Gadgets

ClubMan said:

The PC would presumably need a SCART or RF video out to connect to the AV sender unit? I'm not sure that most have these. Will such a connection work simultaneously with the normal VGA monitor output?

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I know not all PCs have them but I have a PC with a nVidia graphics card that supports TV out (s-video) along with the regular monitor and the TV is treated more or less as if it was a second monitor (actually I can set it to either be additional desktop space, output for full screen video or mirror the other monitor). The mirroring function could possibly achieve the required goal for monitoring the PC usage.

car said:

There was an S video cable in the ALDI TV/computer pack. My laptop has an SVideo out port. I had 2 ways to connect to the TV, my TV had an S-video in port on the side, but the ALDI pack had a scart connector which took audio and S-Video. Using that, I could have hooked the audio from phono out on the laptop so I would get the laptop sound on the TV but as I mainly use it for music I ran that to a spare channel on the (bog standard) home cinema system to get surround sound. Again, the ALDI pack had a single phono to L/R for this.
After that just press the AV channel on the TV remote til you find the channel the laptop is coming in on.

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If your hi-fi is of the AV variety, you should be able to connect the S-Video from the laptop into the amp and connect the amp to the TV. I connect a PS2, NTL Digital box and DVD all through my amp, with a single output from the amp to my TV.

Unfortunately, my current amp does not have HDMI inputs and outputs, so I also have an HDMI - DVI connection from my DVD player to the TV for optimal display.

My Dell Inspiron 510m laptop unfortunately only has a VGA output as it is one of the entry level models. Therefore, when I connect the laptop to the TV occasionally to watch AVI files etc., I have to connect it to the back of the TV. However, it looks to me like the card is removal and changeable, which would allow me to connect it to the amp.

I have also looked at wireless amps and wireless DVD players (i.e. which can connect to your music share), but so far have not gone down this route.

I am building a timber frame home and very interested in a home automation system,audio ,tv ,broadband & lighting,home cinema.Unfortunatly my technical knowledge is non existent> I have got two quotes and they are charging in the region of 11-14k and this is without the amplifer/computer ect.Is this a fair price?Would I be better buying the materials in the UK and getting the electrician to put it in,he has to do this for the companies anyway.Help needed.