How to Connect Your Laptop/PC/Computer to Your TV

This article will teach you how to connect your PC or computer to a TV or HDTV using wired and wireless connections. You have many options these days, so it really depends on your hardware and budget. The most common method currently is still by connecting a cable from your laptop to your TV, so I’ll go over those first.
However, if you have bought a laptop like the MacBook Pro recently, then there is a way to wirelessly stream whatever is on your screen to your TV using Apple AirPlay. Unfortunately, there is nothing like that for Windows computers just yet, even with the release of Windows 8. This is one area where it’s advantageous to buy a Mac over  a PC because of the wirelessly streaming feature.

Connect Laptop to TV via Cable

S-Video

Five years ago, this used to be the most common method for connecting a laptop to a TV because S-Video cables are cheap and just about every laptop and TV back then had a S-Video port. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a laptop with an s-video port, though lots of moderns TVs still include the port. Remember, there are two types of S-Video cables: 4-pin and 7-pin. Most laptops and PC’s are equipped with a 7-pin port, so if your TV only has a 4-pin S-Video port, then this method will not work or you’ll have to get an adapter.
S-Video picture quality is moderate and does not support high-definition video. Also, S-Video ports do not support audio, so you’ll have to buy a separate cable for that purpose. DVI and HDMI are best suited for HD signals.

VGA

VGA, like S-Video, was another common port found on all laptops and TVs/computer screens back in the day. Again, you’ll still find the port on HDTVs and monitors, but not on laptops. Most desktops still support VGA and have VGA ports on the back. In terms of picture quality, VGA is bette than S-Video. Also, as with the S-Video cable, VGA cables are very cheap. VGA cables do not support audio, just like S-Video cables.

DVI

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface with “digital” being the key word there. The digital signal will give a higher quality picture than either S-Video or VGA. Of course, your computer will need to have a DVI connection and your TV will need to be an HDTV. DVI cables used to be expensive, but now you can get them for $5 to $10 online. Also, DVI cables to do not support audio either, so you still need a separate cable for that.
DVI cables are also a bit complicated as you have DVI-I (Single Link), DVI-I (Dual Link), DVI-D (Single Link), DVI-D (Dual Link) and DVI-A. The reason why DVI became popular is because it supports analog connections also, namely VGA. You can buy a DVI to VGA adapter to convert between a DVI output and VGA input, etc.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) will give you the best quality picture on a HDTV. Even though HDMI is very popular, a lot of laptops still do not come with HDMI ports built-in. Luckily, HDMI is compatible with DVI, so you can get a HDMI to DVI cable to connect it to your HDTV. Unfortunately,  HDMI cables are pretty expensive these days. You can buy cheap ones, but you may not get the same quality picture as a more expensive cable.
There are also many versions and types (A thru E) of HDMI cables that support different features like audio, 3D over HDMI, Ethernet, and 4K resolution support. The best part about HDMI cables is that you get high-definition video and audio passed through the cable, which makes it very convenient when connection a laptop or PC to your HDTV.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort and Mini-DisplayPort are very similar to HDMI and DisplayPort is meant to complement HDMI, not replace it. The basic advantage to DisplayPort is that it can support up to 4 video and audio streams across one cable. That mean you could connect up to 4 monitors at 1920×1200 or 2 monitors at 2560×1600 pixels.
HDMI is still more popular, but you’ll find DisplayPort ports on Apple computers, the Microsoft Surface tablets, and even some Windows PCs. DisplayPort is also backwards compatible with VGA and DVI, which is nice.

Connect Laptop to TV Wirelessly

In addition to connecting your laptop to your TV using a cable, you can also wirelessly project your laptop display on your TV using new wireless technologies. I’ll mention a couple of the different technologies that currently exist and explain what hardware is needed. Unfortunately, the main reason wireless streaming of laptop and desktop displays to TVs has not become ubiquitous is because of the extra cost of the hardware needed.

Apple TV

If you have a MacBook Pro,  MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini or iMac that is from 2011 or later, you can wireless stream your Apple laptop or desktop display to your TV using an Apple TV in full HD. The Apple TV is a separate hardware device that cost $99. Since only a few of the most recent Mac computers support AirPlay Mirroring, it’s not very popular.

Intel Wireless Display

The AirPlay feature that is supported on Macs is one feature that has been missing on Windows computers for a long time. Luckily, things have changed and Intel has come out with a technology called Intel Wireless Display (WiDi), which lets you stream your laptop screen to an HDTV wirelessly.
Of course, the main downside with WiDi as with AirPlay technology is that it’s relatively new and therefore you can only use it if you have a PC that supports WiDi. If you’re planning on buying a new PC soon, you should look into whether the feature is supported or not as it can make streaming your laptop or PC screen to your HDTV relatively easy.
There are only a couple of HDTVs that support WiDi right now, but you can buy an adapter for any HDTV that will let you stream content to that TV from a WiDi enabled device.

Wireless Kits

If you don’t have any of those technologies built into your computer or want something that’s not proprietary, then you can buy wireless computer to HDTV kits. There are quite a few of these out there and I’ll link to some of the popular ones I’ve heard about myself.
Imation Link Wireless HD Audio/Video Extender - Supports up to 720p for video and can transmit audio also. Requires DisplayLink software, which is available for Mac and PC.
Veebeam HD – This kit supports 1080p wireless HD video and digital audio.
Netgear Push2TV – This works with the new Intel Wireless Display technology I mentioned above and needs a PC that supports WiDi. It doesn’t support the Mac OS at all as of right now.
So those are your options for connecting your laptop or PC to your TV via wired connection or wirelessly. The fastest and most reliable way is still via cable, but you if your computer supports the latest AirPlay or WiDi technology, you’ll be good to go. The wireless kits use sub-par technology and won’t give you as good results as the other technologies mentioned. Enjoy!

How to do internet performance test on your own

Having trouble with your internet connection. Well, what most of us do is just type google.com to check if internet works fine or not and call customer care to fix this issue. Else, some of them look into modem and check for DSL – LED light and if it blinks then there is some issue with your connectivity (should remain ON, always). These may not always work and the issue might be something else.

Sometimes your internet will be up and running but might be very show. You can check your internet speed just to make sure if your internet service provider, as promised is providing you with the right internet speed or not. Check out my article on how to perform internet speed test. But this will just let you know about the internet speed and not how good your internet is performing. So, this cannot be considered as a complete internet performance test.

Also see: How to track internet usage using Chrome extension

I have got internet connection speed of 2Mbps. Even though internet speed test showed the right promised speed, I still had issues with connectivity. To do a complete internet performance test, I used ‘PingTest’. This test shows complete details at packet level. What this test does is it will identify a suitable server closeby. This will be done by pinging each of the (predefined) servers and measuring the time taken for each ping. Once this is done it will send packets of data to this server and will check if all the sent packets are received or not.

Image: PingTest

Also see: How to monitor internet usage for an App

Note that once you run the test you may be asked to install the latest version of java software. This is needed to run the test. But you can skip this and still proceed with the existing version of java and still perform test. You get an option to rate your ISP at the end. As you can see in the image above, there was zero packet loss, but ping took 72 ms and jitter of 4 ms. Also, a grade will be given by this tool and anything above B grade is good enough. 

Also see: How to bypass network restrictions from internet monitoring software

Your ISP might be having their own tool to measure. So, next time you call up customer care you can tell them what exactly the issue or why it is slow. If they say the speed is what they had promised, give them more details on Jitter, Ping etc. They will surely register your complaint. Give it a try and do an internet performance test on your own next time you have an issue.

Also see: How to set bandwidth limit in Torrents

Do internet performance test on your own here: [Link]

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How do I know which cables to use? by Dave Roo

How do I know which cables to use?

The cable selection at the electronics store could be renamed the "wall of confusion." Not only are there dozens of different kinds of audio/video cable -- some for stereos, some for home theaters, some for HDTVs and some for … who the heck knows? Even if you're lucky enough to find the cable you need, you still have to decide between super expensive and suspiciously cheap.
And then there's the salesman. "Have you heard of silver-plated connectors?" What? "If you're buying speaker wire, then you should also buy these stands that keep the wire from touching the floor." Why? "The more expensive the cable, the better the sound." Really?
­In this article, we're going to give it to you straight. We'll explain, in simple terms, what each type of audio/video cable does and where it should be used. Along the way, we'll debunk some cable myths, starting with the idea that the most expensive cable is the best.

Monster Cable vs. Coat Hanger

Can a bunch of blindfolded audiophiles tell the difference between music playing over a $125 pair of Monster audio cables and the same music playing over a pair of twisted coat hangers? According to one informal experiment, the answer is no. The Consumerist reported the results of a study posted on an audiophile message board in which five audio addicts were put to the test. All claimed that both the expensive Monster Cables and cheapo coat hangers sounded equally "excellent" [source: Popken].

What is cable?

The role of cable is to carry an audio or video signal from one device to another. Cables carry signals between DVD players and TVs, stereo receivers and speakers, and computers and video projectors. Cables don't change the nature of the audio or video signal they carry. They don't convert or process signals in any way. That's the job of the devices on either end. The cable itself is just the messenger.
Cables are made up of three basic parts: conductor, shielding and connector [source: Graves]. The conductor is the wire that actually carries the signal. One or more layers of shielding prevent the wire from acting as an antenna that picks up radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) [source: Graves]. The connector is the plug at the end of the cable that connects to your device.
Cables are important components of any home stereo or home theater setup. If you don't use the right cables for the right job then you could end up with subpar sound or picture quality. And if you use cables that are damaged or otherwise junky, you could really end up with a lousy experience. For audiophiles, using low-end cables with a $5,000 plasma HDTV is like putting crappy tires on a Ferrari.­
Some audio/video experts argue that consumers should spend 20 percent of their total system cost on cables alone [source: Rushing]. The truth is that many cheaper cables offer a listening/viewing experience that most consumers could never tell from the really high-end cables [source: Rothman].
To keep things simple, we're going to break down the overwhelming amount of cable types into three categories: audio-only, video-only and audio/video cables that carry both sound and picture.

Analog RCA cables use these connectors -- red for the right stereo channel and white or black for the left.

© iStockphoto/MartinDegryse

Audio Cables

­Let's start with audio-only cables. The most common audio cables are called analog RCA cables. These are the cables with red and white, or sometimes red and black connectors. RCA cables are widely used to connect devices like VCRs and DVD players to TV sets or CD players to stereo receivers. RCA audio cables come in pairs with two connectors on each end, a red one for right stereo and a white (or black) connector for left stereo. They are often bundled with video cables. Experts recommend gold-plated RCA connectors for extra protection against corrosion, especially if you live in a humid environment [source: Graves].
The other most common type of audio cable is speaker wire. Speaker wire runs from a stereo receiver to all speakers except the subwoofer (that requires a coaxial cable). Each speaker needs its own dedicated wire. Speakers not only receive audio signals via speaker wire, but also power.
Speaker wire is made from 99 percent oxygen-free copper and usually comes "unshielded," which means you can see the copper conductor. Speaker wire comes in different thicknesses or gauges rated from 12 to 18 (thickest to thinnest). As a general rule, the longer your speaker wire, the thicker the gauge you should use. For speaker wire lengths up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, 14-gauge is sufficient, but anything longer than 60 feet (18.3 meters) requires 12-gauge wire [source: ecoustics.com].
Speaker wire is fairly simple, so you can get away with buying inexpensive, bulk wire. And don't let anyone tell you that all of the speaker wires in your system need to be the same length. That's a myth [source: Cobalt Cable].
Most audio recordings are digital nowadays, and there are several newer cables that specialize in carrying high-bandwidth digital audio signals. Optical digital cable (also known as fiber-optic and Toslink) transmits audio signals as pulses of light and is impervious to interference [source: ecoustics.com]. Another digital audio cable is called digital coaxial. It looks the old coaxial cables that connect satellite dishes or cable TV signals to televisions, except this is specially designed to carry digital audio. You'll find optical and digital coaxial jacks on newer DVD players, CD players and stereo receivers.
The last type of audio-only cable is called analog multi-channel cable. This cable is designed for use with special players such as DVD-audio that play discs recorded at high sample rates for the maximum sound quality. Analog multi-channel cable consists of six to eight bundled RCA connectors, each responsible for a different audio channel on the back of a stereo receiver.
Next we'll talk about video-only cables, a slightly more complicated topic.

Video Cables

The most common type of video cable is called composite video. A composite video cable consists of one yellow RCA connector that's usually bundled with red and white RCA analog audio cables. It's called composite video because all of the video information -- color, brightness and sync -- is composited, or squeezed, onto one cable [source: Miller]. Composite video cables were designed for older TVs and have a maximum resolution of 330 lines. They're fine for watching VHS tapes on the old TV in the basement, but if you have a newer television, or an HDTV, composite video cables simply won't cut it.
­
S-video cables are a step up from composite video with a maximum resolution of 400 lines. You will recognize an S-video cable by its circular, nine-pin connector. S-video separates color information from picture information, resulting in a crisper image. Although S-video jacks are found on a lot of TVs, DVD players and home theater receivers, the cable's initial popularity was quickly eclipsed by component video.
Component video cables consist of three RCA connectors colored red, green and blue. With component video, not only is color separated from picture, but the color portion is split into two separate signals [source: Miller]. The result is a super-sharp image with deep color saturation. Component video cables are ideal for connecting high-definition video components like Blu-ray players and HDTVs. Most home theater receivers come with several sets of component video jacks.
DVI (digital video interface) cables were designed specifically for use with HDTVs and other high-definition video components. They have large, 18-pin connectors that look like computer cables. DVI cables offer the exact same image quality as component video cables, except that DVI comes with a built-in copy protection protocol called HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Critics of DVI claim the built-in copy protection mechanism causes compatibility problems with certain devices.
Lastly, we'll look at three kinds of cable that carry both audio and video signals.

Europeans are more likely to use SCART cables, on the left. People in the United States use composite cables, on the right.

© iStockphoto/PhotographerOlympus

Audio/Video Cables

There are a handful of cables that transmit both audio and video signals. For years, coaxial video cables were one of the only choices for connecting video components. Coaxial video cables have that famous one-pin connector, sometimes called a stinger, that can either be pushed or screwed into place. Coaxial video cables are now mostly confined to outside connections, such as satellite TV or cable TV lines that come through the wall. A single coaxial cable carries both video and audio signals.
HDMI cables are an updated version of DVI. HDMI cables were also designed for use with HD components, but their connector is much slimmer, like a large USB cable. HDMI also includes HDCP copy protection. Manufacturers of HDMI cables tend to advertise their product as the only choice for connecting HD video components, but that's not true. DVI cables work equally well. However, if you're using an analog TV, all three work equally well [source: Cobalt Cable].
In Europe and the UK, the most popular dual-purpose cable is called SCART (Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs). SCART cables have fat, 21-pin connectors. In Europe, SCART cables do the work of RCA analog audio cables as well as composite, s-video and component video cables, but they can't carry high-bandwidth digital video or audio signals, such as those necessary for high-definition TVs. HDMI is the preferred cable in Europe for HD components.
FireWire, or IEEE 1394, cables are mostly associated with connecting devices to computers, but a few high-end home theater receivers and HDTVs now come with FireWire ports. FireWire is capable of carrying compressed MPEG-2 video and digital audio. You might use a FireWire cable to connect a digital video camera directly to your home theater system to show off some unedited footage.
To sum up, here are the cables that you would use for some common home entertainment systems.
Home stereo system (CD changer, stereo receiver, speakers):

• Lower-end: If you're playing regular CDs or MP3s, you'll only need RCA analog audio cables and speaker wire.
• Higher-end: If you want crisper digital audio, go for optical or digital coaxial cables and thicker speaker wire.
• Highest-end: If you want the unparalleled sound of DVD-audio in full surround sound, you'll need special DVD-audio cables and 12-gauge speaker wire.

Home theater system (Blu-ray player, DVD player or VCR, video game console, home theater receiver, TV, speakers):

Home theater system (Blu-ray player, DVD player or VCR, video game console, home theater receiver, TV, speakers):

• Lower-end: If you have an older standard-definition TV and mostly use your system to watch regular DVDs or VHS tapes, then you'll do fine with a composite video cable bundled with RCA analog audio cables.
• Higher-end: For a newer standard-definition TV, you should really upgrade to component video cables. RCA cables will still do fine for audio.
• Highest-end: Once you enter the world of high definition, you'll need to use either component video cables or one of the two copy-protected options: DVI or HDMI. You'll also want to invest in thick-gauge speaker cable to make the most of your surround-sound system.