VGA-1 disconnected

[stable plinth]

Description:
I use a Thinkpad T440P and am trying to get a CRT TV to work as a display (The TV itself works fine, I was using it just yesterday). I am trying to do this via a VGA to composite cable (similar one pictured below).

Steps to Reproduce:
I have rebooted my device, re-plugged everything in, but nothing seems to detect that something is plugged into the VGA port.

Expected Behavior:
That it would detect the TV as a display.

Actual Behavior:
The TV makes small crackling sounds upon booting up my device, opening display settings, or entering xrandr commands into terminal. Nothing ever shows up visually.

Additional Information:
I use XFCE, my CPU is "Intel i5-4200M (4) @ 3.100GHz", and my GPU is "Intel 4th Gen Core Processor"

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 310mm x 174mm
   1366x768      60.00 +
   1280x720      60.00  
   1024x768      60.00* 
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.00  
   896x672       60.00  
   1024x576      60.00  
   960x600       60.00  
   960x540       60.00  
   800x600       60.00  
   840x525       60.00  
   864x486       60.00  
   700x525       60.00  
   800x450       60.00  
   640x512       60.00  
   700x450       60.00  
   640x480       60.00  
   720x405       60.00  
   684x384       60.00  
   640x360       60.00  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00  
   480x270       60.00  
   400x300       60.00  
   432x243       60.00  
   320x240       60.00  
   360x202       60.00  
   320x180       60.00  
VGA-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
ian@ian-ThinkPad-T440p:~$```

[stable plinth]

I just put xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1024x768 --right-of eDP-1 in terminal and I can reach offscreen to the right further than I can see. The TV still does not show anything.

Putting in xrandr now the VGA part now says VGA-1 disconnected 1024x768+1024+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm 1024x768 60.00*
It still says disconnected but now it says a resolution so maybe I'm getting somewhere?

[sacred inlet]

Have you ever used the adapter on another device and thereby know IT is working? Are you sure it works in the direction you are using it? Not all devices are bidirectional

Notably I'm guessing its probably an active converter which means that it likely needs to be powered to work

[stable plinth]

I just tried on a different TV and that TV also didn't react at all -- I am using it in the right direction but the fact it's not working on two TVs is telling me it's probably a problem with the adapter which is disappointing

I included a picture of what it looks like but here's an actual picture of it:

[frozen crypt]

that doesn't look like a real adapter

real adapters have a circuit box and need a power supply, to change the VGA signal with it's various clock sync signals, and 3 colour signals plus a data channel that tell the computer it's talking with a monitor.

that might work on a TV that has component (not composite) jacks labelled something like Y P B and coloured red green blue, but very likely not over composite.

[stable plinth]

Ohhh I see damn yeah the tv I'm trying to use only has composite. I guess then I should look into getting an adapter that actually... works. Good to know

[sacred inlet]

You should probably get an actual monitor

[stable plinth]

At that point I wouldn't bother tbh, if I can get the tv to work great because it's smth I already have and if not I don't really need an extra display 🤷‍♂️

[sacred inlet]

Not sure how one could stand to use a 30 year old TV to be honest

[frozen crypt]

does the tv have S-video in?

the small DIN jack

if so, that's marginally better than composite, but it will still look crappy

[stable plinth]

I see it on the back, although I can't find an s-video cord to try it. I'm fine with composite I don't mind stuff looking crappy. I don't think the adapter I have rn is gonna work any so I should look into getting one that seems legit first and foremost

[frozen crypt]

then get a proper adapter that is officially labelled VGA-to-S-Video/Composite or just to svideo for better picture

[frozen crypt]

something like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Composite-S-Video-Converter-Monitors/dp/B08DCNBZG2/

Note on XFCE, all you have to do is press Win+P (think projector ) to get a display output menu. Else visit Display item in the xfce system settings