Need Help Getting Hoster 5.04 to Work.

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by jocko7

I have not tried to use Hoster 5.01 since the last time I posted several months ago. I am considering getting a new laptop for Christmas. The one that I loaded the Hoster upgrade on was new at the time, and I could not get the program to send the playfile to the television screen. That has been the root of most of my frustration with trying to use Hoster again since I quit using version 3 point something.
.

I am wondering why you had problems getting the 2nd screen on your existing laptop.
Did you have the second screen TV working OK with version 3.xxx.
Did the computer in question have dual graphics capability ?
If so which brand of graphics card was it using ?
What sort of connection did you have from the laptop to TV, VGA, HDMI, Svideo, etc?

Might be able to help if you state the computer model, Windows version, graphics card, amount of ram on board.

With the latest Windows 7 computers I should look for 4 GB ram, a second VGA out port as it seems some are HDMI only and at least 3 usb ports.
The faster the processor the better, problems do seem to occur more with the Nvidea graphics cards than the ATI. The hard drive size is not too much problem as most users keep their music files on an external usb drive.

[jocko7]

Roy, I did not have any issues with extending the screen to a second screen until I got the new computer to load the upgraded version of Hoster onto. It does not have s-video out, so I got an adapter cord to plug in to the VGA port on the new computer and it converts to either s-video or RCA composite yellow end. I tried both ends and it will not transfer the video to the second screen. I can get the second screen to show up on the "adjust resolution" screen, but it will not "identify" the second screen ie. the television screen, and that seems to be the root of my problem. I do not want to get a new comnputer just to run karaoke on in my basement a few times a year, but I'm not sure even a new computer will solve this issue. What does everyone else use to transfer the video to the tv screen? I'm sure that most of the newer units do not support s-video any more so what could be the solution for me. I really want to try Hoster again, but so far, I am relegated to using my old faithful laptop and another brand of KJ sofware. Any suggestions on the VGA problem?
John

[Roy Dennis]

If you just used one of these cables that you see advertised that is where your problem is, they don't work.
You need a VGA to video converter. I don't know which part of the world your from but if you search the internet you find something in your area like this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...t=1#largeimage

This is vga in with outputs for RCA video or s-video or vga. there are various people advertising these the brand names may be different but if it looks like this it should fit the bill.

Alternately does the computer have HDMI out and your TV HDMI in then you just need an HDMI cable to connect them. If you use this type of connection you may need info on making the audio still go to your amp instead of the TV, just ask and we will advise you.

[jocko7]

Roy, Thanks, that is what I suspected was the issue. The computer I am looking to purchase is a Toshiba brand, but when I went on their site, and looked at the specs, it did not say VGA out it said RGB out and also HDMI out. Is RGB the same as VGA? If not, will the converter you suggested work anyway? Will I need a specialized cord to send signal from the converter to the tv? The tv only has an RCA composite video in jack on it.
John

[Roy Dennis]

The converter I described usually comes with all the leads with it, which is a VGA lead input, an RCA video out and a s-video out plus a usb lead to power it. The one I showed is only for use with VGA out of Laptop.

I'm not familiar with RGB out from a computer so can't advise perhaps someone else will know and answer this for you.

There are converters for HDMI to RCA video that others on this forum have used but I have not personally used one.

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Originally Posted by Roy Dennis

The converter I described usually comes with all the leads with it, which is a VGA lead input, an RCA video out and a s-video out plus a usb lead to power it. The one I showed is only for use with VGA out of Laptop.

I'm not familiar with RGB out from a computer so can't advise perhaps someone else will know and answer this for you.

There are converters for HDMI to RCA video that others on this forum have used but I have not personally used one.

Jocko7,

Looks like the computer that you are looking at ( Toshiba P755-S5268 ) has what Roy & Dale have expressed. The RGB port looks like a VGA port to me, even though two different sites expressed it differently: http://www.bing.com/shopping/toshiba...68&FORM=CMSMSP
The VGA cord that you originally purchased is not what you need! ( I bought one too! ) I use the VGA converter/adaptor that Roy has recommended, and it ships with all adaptor cables. The HDMI port will be best if you are only connecting to a single flat screen... otherwise I use the converter to splice the singers screen and run to as many tv's/monitors that my venue requires... I use rca video cables for long runs of multiple monitors/tv's, and HDMI for a single flat screen monitor, because of the price of HDMI cables of longer lengths... and because using the HDMI port has the effect of blocking or cancelling the other types of outputs/connections ie. S-Video, RCA, RGB, etc. Good Luck, and keep the faith... Hoster is rock solid... it's just something that you probably overlooked when your set-up changed!

[Roy Dennis]

Just to add to this post, I have been looking at this model and got a screen shot which I attach of this so called RGB port and it does look exactly like a VGA port to me.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by jocko7

Roy, Thanks, that is what I suspected was the issue. The computer I am looking to purchase is a Toshiba brand, but when I went on their site, and looked at the specs, it did not say VGA out it said RGB out and also HDMI out. Is RGB the same as VGA? If not, will the converter you suggested work anyway? Will I need a specialized cord to send signal from the converter to the tv? The tv only has an RCA composite video in jack on it.
John

What Toshiba model are you looking at?
RGB is usually 3 separate RCA connectors (one for each color) but then Toshiba may be calling a VGA plug an RGB though I cannot think of any reason why they would do that.

[jocko7]

Toshiba 15.6" Satellite P755-S5268 Laptop PC:
Key Features and Benefits:

• Intel Core i5-2410M processor
  2.30GHz, 3MB L3 Cache
• 6GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory (expandable to 8GB)
  Gives you the power to handle most power-hungry applications and tons of multimedia work
• 750GB SATA hard drive
  Store 500,000 photos, 214,000 songs or 395 hours of HD video and more
• SuperMulti DVD Burner
  Watch movies, and read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats
• 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
  Connect to a broadband modem with wired Ethernet or wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal or hotspot with the 802.11b/g/n connection built into your Toshiba Satellite 15.6" laptop PC
• 15.6" widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display
  Intel HD graphics with 64MB-1696MB shared graphics memory

Additional Features:

• Built-in webcam
• 7-in-1 memory card reader
• 1 x USB 3.0 port, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x headphone output, 1 x microphone input, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 x RGB output port, 1 x HDMI port
• 6-cell lithium-ion battery, 6 h 28 min battery life

Software:

• Genuine Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Edition (To learn more about the features of Windows 7, click here)
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010: Includes reduced functionality versions of Microsoft Word and Excel with advertising. PowerPoint and Outlook are NOT included. Purchase Office 2010 today and get the most out of your new Toshiba Satellite 15.6" laptop PC. (To learn more about the features of Office 2010, click here
• Norton Internet Security 2011 (30-day trial subscription)
• Backup and Restore options built into Windows allows you to create safety copies of your most important personal files, so you're always prepared for the worst

Support and Warranty:

• 1-year standard limited warranty
• Restore discs are no longer included with PCs. We recommend you use the installed software to create your own restore and backup DVD the first week you use the platinum Toshiba notebook computer.

What's In The Box:

• Power cord
• 6-cell lithium-ion battery
• Quick Start Guide

To see the manufacturer's specifications for this Toshiba Satellite 15.6" laptop, click here