Support for Raspberry PI

Hi Bert,

I've moved your question to our Raspberry Pi which is a good place to ask questions.  Additionally, the Raspberry Pi troubleshooting guide on eLinux wiki isa good starting point for when something isn't working correctly: http://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting

In regards to HDMI to VGA, it takes active electronics to convert the digital HDMI signal to an analog VGA signal.  What model of HDMI to VGA cables do you have?  For comparison, I wrote a blog post about a HDMI to VGA converter that I bought: Raspberry Pi HDMI to VGA converter

Cheers,

Drew

Hi Drew

Thanks for the responce.

I bought the HDMI to VGA cable

from ebay and as far as I can work out it is supposed to convert HDMI to vga.

I'll have a look at the troubleshooting eLinux site and see if others have had the same problem

Bert

This looks like a very strange cable to me.

It seems to output composite video and analog audio as well?

This would mean the active electronics would be in the dvi connector?

Even if that would be the case(which I highly doubt), the Pi dvi connector isn't able to supply enough current for an active converter.

So, normally a self powered active converter is recommended. You might smoke up a small diode on the Pi otherwise, only

designed for a current of 85 mA.

If you could post the Ebay link of the cable, it might be possible to figure out more information about it's intended use, but

honestly, it looks more like a PS3 or xbox360 connection cable. They might have some dvi unused pins with the other signals on them.

Your hdmi picture not being well could be improved by some settings in the /boot/config.txt file.

The details for that are also on the eLinux pages. You can boost the signal to compensate for cable losses.

A good supply capable of delivering enough voltage under load is also very important for a clear picture.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280793522630&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:AU:1123

This is a link to one site that sells them. They all look the same, but does not work with the RP

Bert

If you might have equipment that also provides analog rgb on it's hdmi connector, this cable could work.

The Pi isn't having it, so the cable simply can't work with it.

A lot of sellers add warnings that such cable might not work and tell you to carefully check your equipment.

If your monitor is having a dvi input, you can try a hdmi to dvi adapter. Those should work fine.

Some dvi connectors carry both analog and digital video signals. It are mostly the ones found on pc video cards.

If the flat pin in a dvi connector has 4 pins located around it, it can handle analog video as well.

But this is total irrelevant for your situation.  

Some "small" devices have too little space for all the connectors. So a device may have an HDMI output, but also provide analog composite video. (just like the 'pi).

But if it has no space for all the connectors, they sometimes "cheat". So when you plug in a special connector it will switch one of the signal pins in the connector to some other function.

The cable you have works in this way for a specific mobile device.

Here is a cable just like yours:  http://www.buyincoins.com/new_en/details/gold-hdmi-male-to-vga-hd-15-male-cable-6ft-1-8m-product-863.html

And here is the cable you want: http://www.buyincoins.com/new_en/details/new-mini-hdmi-male-to-vga-audio-hd-video-cable-converter-adapter-1080p-product-18163.html

I've bought this device from ebay (at a cost higher than what "buyincoins" charges) and it works fine on my 'pi.

D**** I just ordered a second one of those converters for $15, and this one http://www.buyincoins.com/new_en/details/hdmi-male-to-vga-female-video-converter-adapter-cable-w-chipset-for-pc-dvd-hdtv-product-14470.html is even cheaper. (I buy more stuff from buyincoins. I know they deliver and that they handle their customer support seriously.).

Thanks Roger

I'll get one of these and try it again

Bert

The wiki seems to have some specific settings that are required for a HDMI -> VGA adapter.  Check these out here:

http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals#Display_adapters