Hooking external HD up to TV through HDMI???

[ascendant]

Ok, so I just bought an HD TV with an HDMI plug as well as an external HD to burn movies and TV shows to. However, I'm wondering what types of video formats should work on the TV? This is all new to me, so I'm trying to figure out what formats will be ok to download and what ones will most likely not work?

Also, how does the conversion from the HD to the TV work? If there are certain formats that don't work initially, is there anything I can put on the HD to make them work? I have all kinds of file formats, but mostly .avi, .mkv, and .mp4. I just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time downloading formats that I may not even be able to play when I get the TV and HD.

 

[Ketchup]

This would totally depend on the TV. If you TV supports pulling data off a hard drive, it should tell you what formats it supports.

 

[ascendant]

Oh, and in case it helps, this is the TV I'm getting:
SANYO DP58D34 58" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV

I can't seem to find a manual online that gives a list of the formats it can play, so I'm not sure if TVs with HDMI ports tend to have a certain standard or if it varies a lot from TV to TV.

 

[Ketchup]

Here is the manual:

https://sanyotv.com/Portals/0/Manuals/DP58D34/Manual DP58D34_English.pdf

If I have time later I will do some looking through it if you haven't found your answer before then.

 

[ascendant]

Here is the manual:

https://sanyotv.com/Portals/0/Manuals/DP58D34/Manual%20DP58D34_English.pdf

If I have time later I will do some looking through it if you haven't found your answer before then.

Thank you. It seems as if the HDMI port only supports the viewing of pictures on this TV. It's not surprising considering the affordability of the TV.

I could hook the external HD up to my laptop and then plug the laptop into the TV, but I'm sure sure the best way to do that? My laptop doesn't have an HDMI port. It has USB, esata/USB combo port, a headphone jack, and a VGA port. I'm hoping there's a way I can connect it to the TV where I can take advantage of HD movies and TV shows.

 

[Ketchup]

Yeah, these things can take some planning, so it is good you are doing so now. For video, the TV sounds like it needs a server (as most do) for video playback - be that a TiVo, Blue Ray, computer, etc. It all depends on what it has.

For example, my Samsung does not support wifi, but my BlueRay player does, and supports the software to use it as a media server.

 

[tential]

A WD TV Live (Or whatever they call them) is probably what you want then. You can then watch all of your TV/Movies off of your laptop (with the external connected to it) as long as the laptop and external are on. Just point the WD TV Live to your external HDD (Should be able to see it over the network) and you'll be good to go.

I'd recommend using XBMC and a PC but that's the "simplest" way to do it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I could hook the external HD up to my laptop and then plug the laptop into the TV, but I'm sure sure the best way to do that? My laptop doesn't have an HDMI port. It has USB, esata/USB combo port, a headphone jack, and a VGA port. I'm hoping there's a way I can connect it to the TV where I can take advantage of HD movies and TV shows.

The TV has a VGA port. Hook the laptop up to the TV using this port and play the videos. As long as the laptop is powerful enough you can play anything you want then. VGA is more than enough for HD.

 

[ascendant]

The TV has a VGA port. Hook the laptop up to the TV using this port and play the videos. As long as the laptop is powerful enough you can play anything you want then. VGA is more than enough for HD.

Great to know, thank you. Now, if I plug the external HD into the laptop, should the transfer speed be good enough to read that way, or will I have to put the movies and shows onto the actual laptop hard drive in order to have it be able to keep up with the data?

 

[tential]

Great to know, thank you. Now, if I plug the external HD into the laptop, should the transfer speed be good enough to read that way, or will I have to put the movies and shows onto the actual laptop hard drive in order to have it be able to keep up with the data?

It's enough.