Project my laptop through my hotel TV?
March 9, 2009 2:25 PM Subscribe
Can I change my hotel TV input settings somehow?
I am staying in a hotel suite and would like to project my laptop through the large, flat screen Philips television on the wall during a meeting tomorrow. I have the correct cable, but there does not appear to be a way to change the TV input from HDMI to AV1 or RGB or whatever it needs to be to pick up my laptop screen. They have replaced the Philips remote control with this little generic black remote which does not have the ability to change the input. Also, the TV itself does not have any buttons to change the Input.
SO - my question is - I am debating a run out to BestBuy or a local A/V store to buy a universal remote. Could I buy one that will allow me to change settings on the TV? Or, did the hotel work it so this is simply an impossible task? Is there anything else I could try?
I am staying in a hotel suite and would like to project my laptop through the large, flat screen Philips television on the wall during a meeting tomorrow. I have the correct cable, but there does not appear to be a way to change the TV input from HDMI to AV1 or RGB or whatever it needs to be to pick up my laptop screen. They have replaced the Philips remote control with this little generic black remote which does not have the ability to change the input. Also, the TV itself does not have any buttons to change the Input.
SO - my question is - I am debating a run out to BestBuy or a local A/V store to buy a universal remote. Could I buy one that will allow me to change settings on the TV? Or, did the hotel work it so this is simply an impossible task? Is there anything else I could try?
I used to use a program on my HP iPaq that allowed it to function as a universal programmable remote. You probably don't have a circa-2000 iPaq on hand though. I used to use it to futz with hotel room TVs all the time. Yay bored business travellers. Alternately, see if there's a source input button on the console itself somewhere.
posted by GuyZero at 2:34 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 2:34 PM on March 9, 2009
You didn't mention it, but you must have asked the front desk already, right?
posted by steveminutillo at 2:35 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by steveminutillo at 2:35 PM on March 9, 2009
Response by poster: Steveminutillo - Yes. I asked the front desk, who told me this was intentional. They don't really want people messing with their inputs. It appears they rather I rent a monitor from them for $100/day.
posted by boulder20something at 2:42 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by boulder20something at 2:42 PM on March 9, 2009
Having worked at a hotel, I can tell you that you aren't going to be able to get this to work. Hotel TVs are deliberately crippled. I'm not even sure you're going to find alternate input connections. Hotel chains order sufficiently large numbers of TVs that they can order custom jobs which don't have the features of retail models.
This is not just because they'd rather you rent equipment and services from them, but because they really can't afford to let everybody who thinks they're an A/V wizard screw up their machines every other week. They have enough problems with legitimate breakdowns as it is without guests f*cking with things they don't know how to unf*ck.
posted by valkyryn at 3:28 PM on March 9, 2009
This is not just because they'd rather you rent equipment and services from them, but because they really can't afford to let everybody who thinks they're an A/V wizard screw up their machines every other week. They have enough problems with legitimate breakdowns as it is without guests f*cking with things they don't know how to unf*ck.
posted by valkyryn at 3:28 PM on March 9, 2009
Your best bet is probably to go to Radio Shack and buy the cheapest universal remote you can get.
posted by indyz at 4:01 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by indyz at 4:01 PM on March 9, 2009
Some TVs will check all their inputs at power-on and select the first input which has something connected to it.
If your TV does this, you can switch it to your laptop by turning the TV off, unplugging the HDMI cable, plugging in your laptop with the external monitor output enabled, then turning on the TV.
This might not work, particularly if it's a TV which doesn't check its inputs at power-on. Also, make sure you plug the HDMI cable back in later.
posted by Mike1024 at 4:32 PM on March 9, 2009
If your TV does this, you can switch it to your laptop by turning the TV off, unplugging the HDMI cable, plugging in your laptop with the external monitor output enabled, then turning on the TV.
This might not work, particularly if it's a TV which doesn't check its inputs at power-on. Also, make sure you plug the HDMI cable back in later.
posted by Mike1024 at 4:32 PM on March 9, 2009
Some manufacturers make TVs specifically for hotels, these are crippled internally. Other hotel TV's are controlled by means of external box (or it could be a "backpack" that is designed for that particular and attaches to the set in a way that almost makes them appear to be of a piece.) In the latter case there may be an RS232 or other cable that runs from the box to the TV and keeps forcing it back to the hotel's preferred input. If you do find such a box, disconnecting it completely won't harm anything and may help your chances of getting an universal remote to work. Also make sure the jack you plug into is really part of the body of the TV, not an add-on box, and make sure you put everything back how it was before you check out.
I've worked at hotels too, and circumvented these systems on many an occasion. It's not always possible, but it usually is. Might as well check the back of the TV before you buy anything and make sure it has an appropriate input. You could also google the exact model to find out if it is hotel-specific.
posted by contraption at 5:00 PM on March 9, 2009
I've worked at hotels too, and circumvented these systems on many an occasion. It's not always possible, but it usually is. Might as well check the back of the TV before you buy anything and make sure it has an appropriate input. You could also google the exact model to find out if it is hotel-specific.
posted by contraption at 5:00 PM on March 9, 2009
Perhaps you could tell the hotel you're having some trouble with your TV and ask them to send an engineer up to your room. This should get you someone who actually knows what the TV is capable of and is in the best position to help you. Tip handsomely of course.
If the hotel's TV feed is coming into the TV via HDMI, could you get a (mini)DVI to HDMI adapter for your laptop and connect it into the same port as the cable? That would avoid the need for switching inputs entirely, if it works.
posted by zachlipton at 5:09 PM on March 9, 2009
If the hotel's TV feed is coming into the TV via HDMI, could you get a (mini)DVI to HDMI adapter for your laptop and connect it into the same port as the cable? That would avoid the need for switching inputs entirely, if it works.
posted by zachlipton at 5:09 PM on March 9, 2009
Did you try it? How'd it go?
posted by contraption at 1:00 PM on March 10, 2009
posted by contraption at 1:00 PM on March 10, 2009
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posted by tapesonthefloor at 2:27 PM on March 9, 2009