I am not in Fedora at the moment, so what I wrote above is from memory.

MarksCorner · #3 2009-11-03, 08:43 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Batson

I believe under System > Preferences > Display you should be able to get it to work. You may have to set the computer display and TV display to the same resolution (not sure). If you do not see: System > Preferences > Display, you may need to install system-config-display.

Note, I am not in Fedora at the moment, so what I wrote above is from memory.

I am running the exact same machine and it will work if you enable dual display just like Dave explained with fc 9 or 10.
I am currently running fc 11 and system-config-display wont save the changes or at least I cant get it to.
But 9 & 10 will work right out of the box just turn it on!

Good luck
Mark

alex170872 · #4 2009-11-04, 01:35 AM CST

Hi,

thanks for the hints so far, but it does not seem to work. I don't have the choice System > Preferences > Display, so I installed system-config-display and run this instead. But this also does not solve my problems, because I get different python errors in xConfigDialog.py when trying to save changed settings in the tab 'Dual Head' (some given at the end of this message).

Is this code out-of-date? Is there an updated version available? Or something else that I can try?

Cheers
Alexander

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/share/system-config-display/xConfigDialog.py", line 167, in ok
lower_vrefresh, upper_vrefresh = self.second_monitor_vrefresh
ValueError: too many values to unpack

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/share/system-config-display/xConfigDialog.py", line 163, in ok
second_monitor = self.xconfig.monitor[1]
IndexError: index out-of-bounds

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/share/system-config-display/xConfigDialog.py", line 212, in ok
if card.getDescription() == self.secondVideocardOptionMenu.get_menu().get_acti ve().get_data("NAME"):
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'get_data'

MarksCorner · #5 2009-11-04, 05:59 AM CST

Well this is what I now have to do with fedora 11 to get my svideo port to work.
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?p=1285437
9&10 worked right out of the box for me but maybe its "system-config-display" that has taken
a dump cause it did work till I went to 11.
Anyway the thread above might/should get you going.

Hope this helps
Mark

alex170872 · #6 2009-11-07, 05:26 AM CST

Hi,

thanks for the hint on getting the S-VIDEO output working, but the thread mentioned above did not help. I tried to use

Quote:

xrandr --output TV1 --auto

but nothing changed. When I use

Quote:

xrandr -q

it lists three VGA resolutions as well as the expression

Quote:

S-VIDEO disconnected

Anything that I am missing? Any other idea to get a TV connected to the S-VIDEO port?

Thanks
Alex

David Batson · #7 2009-11-07, 05:55 AM CST

My experience with S-Video shows: for it to connect in display properties, you need have the S-Video cable connected to the TV, the TV has to be turned on, and you must have the TV tuned the correct input (such as Front Input, Rear Input, or Aux Input). It is possible you need your audio cable connected as well. Audio is not carried over S-Video. Normally you would use an adapter cable; 1/8" phono plug from the line out or headphone out on the computer to a RCA audio line in on the TV.

There are also differences in S-Video cables and jacks. Most are 4-pin, but there are some 7-pin ones out there. If you are trying to use SCART, that can create other issues.

alex170872 · #8 2009-11-07, 07:59 AM CST

Hi

thanks for the reply

Code:

My experience with S-Video shows: for it to connect in display properties, you need have the S-Video cable connected to the TV, the TV has to be turned on, and you must have the TV tuned the correct input (such as Front Input, Rear Input, or Aux Input).

I have done this; I have connected the Laptop to the turned-on TV via Scart.

Code:

It is possible you need your audio cable connected as well. Audio is not carried over S-Video. Normally you would use an adapter cable; 1/8" phono plug from the line out or headphone out on the computer to a RCA audio line in on the TV.

I have done this as well. As a matter of fact, the adio through the TV works (i.e. the audio is not coming from the laptop speakers but from the TV speakers)

Code:

There are also differences in S-Video cables and jacks. Most are 4-pin, but there are some 7-pin ones out there. If you are trying to use SCART, that can create other issues.

Maybe that is the issue? That on the TV side I am using a scart connection?

Alex

David Batson · #9 2009-11-07, 08:12 AM CST

See the following: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=17581

This is on Windows, but the problem is the same.

MarksCorner · #10 2009-11-07, 03:39 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex170872

Hi,

thanks for the hint on getting the S-VIDEO output working, but the thread mentioned above did not help. I tried to use

but nothing changed. When I use

it lists three VGA resolutions as well as the expression

Anything that I am missing? Any other idea to get a TV connected to the S-VIDEO port?

Thanks
Alex

Thats odd it works on my satellite just fine. I am running Fedora 11 tho
Everything worked just fine right out of the box untill I upgraded to 11 now this is one of the things that
plague my machine and vmware is another.

David Batson · #11 2009-11-07, 05:02 PM CST

The problem is that the OP is using SCART. Not sure if this can be resolved if SCART is in use or not. The link I posted above shows what problems can crop up when trying to use SCART with S-Video.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scart

alex170872 · #12 2009-11-14, 12:11 PM CST

Hi,

thanks to all of you for the replies. But lets get this straight...

As I understand, even if the laptop is connected to the TV (S-Video on the laptop side and Scart on the TV side) it might never work (to display the laptop screen on the TV)?. Is that what you are trying to say?

The TV does not have any S-Video input, I double checked that. It only has two scart inputs at the rear and RCA on the front. But no S-Video. Could it work to connect S-Video with RCA? I should I use a different laptop or a different TV?

Thanks
Alex

David Batson · #13 2009-11-14, 10:35 PM CST

I don't know for sure. Never messed with SCART myself. I only know what I read from those links (which was some time ago - I had them bookmarked). Read through the first thinkpad forum link I posted above and the other ones that are linked within it, then decide if it looks feasible. I really don't remember what all I read there, and I don't plan on reading it all again.