More than just a text-based chat application, Skype allows you to engage in free video-chat sessions with other Skype users and make low-cost phone calls to landline and mobile phones. Using your computer to make Skype calls is relatively easy, and relatively small computer displays are sufficient for one-on-one video calls. However, if you want to display the image of your chat partner for a group of people, streaming the video from Skype to a large-screen TV is the way to go. Some expensive, high-end TVs ship with Skype integration already included. However, even with many older TVs, you can still stream Skype video using your desktop or laptop computer.
Instructions
1. Shut down the computer and TV. Look on the rear of the computer and locate the secondary video-out port desktop computer or the external monitor port on a laptop. Older computers usually have white VGA ports, and newer systems have blue DVI ports. Some higher-end systems have an HDMI port that resembles a large USB port.
2. Connect the TV to the video-out port on the computer using a compatible monitor cable. If the video-out port on the computer does not match the input port on the TV, connect the cable to an adapter before connecting it to the TV. You can purchase adapters that allow you to convert VGA to DVI, DVI to VGA, DVI to HDMI and HDMI to DVI. You cannot convert VGA to HDMI or HDMI to VGA.
3. Connect the 3.5mm-to-RCA audio cable to the Line Out port on a desktop computer or the Headphone port on a laptop. Connect the small end of the cable to the computer, and then connect the RCA connectors to Audio-In port that corresponds with the video port to which you connected the computer monitor cable. The video and audio ports on most TVs generally use labels such as Video 1 and Audio 1 or something similar. Therefore, if you connected the monitor cable to Video 2, connect the RCA plugs on the audio cable to Audio 2.
4. Power on the TV first, then the computer. Wait for the computer to boot in to Windows.
5. Right-click the Windows desktop. On the fly-out menu, click "Screen Resolution." Once the Screen Resolution window appears, click the large "Detect" button. Windows detects the TV connection to the computer.
6. Press the "Input" or "Source" button on the TV remote control until the Windows desktop appears on the television screen. The display on the TV and the computer should be identical.
7. Go back to the computer and click the monitor icon in the Screen Resolution window labeled "2." Click the drop-down arrow next to the Multiple Displays then "Extend these displays." Click the "Apply" button, then "OK." Windows displays a blank desktop screen on the television.
8. Connect your webcam to the computer if using a desktop. If using a laptop with a built-in webcam, skip this step. Position the camera so that is pointing at your face.
9. Launch Skype on the computer. Log in with your Skype username and password.
10. Click "Tools" on the Skype menu bar, then "Options." Click the "Video Settings" link. Ensure your face is visible on the webcam preview screen, and then click "Save."
11. Click and hold the title bar at the top of the Skype program window and hold. While continuing to hold down the left mouse button, drag the Skype program window to the right and off the monitor screen. The Skype program window appears on the TV.
12. Double-click the username of a Skype friend in the Contacts column. A chat window for that friend appears. Use Skype to chat with the friend as you normally would. If you engage in a video chat with the friend, his webcam screen is visible on the television.
Tags: monitor cable, program window, Screen Resolution, Skype program, Skype program window, video-out port