{OT} External video card with RCA output?

[Grant]

Does anyone know of a self-powered external video card (USB, Firewire,
ExpressCard) that has composite/RCA output and works in Gentoo? I'd
like to use it to connect my laptop (VGA output only) to TVs while I'm
travelling.

- Grant

[Neil Bothwick]

Post by Grant
Does anyone know of a self-powered external video card (USB, Firewire,
ExpressCard) that has composite/RCA output and works in Gentoo? I'd
like to use it to connect my laptop (VGA output only) to TVs while I'm
travelling.

Something like this?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833

OS compatibility isn't an issue because it only deals with video signals.
There is a USB connection to the computer, but only to supply power.

[Grant Edwards]

Post by Neil Bothwick

Post by Grant
Does anyone know of a self-powered external video card (USB, Firewire,
ExpressCard) that has composite/RCA output and works in Gentoo? I'd
like to use it to connect my laptop (VGA output only) to TVs while I'm
travelling.

Something like this?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833
OS compatibility isn't an issue because it only deals with
video signals. There is a USB connection to the computer, but
only to supply power.

I've used various widgets similar to that, and they work fine.
but remember than you're not going to get much more than
640x480 resolution on a TV via composite video. Setting your
desktop to 800x600 usually works OK, but things are going to be
a bit on the fuzzy side.

[Neil Bothwick]

Post by Grant Edwards

Post by Neil Bothwick
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833
OS compatibility isn't an issue because it only deals with
video signals. There is a USB connection to the computer, but
only to supply power.

I've used various widgets similar to that, and they work fine.
but remember than you're not going to get much more than
640x480 resolution on a TV via composite video. Setting your
desktop to 800x600 usually works OK, but things are going to be
a bit on the fuzzy side.

That particular device also does S-Video, but you're never going to get
wonderful quality when using a TV without a VGA or HDMI connection.

[Grant Edwards]

Post by Neil Bothwick
That particular device also does S-Video, but you're never
going to get wonderful quality when using a TV without a VGA
or HDMI connection.

S-Video should be a little better (not much). Hotels should
provide VGA/DVI/HDMI inputs on TVs and advertise the fact.
Might draw some of the geek business. :)

[Grant]

Post by Grant Edwards

Post by Neil Bothwick

Post by Grant
Does anyone know of a self-powered external video card (USB, Firewire,
ExpressCard) that has composite/RCA output and works in Gentoo?  I'd
like to use it to connect my laptop (VGA output only) to TVs while I'm
travelling.

Something like this?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833
OS compatibility isn't an issue because it only deals with
video signals. There is a USB connection to the computer, but
only to supply power.

I've used various widgets similar to that, and they work fine.
but remember than you're not going to get much more than
640x480 resolution on a TV via composite video.  Setting your
desktop to 800x600 usually works OK, but things are going to be
a bit on the fuzzy side.
--
Grant

That looks pretty slick and it has good reviews:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815260011

Ideally, I'd like to get something with the option to use DVI or HDMI
as well as composite. Then it would need to be a sound card too
unless I was using separate audio cables. Does anyone know of
anything?

It might be even better to have a real external video and sound card
connected via a real USB interface. That way, you could use only an
HDMI cable, or you could run audio and video cables from the device to
the TV, instead of audio cables going from the laptop to the TV.
However, I'm not sure something like that exists. Here is something
that looks close:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PSVBFY

- Grant