Raspberry pi 4, VGA adaptor

[adiaforetos]

Hi all,

Since I am a beginner I am struggling with getting it working.
I bought raspberry pi 4 (4Gb RAM) but my screen is still black..
I use a micro HDMI - VGA adaptor ( passive) to connect it with my monitor.
Can you please confirm that a passive micro-HDMI to VGA adaptor will not work?
Should I buy I micro HDMI- DVI-D cable? (My monitor supoorts DVI-D)
After how many seconds should monitor wake up?

[pcmanbob]

Hi.

This has been discussed a number of times on this forum, if I remember correctly you need a powered HDMI to VGA converter and only a few work with the pi, you may also need to configure your HDMI settings manually , to force HDMI on at pi boot.

I have an HDMI to DVI-I cable that works with all my pi's including the 4B , using an HDMI to micro HDMI adapter.

If you want VGA then look at one of the specialist pi shops for an HDMI to VGA adapter, personally I would recommend you get a HDMI to DVI-I cable.

[Ernst]

If you want VGA then look at one of the specialist pi shops for an HDMI to VGA adapter, personally I would recommend you get a HDMI to DVI-I cable.

Just for information: I have 4 cheap HDMI to VGA adapters in use, two with full size HDMI plug for Raspberry, one with full size HDMI plug for my PC, and one with micro size HDMI plug for a Pi4B. No problems with the full size HDMI versions, the micro size HDMI adapter works for some time before the screen goes black, re-plugging brings back the picture, iow not recommended.

[RaTTuS]

just use a mico hdmi to dvi cable
don't bother with vga on RPI

[W. H. Heydt]

just use a mico hdmi to dvi cable
don't bother with vga on RPI

That begs a question that only the OP can answer...

To the OP...carefully check your monitor to see if it has any inputs other than VGA. My experience is that most (but not all) monitors made in the decade or so will have both VGA and DVI or HDMI inputs (I have one that has all three). If you do have a DVI connector, get an HDMI to DVI cable. If you can't find microHDMI to DVI, you can get inexpensive HDMI to DVI adapters and use a microHDMI to HDMI cable plus the adapter.

An alternative (if your monitor doesn't have anything other than VGA) is to scrounge a monitor that does have DVI or HDMI input and proceed as above.

[fruitoftheloom]

just use a mico hdmi to dvi cable
don't bother with vga on RPI

That begs a question that only the OP can answer...

To the OP...carefully check your monitor to see if it has any inputs other than VGA. My experience is that most (but not all) monitors made in the decade or so will have both VGA and DVI or HDMI inputs (I have one that has all three). If you do have a DVI connector, get an HDMI to DVI cable. If you can't find microHDMI to DVI, you can get inexpensive HDMI to DVI adapters and use a microHDMI to HDMI cable plus the adapter.

An alternative (if your monitor doesn't have anything other than VGA) is to scrounge a monitor that does have DVI or HDMI input and proceed as above.

The OP clearly stated he has DVi Input on his monitor:

Should I buy I micro HDMI- DVI-D cable? (My monitor supoorts DVI-D)

[drgeoff]

I use a micro HDMI - VGA adaptor ( passive) to connect it with my monitor.
Can you please confirm that a passive micro-HDMI to VGA adaptor will not work?

There is no such thing as a passive micro-HDMI to VGA adaptor.

Converting HDMI(digital) to VGA (analogue) requires active electronics.

It is possible that some equipment with an HDMI output socket can be put in a mode whereby it outputs VGA signals on some pins of that socket. In that case a passive cable could convey those VGA signals to a VGA monitor. No model of RPi has such an output mode. Only digital HDMI signals are ever available from the (micro-/mini-)HDMI socket.

[pcmanbob]

Pi4B. No problems with the full size HDMI versions, the micro size HDMI adapter works for some time before the screen goes black, re-plugging brings back the picture, iow not recommended.

I suffered the same problem when I added a mico HDMI adaptor to my HDMI-DVD-i cable , but I found that by enabling config_hdmi_boost in config.txt and gradually increasing the boost value I now have a stable display, I ended up with it set to 6 in my case.

[Ernst]

Pi4B. No problems with the full size HDMI versions, the micro size HDMI adapter works for some time before the screen goes black, re-plugging brings back the picture, iow not recommended.

I suffered the same problem when I added a mico HDMI adaptor to my HDMI-DVD-i cable , but I found that by enabling config_hdmi_boost in config.txt and gradually increasing the boost value I now have a stable display, I ended up with it set to 6 in my case.

I did see your post shortly after giving the micro HDMI VGA adapter another try with boost value 7 & 10 which did not work,
but after setting boost to 4 it has been working as expected for over 12 hours.