Solving the problem when a computer or laptop does not see the projector. Connecting the projector to a laptop The projector does not connect

Connecting a projector is not the most difficult task, but if you have never done this, some aspects of the setup may seem incomprehensible. But if you figure out how to connect a projector to a laptop using one of the available methods, no problems will arise.

Connecting equipment

Before you can configure display settings, you must connect the equipment. Typically a VGA or HDMI cable is used for the connection. If your laptop has the same connector, then you just need to insert the cable and turn on the device.

It is preferable to use an HDMI connection. Therefore, if you are just going to buy a projector, pay attention to devices that support HDMI - an interface that allows you to transmit high-definition images.

If the connectors on the projector and laptop do not match, then the connection will have to be made through an adapter. Using an adapter may uncritically reduce image quality, but this is usually not noticeable with the naked eye.

You need to connect switched off devices together with a cable. After connecting, the projector turns on first, then the laptop. This procedure allows you to avoid a situation where the laptop does not see the projection equipment.

Image Settings

If the connection is made correctly, then when you turn on the laptop will precede the projector as an external screen and immediately display the image on the wall. The picture may be distorted, this is especially noticeable on letters that are floating. This problem usually occurs when the screen resolutions of the laptop and the projector do not match.

Check what resolution your projection equipment supports. Usually this is 800x600 or 1024x768, but expensive models can have 1920x1080. In the resolution settings on the laptop you need to set the same value.

On Windows 10, you won't find a Screen Resolution section in the desktop context menu. Here the resolution is adjusted through the screen settings.

When the connection is established and you see a normal image on the wall without distortion, you can proceed to selecting the display mode.

Display Modes

If your laptop is running Windows 7, open the Start menu and type “Connect to a projector” in the search bar. A link to the built-in application will appear, open it to customize the display. Instead of navigating through Start, you can use the Win+P keyboard shortcut. This shortcut works on all versions of Windows except XP, so remember it.

A total of four display modes are available:

• Only the computer - a picture on the laptop screen, the projector does not broadcast anything.
• Duplicate – the image from the laptop display is completely copied onto the wall through the projector. This mode is most often used for presentations.
• Expand – the desktop is divided into two halves. The right side of the desktop is displayed through a projector. The left one remains on the laptop screen. By moving program windows to the right side, you decide what the audience will see.
• Projector only – the laptop screen is inactive, the image goes only to the projection equipment.

On Windows 10, the names of the items are different, but their meaning is the same: for example, instead of “Duplicate” on the “ten” there will be an item “Repeating”.

On laptops, you can use function keys instead of the projection menu. The Fn button in combination with one of the keys from the F1-F12 row also changes the display mode. The order of changes is saved: one click - the image will be duplicated, the next click - the image will expand to the desktop and the projector, dividing the screen completely, etc.

Different laptop models use different combinations. For example, to enable repeating or extended mode on an ASUS laptop, you need to press the combination Fn+F8. To understand which key from the F1-F12 row is right for you, pay attention to the icons. The desired button will contain an image of two monitors.

You can also select the display mode through the “Screen resolution” section of the context menu. There is a “Multiple Screens” field, which presents the already iconic options: duplicate, expand, only screen 1 and only screen 2.

In principle, choosing the active display is the same on all versions of Windows, but if you have connected a projector to a laptop running XP and it sees the connected hardware, the order will be slightly different.

After finishing your presentation, be sure to set the settings to the same settings as before connecting the projector, otherwise the image on your laptop will not be the same as what you are used to.

Working in PowerPoint

If you're going to show your slides through PowerPoint, there's one more small tweak you may need to make. It's about choosing a display to display. The audience sees the slides through a projector, but something else is displayed on the monitor screen: for example, the text of the report.

Before selecting a screen, you must connect and set up the projector. Once your equipment is ready to go, go to the Slide Show tab in PowerPoint and select your projection equipment in the Show Presentation On box.

To use the projector, it must be installed and configured. If you unpack the device and immediately point its lens at a white sheet, the image quality will be poor. You need to calculate the distance, hang the screen, select the size of the picture, calibrate the colors, set the brightness and contrast. You can call a specialist who will do all this for a decent fee. But figuring out how to set up a projector is quite easy.

You can set up the projector yourself

Before installing the product, be sure to read the documents that come with it. Each model of projection equipment has its own nuances. If you did not receive it out of the “box” and you do not have instructions, you can find them on the manufacturer’s official website.

You should not put devices with high resolution in a small room. The product has characteristics that must be considered before purchasing. Setting up a projector begins with choosing a location for it. It is better to look at the entire set of projection equipment in advance and measure the room in which you are going to put it. To calculate everything. Use the information on the manufacturer's website. Or look at the documentation for the device. It indicates the optimal distance to the wall and recommended screen sizes.

A modern projector is not a filmoscope for filmstrips that could be viewed on a “white sheet”. Although nothing prevents you from using the old proven method. But to get a high-quality picture and fully experience the effect of presence, you need a special screen. Its size largely determines how to install and configure projection equipment.

There should be a calculator on the manufacturer's website. There you need to indicate the screen characteristics and device model. And get the recommended distance from the projector to the wall. These are approximate values ​​- it is not necessary to check the length down to the millimeter.

If you have a standard room with a sofa and a couple of armchairs (and not a theater room with several rows of chairs), then the screen should be hung at a height of 61-92 cm from the floor

If the projection ratio is 3:1 (three to one), and the screen size is 200 centimeters, then the distance between the product and the wall should be 3 × 200 (multiply the projection ratio by the size). This is the recommended value. Focus more on your perception. If you are not happy with the picture, move the projector.

The vertical offset determines the height at which the projection equipment should be located. This parameter is indicated as a percentage. Some people place the playback device on the floor, some on the nightstand, some hang it from the ceiling. If the vertical offset has a plus sign (for example, +90%), the image will be higher than the device. If with a minus sign (-91%) - lower. Some models allow you to rotate the lens.

Correct installation of the screen is also an important point. Of course, this largely depends on the situation in the room. Projection equipment should be positioned so that you can watch movies comfortably. But you still need to follow some recommendations.

• Do not project the screen onto a wall that is exposed to direct light. Even a good and properly configured projector will show poorly if the room is very bright.
• There should be no foreign objects between the device lens and the wall. If you decide to place the product behind the audience, be aware that their heads may block part of the frame.
• The closer the lens is to the wall, the brighter the image. But this reduces clarity. Turn on your projection equipment to see what the final picture will look like. Without such a check, it is impossible to select the projector’s resolution, contrast and other parameters.
• Find a position so that the projection hits the screen directly. If necessary, place the device higher or lower. Sit in the place from which you will watch the video. Check whether everything is clearly visible, whether shadows from objects or glare are interfering.
• If you are hanging the device from the ceiling, use a special mount.
• Decide in advance where the wires will be located and whether they are long enough.

Connection

To the computer

The projector can be connected to a computer as a second monitor or instead of it. This way, video from your PC will be played on the big screen. And you can configure settings using your mouse and keyboard.

Projection equipment and displays typically use one video adapter port - VGA. And to connect them simultaneously, you need a VGA-DVI cable. For the monitor, leave the main video output. Connect the projector to the DVI slot via an adapter. If the video card has several VGA ports, additional wires are not needed. Use those included with the device (located with it in the box). Some projection equipment models work via HDMI and even USB. If these slots are not present, you will also need an adapter.

Once connected, the computer should detect the presence of a projector. If it came with a driver, install it. Or in the projection equipment settings, find “Signal source” and specify the port to which the cable goes.

To interface with two video devices:

• Start - Control Panel.
• Screen icon. It's in the "Design" section.
• “Screen resolution” or “Screen settings” item. They're on the left.

Screen resolution

• If the PC “sees” the projection equipment, then two desktops will be available in the menu.
• A “Multiple screens” drop-down list will also appear there.
• You can choose one main display. And then switch.
• Or the “Duplicate” line so that everything is the same on the monitor and projection.
• Or the “Expand screens” option. Then one device will be a continuation of the other. If you drag an object outside the “boundaries” of the monitor, it will appear in the projection.

With a computer it’s easy to figure out how to flip an image on a projector:

1. Open Screen Settings. This is where you were working with two displays.
2. Select the device desktop.
3. Pay attention to the “Orientation” item. There you can select the options “Landscape”, “Portrait” and “Inverted”.

Setting screen orientation in Windows 7

When connecting to a PC, an error like “Signal not recognized” may appear on the projector. This does not mean that the equipment is incompatible. The device simply does not support the resolution that is set on the computer. Look in the instructions for the product to see which picture size is suitable for it. The same information is available on the manufacturer's official website. Set the desired resolution in the display settings.

If you are using the device instead of your main monitor, you will have to do the final projector setup on the larger screen. This is not very convenient. Especially when the computer is far away and you can’t see the projection.

The product can support Wi-Fi. But to work on such a network, you need to create a DLNA (multimedia) server. Another loophole - connect the projector to the PC, and the monitor to the projector. And you will have two screens.

To the player or set-top box

The image shows the connection of the projector to the set-top box and other equipment

Projection equipment works in conjunction with DVD players or set-top boxes if they have suitable ports. But then the choice of parameters depends on the menu of all products used. And it can vary greatly depending on the model.

The projector is connected to the player like a regular monitor. After connecting, go to settings and set the appropriate resolution. This is indicated in the specifications of the projection equipment. Be sure to read the instructions for these devices. If on a large screen it is inconvenient to “climb” through the parameters in search of the desired item, connect the set-top box to the monitor, reconfigure it, and then connect it to the projector.

Cameras, camcorders, Blue-Ray and game consoles can also be used. Check the instructions to see what devices your projection equipment supports. After connecting, start searching for new gadgets on it or specify the port in the “Signal Sources” menu.

To a smartphone or tablet

It's better to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Because for a wired connection you will need two adapters, which must be purchased separately. The first is from your phone's port to HDMI. The second is from HDMI to VGA.

There is a wireless connection between the projector and your phone using Wi-Fi

But there may be a problem. The HDMI cable will occupy the smartphone slot into which the “charger” is inserted. And playing video on a projector requires a lot of energy. If your phone battery drains quickly, look for a cord with a splitter that has ports for HDMI and a charger.

The result is a rather complex chain of cables. Run the projector to search for new hardware. And you can enjoy the picture.

It's easier to do this via a wireless network:

1. In the projector settings, go to “Signal Source”. The name may vary. All available ports are listed there.
2. Select "DLNA" or "Wi-Fi". The network name and password will appear.
3. Activate Wi-Fi on your phone.
4. Find the projector's network and enter its password.
5. Open the settings of your smartphone or tablet.
6. Item "Screen".
7. "Wireless Monitor" or "Wireless Projector".
8. Select your device and allow data transfer.
9. There you can select the brightness, contrast, and in some models even flip the image.

DLNA

• Control Panel - HomeGroup. If you have active display by category, then go to the “Network and Internet” section.
• Click Create Group.
• Click "Next".
• Select the objects to which you want to provide network access. It will only be for devices included in the group. The projector requires "Video", "Music" and "Images".

Selecting objects to share

• If you already have a HomeGroup, give it access to media content.
• Confirm the changes.
• A password will appear that must be entered when connecting new equipment to DLNA. It can be changed.
• Click "Done". The current group settings are displayed.
• Click "Allow devices to play shared content."
• Come up with a name for your multimedia library.
• When connecting a projector, give it access to HomeGroup. And it will open files that are located in the “C:\Users\Public” or “C:\Users\Public” folders.

You can also download programs to manage general graphics, audio and video data. For example, there are the JRiver Media Center and Home Media Server utilities.

With a wireless connection, the functionality of the projection equipment is limited. You won’t be able to change image parameters via a computer or figure out how to flip the screen on a projector. Only content viewing is available - you can open files from shared directories.

Setting up the picture

And the last stage of setup is the picture itself. Brightness, gamma, saturation. You have to select them yourself. The quality of the frame is influenced by many factors: the lighting in the room, the distance to the screen, the screen itself, the number of viewers, your personal preferences and perceptions, the situation (for example, watching a movie with your family or presenting to colleagues). It is impossible to say definitively which projector contrast is better. This will have to be determined “by eye”.

Brightness is important for office display. So that everyone can see the screen. With a small number of viewers, it is better to focus on saturation and gamma. They increase clarity.

1. Take some reference image to guide you by. It could be a still from a movie or a photograph.
2. The picture for setting up the projector should include dark and light colors. The best option is black and white. It is desirable that there are small details. And not just a monochromatic “fill”, but the texture of some material. For example, clothes, wallpaper.
3. We must choose using the scientific method. Evaluate at what gamma and contrast values ​​you can best see the transitions between colors.
4. Adjust the brightness so as not to lose image clarity.
5. Check the settings on other frames. Watch an excerpt from the video. If your eyes don't get tired, you don't have to strain to see details, and the light doesn't blind you, then you've found the ideal parameters.

This can also be done via PC.

• Control panel - Screen.
• "Color Calibration"

• Transfer the menu that opens to the monitor (screen) you want to configure.
• Click "Next" several times. At the same time, read the instructions that appear in the window.
• You will be given an example of a “good” and “bad” scale. Focus on it and your perception.
• Set the value that suits you and “Next” again.
• When choosing contrast and brightness, reference pictures with explanations will also appear.

Power Point

Projectors are often used to display presentations. Power Point even has a separate tool.

1. In it, open the “Slide Show” tab (not a menu, but a tab).
2. Open the “Show on...” list.
3. If everything is connected and configured correctly, there will be a projector there.
4. To change the size and quality of the frame, click on “Resolution”.
5. You can use the “Presenter Mode” option. This will display buttons for managing the presentation and notes.

You can understand which contrast and brightness of a projector is better through personal experience. There are no universal parameters. For official presentations, the settings are the same, for “home” viewing - different.

At work, many people have to deal with the need to convey information to a mass audience. Teachers, managers, marketers, scientists in the age of modern technology conduct their reports using multimedia materials on a large screen using a projector. And the situation is very unpleasant when the lecture is about to start, but the equipment is not connected. Usually the causes and solutions to the problem are very simple; it is enough to know what to do if your computer or laptop does not see the projector.

There are two fundamental points:

1. The situation occurred for the first time when connecting a new projector.
2. The problem arose suddenly, everything worked before.

In the first case, the reason is most likely due to incorrect connection of the equipment. In the second case, the situation arose due to some changes in the computer’s software environment or a problem with the projector itself.

Fixing the problem connecting the projector to the computer

If you connect a new projector and see the message “no signal,” it means you did something wrong. Please note the following points:

If there is no signal from the projector and your computer does not see it, reboot the system; it may simply not be able to recognize the new device.

1. Correct settings. If you are connecting to a system unit and the screen is the only monitor, then there may be a problem with the set screen resolution. You must set the values ​​supported by your projector model in advance. You can find them out from the instructions or on the box.

If the laptop cannot see the projector and there is no signal from it, follow these steps:

Check if the display mode is set correctly:

1. Computer only - data is displayed only on a computer or laptop monitor.
2. Duplicate - the picture is the same on both screens.
3. Expand - part of the work area will be visible only to you, and part - to both you and the audience.
4. Projector only - the picture is displayed only for viewers.

Make sure you don't have the first mode selected. Fix it and everything will work.

System problems

Sometimes it happens that the laptop suddenly stops seeing the projector, although there were no problems before. If this happened after reinstalling the operating system, there was probably a problem with some driver. Go to Device Manager and look for your projector in the list. Problematic equipment is highlighted with a yellow exclamation mark.

If the system has not been reinstalled, run an antivirus scan. The drivers may have crashed due to malware. After treatment, download the necessary drivers from the official website of the developer.

Downloaded drivers are usually installed automatically, but you can do this manually through Device Manager. Right-click on the unidentified hardware and select “Update Driver”, selecting the “Manual” method and specifying the location of the downloaded installation files. Sometimes you have to remove the old driver in order to successfully install the new one.

But still, most often the reason that the computer does not see the projector lies on the surface and is caused by simple inattention when connecting. Modern equipment is created with the simplest possible control and connection method. Carefully read the tips discussed above; they most often contain a solution to the problem.

If all else fails

Do not forget that a modern digital projector is a rather complex electronic device that can also break down. If you have tried all the above steps - checked the connection is correct, installed the drivers, and the projector is still not recognized and does not work, it is useful to check it too.

To do this, just connect the projector to another computer, of course, installing the drivers, and if it still does not work, then it is likely that the problem is in the projector itself - the firmware may crash, some circuit element may burn out, and much more . We simply throw away a flash drive that is not recognized, and the device will have to be sent in for repair.

Keywords: projector, connect

Brief description: This article talks about what are the ways to connect a projector to a computer or laptop

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Connecting the projector

It seems to be a very simple matter, but in reality, this is only for those who have been familiar with computer equipment for a long time. But for people who have almost never encountered computers, this can become a serious problem. Most often, such problems arise among teachers of various educational institutions who were given a projector and a computer or laptop, but were not taught how to use it. Of course, this does not happen everywhere, but there are many similar facts.

Let's look at what connection options there may be.

Connecting a projector to a computer instead of a monitor

This option is the simplest of all available. In this case, there is no need to further configure the equipment. The only problem that may arise is the screen resolution. The thing is that the resolution set on the computer may be higher than what the projector can “accept.” Then you will see a message like “no signal”, depending on the projector model. If such a situation arises, you must first connect the monitor to the computer and set the resolution to a resolution that the projector supports. After this procedure, you can safely connect the projector again.

After all, if the signal from the video output and the projector use different resolutions, then the projector is forced to recalculate the image. This leads to varying degrees of distortion. Such distortions are most noticeable in texts - the letters are unequal and unclear, and small text is almost impossible to read.

In general, the connection process is not at all complicated. We take an HDMI or VGA cable (this depends on what sockets are on the video card and the projector) and use it to connect the projector to the computer, and then turn it on. If your personal computer only has a DVI socket on the video card, but the projector does not have this socket, then you can use a special adapter. Of course, the option without an adapter is much better, since then there will be no interference that can occur over a long distance.

If, after connecting, the projector does not detect a signal, then on the remote control or on the body of the projector itself you need to press the button with the name that corresponds to the connection connector - DVI, VGA or HDMI. Or you can use the button to automatically search for a signal source (usually such a button is labeled Input or Source).

Projector as a second monitor

For such a connection, the computer must have a video card that has two video outputs.

So, what do you need to do to set up a dual monitor system (in our case, a monitor and a projector)? We will do everything point by point:

• If you have the Windows XP operating system installed. We connect the monitor to the main video output and turn on the computer. When the operating system is fully loaded, right-click on the desktop and click on “Properties”. Then open the “Options” tab.
• We connect a projector to a free video output of the video card. In the open tab you can see that there are now two monitors in the system. If no changes occur, then you should restart the computer without disconnecting the monitor. Next, click on the second monitor with the left key of the manipulator, then find the inscription “Extend the desktop onto this monitor” at the bottom of the window and put a tick in front of it. Then you need to set the resolution that the projector supports and click on the “Apply” button.
• If you have Windows 7 installed. Right-click on the desktop and click on “Screen Resolution”. After which we perform the same operations as in Windows XP, with the only difference that here you do not need to check a box, but select one of the options:
• expand these screens;
• duplicate these screens;
• display desktop only on 1;
• display desktop only on 2.

That's all - the simplest option has been implemented. But, as we see, there are other options. For example, you can configure the projector as the main “monitor”, or display the same picture on the monitor and projector. But setting such parameters is individual and, most likely, will depend on the installed video card.

For those who often demonstrate presentations made in PowerPoint using a projector, let us tell you a little secret. Don't be surprised, in fact there are many people who conduct demonstrations every day and still don't know about it. In PowerPoint 2003, select “Slide Show” from the top menu and click on the “Presentation Settings” option. On the right side is the “Multiple Monitors” item, in which you need to select an already configured computer.

After the completed operations, press the F5 button and see that the presentation is shown on the projector, and the monitor is free for any parallel tasks.

You can also check the box next to “Show presenter view” in the same settings. Then, while demonstrating the presentation, you can see on the monitor the time that has passed since the presentation was launched, see notes on the slides, and so on.

In PowerPoint 2010, everything is the same as in 2003, only “Presentation Settings” is located in a different place.

Connecting a projector to a laptop

There is no particular difference between a laptop and a computer, which means you can connect a projector to it as described above. The only exception is that there is no need to connect a monitor - the laptop screen is the monitor. Then everything is the same. But there is also an undeniable advantage of connecting the projector to a laptop - it is easier to display the image on the projector.

Undoubtedly, everyone who has ever seen a laptop has noticed that the keyboard has an Fn button and a number of functions on the F1 to F12 buttons. And each laptop model has an inscription on one of these keys like LCD, or an icon with a monitor and a laptop. By pressing and holding the button labeled Fn and pressing the function button, the following modes will be switched in turn:

• only the monitor or projector is turned on, and the laptop screen is turned off (the image is visible only on the projector or monitor);
• cloning mode - the image is the same on the laptop screen and on the projector. If the resolution of the projector and laptop is different, one of them will show a slightly blurry picture. You can adjust the resolution in the screen properties;
• only laptop screen - the picture is displayed only on the laptop screen, the projector displays a message like “Signal not found.”

That is, if you just need to show a picture on a projector, or clone an image, all you need to do is press the desired combination of buttons. And in order to make the desktop extended, you need to do all the operations that were described above in the paragraph that discussed connecting the projector to a personal computer as a second monitor.

Different manufacturers produce laptop models with different combinations of function buttons. Here are the most common:

• Acer or Aspire - Fn + F5;
• Asus - Fn + F8;
• Dell - Fn + F8;
• Gateway - Fn + F3;
• HP or Compaq - Fn + F4;
• HP mini - Fn + F2;
• Lenovo - Fn + F7;
• Samsung - Fn + F4;
• Sony - Fn + F7;
• Toshiba - Fn + F5.

There are some projector models that connect to a laptop or computer in a slightly different way, namely via Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, there are quite a few such projectors. But, if you use the Windows 7 operating system, then there is a high probability that you will not even need to install drivers. All you have to do is click on “connect to projector”.

How to connect the projector?

Currently, the projector is an integral part of demonstrating a business or educational presentation, as well as photo and video materials. Thanks to the device, you can demonstrate information to a large number of people at the same time. Today we will talk about how to connect a projector to a computer and laptop.

Connecting the projector yourself

1. Disconnect the power cables from the computer and projector (unplug devices from electrical outlets).
2. Depending on the type of connector, the computer and projector are connected to each other using a VGA or HDMI cable. If devices have different types of input, then a special adapter is used.
3. Next, you need to turn on the projector and computer.
4. The next step is adjusting the image. In most cases, it happens automatically. However, it happens that you have to connect the image yourself. To do this, you need to wait until the OS is fully loaded. Next, press the “Fn” key and the screen transition key simultaneously (depending on the computer model, this may be one of the F1-F12 keys, sometimes two screens are drawn on the button). Using these keys, you can connect an image in three modes - an image only on the monitor, an image only on the projector, and an image that will be simultaneously on two devices.
5. The second way to connect devices is the "Connect to a Projector" program (it is included in some operating systems). With this connection method, you need to activate the program and click on the required tab ("Turn on/off the projector", "Screen duplication"). The "Expand" tab allows you to split the image into two parts (when clicked, the left side of the screen will be on the computer and the right side on the projector).
6. The third method involves connecting through the computer settings. To do this, click the "Start" button, go to "Control Panel", then select the "Display" section and the "Screen Extension" tab. Select the image connection type - computer or external screen (projector).
7. For the fourth method of connecting devices, you need to right-click on the computer desktop, select “Properties”, then “Display” and go to the “Settings” tab, where you need to select the image connection type - computer or external screen (projector).
8. And finally, the fifth method is the keyboard shortcut “Windows” + P. In the window that appears, you will need to select the type of screen connection (that is, select a computer monitor, projector, image sharing or split screen).

Connection methods will depend on the version of the operating system that is installed on your computer or laptop. The ability to connect two monitors (computer and projector) will depend on the availability of a second video output on the video card.

Differences in connecting a projector to a PC or laptop

The principle of connecting devices is carried out according to a similar scheme. The only difference is that the laptop does not require a monitor connection.

Speaking of the monitor, it is very important to choose a high-resolution screen. In this case, in the monitor settings you need to select the resolution that is closest to that reproduced by the projector.

How to connect a wireless projector

1. First you need to install the necessary drivers and software, which are recorded on the installation disk and included with the device. If you don’t have a disk, then enter the projector model into a search engine and download the free program to your computer.
2. Next, you need to connect the antennas to the computer and projector. To do this, a small antenna in the form of a flash card is placed in the corresponding connector of the projector. And a second antenna is connected to the computer’s USB connector, which looks like a flash drive.
3. As soon as the indicator lights up green, the device is ready for use.
4. To switch between screens, use the instructions presented above.

In our section you will find many articles that talk about setting up and connecting various devices yourself.