Tech: Monitor Cable

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 May 19 - 08:30 PM

As for monitors, I think I've spoiled myself. I don't think I can stand a desktop computer unless it has two monitors. I have twin 27-inch monitors now, mounted on a single post that is bolted to my desk. One monitor has an HDMI connection to my computer, the other VGA. They work equally well. I use one monitor to research information, and the other one is where I post my work. How could I work otherwise now?

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 May 19 - 08:20 PM

Yeah, SPB-Cooperator, don't worry about making links. Just post the URL(address), and somebody will make a link for you.
Joe

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Stanron
Date: 18 May 19 - 05:55 PM

If the photo is stored online, copy the wed address from your browser into a mudcat post. That in itself wont make a blue clicky but the computer savvys will be able to use it. If the photo is on your phone or PC you would have to load it onto a site like Photobucket and post that address.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 18 May 19 - 03:00 PM

I am lost when it comes to hardware jargon - if only everything in the world was excel!!!!! Is their a way I can make a link to a photo of the monitor socket (in plain English please).

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: DaveRo
Date: 18 May 19 - 02:26 PM

I think that in that case it would be a type A socket - the rectangular one. This one is square apparently.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 18 May 19 - 12:40 PM

I'd guess a monitor might have a USB port for playing media /music/ photos etc direct from a USB stick or Hard Drive.
If that's the case, the monitor would have an inbuilt firmware simple media player...???

Loads of different devices included this USB media player function.
Especially Televisions and Freeview boxes/ DVD players/ etc...

I even have a 10 or more year old USB Hard Drive with built in firmware to play media
direct to a monitor...

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: DaveRo
Date: 18 May 19 - 01:38 AM

Do you mean the USB A-B cable? I've never heard it called that - though I guess that's the most common use. I have two - both on scanners. If somebody mentioned printer cable I'd think of an old Centronix cable whch were used with printers for years.

We still don't know if this monitor has USB - and if so why.

Mr Red wrote: Laptop PCs used [DisplayPort] before deciding on the far more ubiquitous HDMI

DisplayPort is superior to HDMI - you can attach more than one monitor to it for a start. I think you'll tend to find it on business laptops, like the aforementioned Lenovo T410S. HDMI ports are perhaps found mainly on cheaper laptops, or ones used for entertainment.

Interesting that Guest couldn't find a way to use it for audio. As he said, it should be possible, but if nobody does it there will be a lack of driver support.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 May 19 - 07:45 PM

Dave, you described what is generically called a printer cable, even though it is also applicable to other devices.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 May 19 - 07:48 AM

WE know, but in time honoured mudcat fashion,
we're including sort of related options under the general heading "monitor cable"..

Always handy to broaden these threads out to increase awareness
if anyone else is looking in here to solve their particular problems...

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 17 May 19 - 07:37 AM

Ed, nope, it is my monitor that doesn't have an HDMI socket.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 May 19 - 02:55 AM

Display Port to HDMI @ Amazin'

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 16 May 19 - 03:07 PM

Something like this, psr?

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 May 19 - 01:19 PM

I think there are USB to HDMI converters for some android tablets and phones..
Dunno if it also works out of a PC/Laptop USB port...???

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 19 - 11:59 AM

Lenovo T410S uses a "Display Port" - compatible with HDMI, electrically, protocol-ly, but hardware-ly not. No Audio, even though there is provision for it in the "standard", see Wiki. I remember looking and finding a converter cable, but would have had to route audio from the 3.5mm Jack. So gave up.

It is square, looks a bit like USB A - particulalry if you don't look down the hole. And a USB plug goes in about 1/3. For that matter a USB goes into an RJ45 all the way and if you don't notice the vertical play, it can give you grief of minutes till you actually look at the back of the Laptop and check which hole it is in, and why it always goes in, up or down!
Because you inevitable do it by feel, that's why!

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: DaveRo
Date: 15 May 19 - 02:34 AM

I was puzzed by "the one with the pin holes and a small square shaped socket" - I thought that referred to a single socket and I couldn't think if anything that looked like that. Some ancient proprietary thing, I thought. A DVI has a square section of four pins at one end hence my suggestion.

USB 'B' connectors are square. The monitor was described as old so probably not USB3 but you couldn't send video down USB 1 or 2 so it must do something else. If there were another USB socket it'd probably be a hub so you can plug in a mouse.

The make and model number would identify it - Dell apparantly fitten USB sockets.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 May 19 - 02:13 AM

same as the square-shaped USB cable socket on my printer?

HDMI springs to mind, but there is an alterntive (and compatible) to HDMI which in my case doesn't carry audio. looks to be "Display Port" and it is oblong rather than trapezoid. Laptop PCs used it before deciding on the far more ubiquitous HDMI

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 14 May 19 - 01:20 PM

Maplin Closures

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 May 19 - 11:00 AM

They certainly do exist. We see them regularly in the computer department of our regional rummage sale.
I suspect that the "square socket" is USB3, which is the latest standard for device USBs.
Bring the laptop with you when you go shopping. Shoot a photo of the input section of the monitor. Then, when you show both to the clerk at you local computer store, you should be able to do it in one visit.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: DaveRo
Date: 14 May 19 - 07:47 AM

Try your printer's USB plug in the square socket. If it fits, plug the other end in the laptop and see what the laptop loads to drive it.

I've never seen a monitor with a USB socket, but they exist.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Stanron
Date: 14 May 19 - 07:38 AM

Has Maplin closed? It wouldn't surprise me. They moved away from their core market a long time ago.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 14 May 19 - 07:16 AM

I would pop down to Maplin to get an adaptor today, but for the fact that the government allowed Maplin to close down before making sure that consumers had another retailer to go to!!!!

Out of interest what is the other socket on my monitor for - same as the square-shaped USB cable socket on my printer?

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 May 19 - 04:35 AM

all I want to do is be able to use my monitor with my laptop

If the monitor is older, there are sure to be differing screen resolutions to consider. Total dots H & V, not DPI. Win 7 (even Win Vista) is pretty good at mixing them depending on Screen chip/driver, but..................

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: BobL
Date: 14 May 19 - 03:47 AM

You seem to be in luck! A search for "HDMI VGA adaptor" showed several suppliers, including Amazon.

And if anyone wants to check which is which is which:
HDMI
DVI
VGA

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 14 May 19 - 03:14 AM

all I want to do is be able to use my monitor with my laptop hen I am working at home as it a larger screen than the laptop display. \Both are LCD

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 May 19 - 02:57 AM

DVI - 3 rows, VGA - 2 rows

a few pointers re configs - (assume PC)
1) resolution of each - right click on desktop choose screen resolution. decide on screen configs. OS should detect second screen, hopefully.
2) resolutions if screens are to show same windows. May only do lowest.
3) if extension screen, may still need lowsest res, or if flexible be careful where you park the windows. And return the windows to the laptop before re-configuring OS & H/W.

And remember to disconnect when packing up to travel! Trust me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: DaveRo
Date: 13 May 19 - 05:38 PM

SPB-Cooperator wrote: ...the one with the pin holes and a small square shaped socket...

Is it a DVI port?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface#Connector

You can get HDMI to DVI cables - I have one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 19 - 05:33 PM

Just off the top of my head, I'll say that there are converters for everything*.

Are you using both the laptop screen and the old monitor, and are they as separate screens?

If an adapter doesn't present itself, using a docking station should do the job (but costs a lot more - on the other hand, you can use even more monitors with it.)


*We weren't able to solve the SD card slot to extra USB plug question that came up a while back.

Subject: Tech: Monitor Cable
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 13 May 19 - 04:43 PM

Can anyone advice on what type of cable I need as I would like to connect my laptop to my old desktop monitor. My laptop has an HDMI socket and USB sockets, while my monitor has a parallel socket - the one with the pin holes and a small square shaped socket. I already have a VDMI - VDMI cable. Is there a sockets converter I can get? If so, what should I be asking for?

Many thanks in advance.