iPad 2 and FaceTime on a TV: This Mirror is Foggy

I’m learning a few things about the iPad 2 as we try to stretch its limits.

The situation is this: As a simple “remote broadcast” setup, we want to connect FaceTime to a regular TV (with composite inputs – you know, the Yellow / Red / White jacks), so that we can see the remote person on the TV. Seems pretty simple, with iPad 2’s display mirroring features, right? Well, not exactly.

(If you’re a nerd, the “TV” in this equation is actually a video capture card; we’re piping FaceTime into a live encoder and broadcasting it to a live stream. Think CNN Skype interview-style. A reasonably-priced capture card is no different than an older model TV with no HDMI input, with S-Video and Composite inputs.)

So, on to the adventure. Apple has a few different connectors for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch that mirror the display or provide a TV out in some form or fashion. Let’s bring out our contestants:

Apple 30-pin to Composite AV Cable (the yellow / red / white thingies)

This would naturally be the most direct approach, but unfortunately, doesn’t work. This doesn’t mirror, but rather functions as a TV Out display. You can play a video over it, but does not provide display mirroring. When using the FaceTime app, there is no signal.

Goodbye, Composite AV Cable.

The direct approach doesn’t work, so if you’re like me, you’ll just take the next best option and try to convert it to Composite:

Apple Digital AV Adapter (the HDMI cable)

This works reasonably well as a display mirroring solution. I connected it to a Samsung LCD TV, and the picture seems a little overexposed, but it does the job and mirrors FaceTime on TV via HDMI. One major drawback to our eventual old composite TV destination:

Your HDMI display/conversion device MUST support HDCP HDMI. So in this case, if you’re thinking all you need to do is convert HDMI to composite, most HDMI converters don’t support HDCP. This one just doesn’t output any signal.

Apple VGA Adapter

Alas, we have a solution.

VGA adapter does, indeed, mirror FaceTime on iPad 2. And, you can scan convert it to Composite.

All things considered, the “mirroring” functionality in iPad 2 works great in HDMI (mostly as advertised except when Hollywood’s legal people get in the way), but this was a fun little trip through the iPad Accessories aisle.

I imagine this will become a popular solution as FaceTime reaches more devices and more iPads get turned into presentation platforms, so I hope this post will save a little time and a little headache if you’re on the same journey. Happy Mirroring!

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Written by Brandon

March 15, 2011 at 7:57 pm

Posted in Apple, iPad

6 Responses

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So, just to make sure I understand (an AV nerd I am not)… you used the newfangled “AV Adapter” (iPad to HDMI) with an HDMI to VGA adapter, then that Sewell device?

I have a bit of an odd use-case by which I want to mirror the Kindle app on an old TV… do I have the right idea?

Thanks for breaking this down!

Becky

April 17, 2011 at 6:57 pm

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- I ended up using the iPad to VGA (not the HDMI) and then the VGA scan converter. One side note, the scan converter is powered via USB.
  
  Brandon
  
  April 17, 2011 at 7:06 pm
  
  Reply
  - Yeah, I misinterpreted the post – didn’t realize the VGA adapter was instead of the HDMI one, not in addition to it. I ordered my iPad and all the accessories (including the converter from Sewell) Monday morning, but then the impatience set in (Apple had it shipping May 9)… on a whim I called my local Apple Store today, and they just happened to have gotten a big shipment, so I was able to pick one up. I inquired about the scan converter, to see if they had anything to do the trick so I wouldn’t need to wait for the Sewell one to show up… and three separate Apple Store employees tried to tell me I couldn’t mirror with the VGA adapter (despite me showing them reviews on the online store stating that you can)… not sure why they’re not up to speed on that!
    
    I did see, in my research, that DRM’ed video won’t mirror with the VGA, which makes me a little nervous – I can’t see why Amazon would feel the need to take advantage of the DRM channel in HDMI, but you never know. Would you be willing to test it for me? It’s a free app, if you don’t have it already. (That way, if the only way to mirror Kindle is through HDMI, I can start exploring options for an HDMI-friendly television without waiting for the box from Sewell to arrive.)
    
    Thanks so much for your help – getting this all sorted out is going to make me a happy duck!
    
    Becky
    
    April 20, 2011 at 8:06 pm
  - What free app did you want to see if it mirrored? I might be able to try it in the morning..
    
    Brandon
    
    April 20, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Kindle – http://itunes.apple.com/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8

Becky

April 21, 2011 at 5:33 am

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Any idea if the HDMI calbe will work with an older DVI input for a TV? Our son is heading to overseas for a year, and I am looking for video chat options that his Grandfather (my Dad) who has severe vision problems will be able to see to some degree. My current thought is an iPad2 connected to my 42″ DLP projector TV.

Don

August 15, 2011 at 10:02 am

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