hdmi to something else

softcon

Hello all.
I'm hoping someone here can help. I've recently bought an http://ouya.tv game console for the kids, and the only connector that comes in the box is hdmi. None of our tvs/monitors have an hdmi connector, so I need something to make the conversion. Trips to radio shack, walmart, a not-so-local gaming store, and some checking online has taught me that what I need can't be found in regular retail outlets, that a simple cable won't do, it needs to be a converter box of some sort, and that ebay is ready to sell me all kinds of things that claim to do the job but don't have any details on what the particular thing they are selling actually is.
So, I figure someone here has had the need to do this. We have tvs with hd component, regular component, svideo (both male and female), rca, vga, a connector that is similar to vga but has a slightly raised lip around the female connector (svga?) and even usb capabilities, but I have nothing that can handle hdmi. Does anyone know what I can use to connect this ouya game console to something that doesn't have an hdmi connector?
A search of the ouya site turns up nothing, so apparently, they're expecting everyone to either have hdmi, or already know how to handle it if they don't. <sigh>
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks all.

LoopyByteloose

You can get hdmi to vga converters. I have a Cubbieboard that only provided HDMI video, and yet my monitor won't work with it. I would avoid anything that is merely an adapter cable without format conversion. I tried that to jump from HDMI to SVGA and wasted my money.

It works fine with the VGA input via a HDMI to VGA converter.

There are also HDMI to NTSC TV converters.

These converters seem to not require any extenal power supply.. but are rather mysterious devices.

I am never going to buy an HDMI screen, and am disappointed with the HDMI not working on the monitor. These new video standards are intended to get us to buy more.

Buy your converter through a retailer that will allow you to return it if it doesn't work. It is very difficult to know what the outcome will be.

bomber

What was the manufacturing date of the TV? If it has a DVI connector (white connector similar to VGA but with a lot more pins), then you can buy an incredibly inexpensive (2-5 US dollars apiece) DVI to HDMI adapter. If you don't have DVI, then you will need to buy a HDMI to VGA converter (these all have built in electronics to convert the digital HDMI signals into the combination analog / digital, and therefore are more expensive) or some other from of video converter.

User Name

Exactly what bomber said. If any of your monitors have DVI (and it turns out all of mine did) then you are just a connector or cable (your choice) away from success.

Franklin

If you decide to go to VGA be aware that the cables are hit and miss working depending on the power supplied by the HDMi plug. It would be better to get a powered HDMI to VGA converter box if you plan to go that way.

LoopyByteloose

User Name wrote: »

Exactly what bomber said. If any of your monitors have DVI (and it turns out all of mine did) then you are just a connector or cable (your choice) away from success.

Well, that approach did NOT work for me. While I said HDMI to SVGA was my failure, it was actual HDMI to DVI. The whole subject of converting HDMI to legacy equipment is a quagmire. If you want, I will happily sent you two HDMI to DVI adapter cables for the cost of their postage.... all junk to me.

My monitor has DVI and VGA..... but it seems many did NOT impliment the DVI correctly. Results are very dependent on the brand of the TV or the monitor, and the model.

It is not just VGA that is hit and miss, and it seems it is not just the adapters that are hit and miss.

WBA Consulting

Clean way for HDMI to VGA output: http://www.cablestogo.com/product/40265

The HDMI to DVi adapters mentioned are all over the place, even Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Calrad-35-711A-HDMI-Female-to-DVI-Male-Adapter/21607738

LoopyByteloose

I really will send you my HDMI to DVI cablles... I am convinced these will never be of any use to me, may never work with anything. PM your mailing address to me if you want them.

softcon

WBA Consulting wrote: »

Clean way for HDMI to VGA output: http://www.cablestogo.com/product/40265

I'll check this one out.

The HDMI to DVi adapters mentioned are all over the place, even Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Calrad-35-711A-HDMI-Female-to-DVI-Male-Adapter/21607738

Yeah, but the only dvi connection I have is on my minimac, and it's for output. I already got one of those adapters, and it's a $17.00 paperweight. Fortunately, I love adapters, so I'll hang on to it, hoping it'll come in handy somewhere down the road, though I won't hold my breath, the only place I've seen those type of connectors is on some monitors, and on the apple minimacs.
I'll try the cables mentioned in another post, to go to vga, and hope that'll do the trick.
I still haven't found anything else.

RobotWorkshop

If you really want to connect convert the HDMI signal to something else then you could try something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009TC9T7K

or maybe:

http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Universal-Composite-Converter-Standard/dp/B0080KN18K

You'll still need some cables with either of these as well so that adds to the expense. Since the price on flat panels has dropped so much and just about all of them are going to have at least one or more HDMI port this may be a good time to look at picking up a new display.

That OUYA is a neat little game console and has some great games on it. The HDMI cable that came with mine wasn't good but after I swapped it out with an extra I had picked up from monoprice.com it works great.