Chris Marshall has a question he hopes someone can help him with…
When I bought the Mac mini I knew that it didn’t support Dual Screen but that it was possible to connect two screens via a DVI splitter device, which would allow you to run two screens in mirror mode.
This would be ideal for me as I would like to have the Mac mini connected to my 23″ Cinema HD Screen and to my TV via the DVI to Video Adapter.
I can connect the screen directly to my Mac mini and it works perfectly. I can connect the DVI adapter to my Mac mini and to my TV via an s-cable and it works perfectly.
I have bought a 2 Port DVI Splitter, but this is where I start to have a problem. If I connect the splitter to the Mac mini and connect the screen to the splitter the screen works perfectly – so far so good. BUT when I connect the DVI to Video adapter to the splitter, zilch. The screen still works but I don’t get anything on the TV.
I have tried the screen connected to both ports on the splitter and it works on both, so I know that both ports are working fine on the splitter. I have followed the splitter instructions to the letter i.e. connect the screens, then connect the splitter to the Mac mini, then power up the splitter and then finally power up the Mac mini, so I can’t see what the problem is.
Logic tells me that there must be something different between the port on the back of the Mac mini which allows the DVI to Video adapter to connect and work, and the ports on the back of the splitter. I have just read this on the Apple site under the description of the DVI to Video Adapter:
“The Apple DVI to Video Adapter is designed to work with the DVI port on the MacBook Pro, Mac mini and Power Mac G5 systems only. Use a separate DVI to VGA Adapter for VGA video out for MacBook Pro, Mac mini or Power Mac G5 (included with all MacBook Pro, Mac mini or Power Mac G5 systems or available for order as a standalone kit). ”
At the moment the workaround is to disconnect the splitter from the Mac mini and plug in the DVI to Video adapter each time that I want to hook up to the TV, but this is a little fiddley given the inevitable amount of cables at the back of my desk, and not ideal in that the TV is in another room so I can’t actually see the screen (all I want to do is watch a movie that I have recorded to the Mac mini so this set up is actually not as mad as it seems) so need to take my wireless mighty mouse through with me to control the screen, which is actually a pretty cool thing to do. Another down side is that as I have a number of things hooked up to the USB and Firewire ports on the Screen daisy chained through the Mac Mini and the LaCie external drive and hub, when I unplug the screen I effectively removed devices and they don’t always reconnect straight off when I reconnect the screen.
So I really would appreciate any suggestions on how to work around this problem. Maybe I need a more “powerful” splitter, or another type of converter/adapter?
Written by Chris Marshall, Our European Editor.
Weblog: MyAppleStuff
I too was looking for a solution. What I discovered, is that the DVI port on the back of your Mini outputs both Digital and Analog signals, but not at the same time. The Cinema Display gets a Digital signal, while the other TV adapter outputs an Analog signal.
From Apple’s website: http://www.apple.com/macmini/accessories.html
DVI to Video Adapter
Use Mac mini with an analog NTSC or PAL standard definition TV.
There is this solution to handle to VGA displays at once: http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/437.html
This is an interesting looking adapter: DVI to DVI and Component Adapter – DVI-I Male to DVI-D Female and 3 RCA Female Breakout Cable http://www.markertek.com/Searc.....;sort=prod
Not sure if it will work tho.
Here’s a good article called “DVI Demystified” : http://www.national-tech.com/i.....emystified
Wish I had a better solution for you.
-BeenThere2
Hi
Thanks – this is all I got so far from the manufacturer of the splitter:
Hello
We assume that this should be something to do with your display settings as it should be viable to have both running at the same time.
Se the FAQ here to see if this helps
http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk.....9d70b06a38
Regards
Cable Universe Ltd
Typical – blame the computer, but what makes it worse is that they point me to a FAQ that only has two questions on it and only talks about Windows!!!
I have seen the splitter that you mention, but it looks exactly like the one I have spec wise. I am starting to think that there must be something in the signal that is causing the problem. The fact that I can hook up to the TV fine when connected directly to the Mac mini with the DVI to Video adapter, but that adapter doesn’t work with the splitter seems to indicate this. The spec of the port on the Mac mini is DVI/VGA output, and although the ports look the same on the splitter they only talk about DVI output, so my guess is that they don’t support VGA? The splitter in the link above talks about splitting a VGA signal so maybe that would work – will explore a bit more.
I couldn’t get into the second link using either Firefox or Safari – said cookies needed enabing which they are!! What you using to access it? The third link is a really good article@
Again, thanks
Two more responses which confirm that the diagnosis was correct BUT offer a potential way forward! Is also really good to see that they will provide a refund on the original splitter
Hello
This would indicate that the dvi connection is a DVI-I i.e. it has the ability to convert to an analogue connection (VGA) as it has the 2 pins above and below the horizontal connected. See here for the varying types:
http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/hdmi/
The dvi splitter will not work if any analogue connections are fed through it. The splitter has to be used with DVI cables only and cannot be used in conjunction with a dvi to vga converter.
Hope this makes sense!
Regards
Cable Universe Ltd
Hello
Unfortunately this is not an item we stock. We have seen them on the market but tend to be more expensive, e.g.
http://www.lindy.com/uk/produc...../index.php
We shall naturally refund against switch if of no use.
Should you decide this is the case, Please return the goods to:
Cable Universe, Unit 7, Coombe Park, Ashprington, Devon, TQ9 7DY.
enclosing a copy of your invoice, a daytime contact number & a note
explaining you require a refund as not required.
Kind regards
Cable Universe Ltd
Chris:
The other issue maybe the video card itself. The internal video card and software “sense” which pins on the DVI port are being used, and send out the appropriate type of signal (at least that’s what they are supposed to do). The mac mini’s video card probably can’t handle this simultaneous dual output.
So here’s a completely different idea: Get a box that can do video input and ouput thru the firewire port!
There is the PYRO A/V Link (API-558-EFS) at: http://www.adstech.com/product.....PI-558-EFS
Some of the the spec’s :
• Digital/Analog Mode Selector switch
• Inputs:Video -RCA,S-Video,Component (YPbPr),4 Pin 1394 connector; Audio:Right and Left RCA
• Outputs –Video:RCA,S-Video,Component (YPbPr),6 Pin 1394 Connector; Audio:Right and Left RCA
There are a few fire units that do video out as well.
Just need to find software that will allow you to send what you want out thru the firewire output. Good luck.
-BeenThere2
Like the idea, thanks for the link. Will look into this as an option
You seem top be spot on about the dual output issue. I just got this from the guys over at Lindy:
Hello Chris,
Thanks for your enquiry, and sorry for the delay in replying. Before I can answer you properly, I’m interested to know a couple more things –
First of all, your “DVI to Video” adapter…… I was looking on the Apple website, and I was reading that the Mac Mini apparently comes with a DVI to VGA adapter…… is this what you meant ? – Or did you mean something else ?
The Mac Mini has a DVI-I port on the back……. this means that it produces 2 signals at once (using different pins in the same DVI socket); it produces a digital signal (for connecting a DVI display), and also an analogue signal, which allows you to use the analogue DVI to VGA adapter. (If you arent familiar with VGA, this is a common PC-style monitor connector, that is still widely used, but is slowly being replaced by DVI).
So, my next question is about your TV. Is it a flat panel ? – and does it have a VGA socket in the back ?
You are right that you cant use a DVI splitter, because if they are like ours, they only support DVI-D (this is a different version of DVI, which only produces a digital signal, that wouldnt work with the VGA adapter). – I could easily have said use your DVI to VGA adapter, and use a VGA splitter…….. but of course, im expecting that your Mac Monitor uses DVI-D, so this wouldnt work either !!!
In short, I think an adapter cable like this might be the answer: http://www.lindy.com/int/produ...../index.php – please note that you will need a DVI-I cable aswell; this would be a male to male cable, and connect to the the DVI socket on the adapter cable. This then gives you a digital DVI output (to connect your Mac Monitor), and an analogue VGA output for the TV (assuming its VGA you need for the TV !!)
Before we go any further, I have assumed a lot here – please could you confirm that I have the right end of the stick ?
Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Phil Atkinson
International Sales Manager
Phil is working really hard at getting a solution for me – I think there is light at the end of the tunnel
Hey Chris,
Okay, plan B – basically, you would need to disregard your DVI to Video adapter completely…….
One more important thing to ask – Does your DVI monitor have a DVI socket in the back ? Or a sealed cable ? – Im hoping its a socket ??
IF it has a DVI socket, then this will work…….but you would need to buy all 3 of these products:
This DVI-I cable would connect to the DVI-I port on the Mac: http://www.lindy.com/int/produ...../index.php – the price is 19,15 EUR.
This adapter cable connects to the end of the DVI-I cable: http://www.lindy.com/int/produ...../index.php – the price is 17,40 EUR
and then, you connect your DVI-D Mac Monitor to the DVI-D connector, and you connect this final product directly onto the VGA connector: http://www.lindy.com/int/produ...../index.php – the price is 119,00 EUR.
You may also want a short (male to female) DVI extension cable from the 41219 adapter cable to your monitor (or you could simply plug the DVI-D connector on the adapter cable directly into the monitor). A cable like this: http://www.lindy.com/int/produ...../index.php
The last product is our VGA Converter Lite, otherwise known as a scan converter. It converts a computer VGA signal to a signal that a TV can understand. This will produce an S-Video output, to connect to your Bang & Olufsen TV.
***This all relies on your DVI monitor having a socket – otherwise you wont have the right genders to connect everything together***
However, just when there is a solution around the corner, I’m afraid the VGA Convertor is currently sold out
These would be sent from Germany for electrical power reasons….. and they arent due into Germany until the week 11/12/2006…… are you able to wait this long ? Otherwise, you may have to source the VGA Convertor if you need it more quickly than that.
I hope all this has helped – if you need any more information, give me a shout.
All the best.
Phil Atkinson
International Sales Manager
LINDY International | Tel: +44 1642 754020
Computer Connection Technology
http://www.LINDY.com
We may have a solution
Hey Chris,
As these are from the US, I would try the non-powered option (though if you bought the powered one, im pretty sure it would have a step-down transformer plug, so you could probably have just obtained a local transformer that was compatible).
We can easily deliver to Spain from our German warehouse (which would also ensure that the VGA Convertor has a euro power connection). You could return the items provided it was within a few days of receiving them, but based on the information we have discussed, I would expect this to work with no problems, my main concern would be the female to female DVI connection.
Finally, please see the JPG I attach below, a little diagram just to clarify the set-up.
All the best.
Phil Atkinson
International Sales Manager
LINDY International | Tel: +44 1642 754020
Computer Connection Technology
I have found two Female to Female options over in the US. The first is a non powered one and obviously would be better in that I wouldn’t have any power conversion issues.
The second is powered so if you wouldn’t mind looking at them both for me and advising me if either of them would work with the rest of the stuff that you have I would really appreciate.
The two links for the Female to Female adapters are:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pro.....ADA-DVI-FF
http://www.solidsignal.com/pro.....A-DVI-FFWP
Hello Chris,
Can you please summarise how you went and what you found out (it gets a bit confusing towards the end there)?
I am hoping to get DVI and VGA out (at the same time) from my Mac mini (PPC).
Would something like this work? DVI-I (Dual Link) Male to VGA Female and DVI-I (Dual Link) Female Splitter Cable, 1 ft
Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Ashley.
(PS If you could email as well as posting that would be appreciated, I am not sure when or if you will read this).