Octopus Overlords

I realize this is a stretch for "General Computing", but I figure there are some clever folks who might have a solution for my problem. My wife likes to watch TV late into the night, while I need a quiet room to fall asleep in. Not a problem at home, but we are going on a long trip in May. We usually try to get a suite so she can watch TV in another room, but that isn't always available.

Now, I do have headphones plus a sixteen foot long 3.5mm mini-stereo cable so she can plug in that way; I also have a small bluetooth transmitter that connects via a 3.5mm mini-stereo plug into an audio source which can link wirelessly to the bluetooth headphones. However, what can I do if the TV doesn't have a 3.5mm audio output?

I have found a USB to 3.5mm adapter but I don't know much about the ports on hotel TVs. Would I expect to find a useful USB port? Or do I have to explore HDMI adapters? Or something else? Anyone have experience with this?

Rather than planning for every A/V setup, maybe bring a tablet or laptop as backup to watch something if there is no 3.5mm jack. Or wait until you get there and pick up an adapter locally?

Is this in the US or abroad?

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:44 pm I have found a USB to 3.5mm adapter but I don't know much about the ports on hotel TVs. Would I expect to find a useful USB port? Or do I have to explore HDMI adapters? Or something else? Anyone have experience with this?

You are not going to get audio out of a USB port on a TV.

Easiest way to go about it would be to use a bluetooth transmitter, like you said. As insurance, I would get an RCA (male) to 3.5mm (female) adapter, just in case the TV doesn't have a 3.5mm jack (any TV will have RCA outputs for audio). Something like this.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:50 pm Rather than planning for every A/V setup, maybe bring a tablet or laptop as backup to watch something if there is no 3.5mm jack. Or wait until you get there and pick up an adapter locally?

Is this in the US or abroad?

She doesn't like to watch on tablets or laptop, only a TV . I've tried to convince her, but... . We will be traveling across the US from Florida to California and back with a lot of different hotels. Not really an option after a day's traveling to run out to a local store to hunt for an adapter, although heaven forbid, she really does like to go to Walmart

gilraen wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:55 pm You are not going to get audio out of a USB port on a TV.

See, that's why I come to you folks, I'd never have figured that to be true

gilraen wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:55 pmEasiest way to go about it would be to use a bluetooth transmitter, like you said. As insurance, I would get an RCA (male) to 3.5mm (female) adapter, just in case the TV doesn't have a 3.5mm jack (any TV will have RCA outputs for audio). Something like this.

Oh, that's a good option, I seem to even recall in the distant past having one of these cables. Thanks for posting the link!

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:44 pm My wife likes to watch TV late into the night, while I need a quiet room to fall asleep in. Not a problem at home, but we are going on a long trip in May. We usually try to get a suite so she can watch TV in another room, but that isn't always available.

Can you spend 60 or so? You can attach this to hotel TV, then use any Bluetooth headphone.

https://www.amazon.com/Avantree-Bluetoo ... 07TLHRPDP/

Or buy her any of the kits here: But you'll still have to attach it (and remember to take it with you)

https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/5317 ... 5317298011

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 2:11 am Can you spend 60 or so? You can attach this to hotel TV, then use any Bluetooth headphone.

https://www.amazon.com/Avantree-Bluetoo ... 07TLHRPDP/

Or buy her any of the kits here: But you'll still have to attach it (and remember to take it with you)

https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/5317 ... 5317298011

That's interesting. I'm just wondering if a hotel TV is going to let me adjust the audio settings. We're going away to a hotel in early April, I might use that trip to tinker with their TV.

gilraen's suggestion sounds like it'd work with what you've already got available to you.

One other suggestion I have is if you're watching broadcast TV, using a smart phone with the "Tunity" app. You can connect your headphones to the phone, point the phone at the screen, and have the app determine what you're watching and then sync output through to your headphones. I've done this successfully when the sporting event I'm interested in is not the one with audio (such as at a restaurant or at a casino). The app has a surprisingly large number of channels it can connect with.

Tunity

Another simple option would be to use a Roku with the enhanced remote. The enhanced remote includes a built-in headphone jack for private listening:

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:54 pm Another simple option would be to use a Roku with the enhanced remote. The enhanced remote includes a built-in headphone jack for private listening:

A few potential problems with this. You can't always get network TV channels on the Roku (it would depend on the channel and on how good your cable provider's streaming app is). You need a solid wi-fi connection, which is not a given. Also, not only does it require an available HDMI port, you also must the ability to change the source input on the TV to that HDMI port. Many hotel TVs have that option disabled.

gilraen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 5:42 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:54 pm Another simple option would be to use a Roku with the enhanced remote. The enhanced remote includes a built-in headphone jack for private listening:

A few potential problems with this. You can't always get network TV channels on the Roku (it would depend on the channel and on how good your cable provider's streaming app is).

So what? Network TV is mostly rubbish, and a Roku provides plenty of vastly superior streaming platforms to choose from.

gilraen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 5:42 pm You need a solid wi-fi connection, which is not a given.

Unless you're really slumming it, that's rarely much of a problem at any decent American hotel.

gilraen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 5:42 pm Also, not only does it require an available HDMI port, you also must the ability to change the source input on the TV to that HDMI port. Many hotel TVs have that option disabled.

Most of the larger chains aren't that restrictive with their TVs in the US nowadays, and it's fairly simple to work around such restrictions if and when necessary.

Well, one, my wife likes network TV and two, I don't consider Hiltons and Hampton Inns slumming, but I have gotten pretty iffy wifi in those places.

Anyway, the problem has somewhat resolved itself. After reading to my wife some of the posts here, she has decided to use my tablet for her TV watching . Since wifi can be an issue, we checked with our local AT&T store and talked hotspots. He said for our purposes we ought to just go to Walmart or Target and get an inexpensive hotspot and use a prepaid subscription, since we only need it for 4-5 week. We then can just hold onto the hotspot and get more prepaid when we go on another trip.

Thanks to everyone for posting their suggestions . I'm am going to pick up a couple of adapters and keep the other stuff in mind.

I want to set myself up with a variation of this. I'd like to be able to place a dvd in my laptop and then watch and listen to it on hotel TVs overseas. I'm thinking I should have an HDMI cable, RCA cables, and a headphone jack to RCA cable adapter. Would that probably cover my bases?

I need to update to a Windows 10 laptop for work purposes anyway, and I'm thinking I'll need to make sure it has a microphone jack, an HDMI connection, and a DVD player?

em2nought wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 7:34 am I want to set myself up with a variation of this. I'd like to be able to place a dvd in my laptop and then watch and listen to it on hotel TVs overseas. I'm thinking I should have an HDMI cable, RCA cables, and a headphone jack to RCA cable adapter. Would that probably cover my bases?

I need to update to a Windows 10 laptop for work purposes anyway, and I'm thinking I'll need to make sure it has a microphone jack, an HDMI connection, and a DVD player?

why not just buy an external dvd drive and use that?

Why not a Chromecast?

em2nought wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 7:34 am I'd like to be able to place a dvd in my laptop and then watch and listen to it on hotel TVs overseas.

I think the cost of a cable that long would be prohibitive. Recommend bringing your laptop with you instead.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:41 pm I think the cost of a cable that long would be prohibitive.

15' HDMI cable for $7.49 and free shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-Cable-1-4 ... Rxp0Jopy1w

Bluetooth can have terrible lag, there is a recent Bluetooth version avoiding this, but both parts need to support it. Read the ratings on Amazon (or wherever) if lag gets mentioned.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:44 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:41 pm I think the cost of a cable that long would be prohibitive.

15' HDMI cable for $7.49 and free shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-Cable-1-4 ... Rxp0Jopy1w

I think you missed the joke. LOL Besides, I wouldn't want Nik Wallenda trying to walk my HDMI cable.

naednek wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 1:23 pm why not just buy an external dvd drive and use that?

What would be the reason for that? Would it be because laptops aren't coming with DVD drives as often so the selection of laptops is expanded, or are laptop DVD drives subpar compared to an external DVD drives? Thanks for the feedback.

em2nought wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:03 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:44 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:41 pm I think the cost of a cable that long would be prohibitive.

15' HDMI cable for $7.49 and free shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-Cable-1-4 ... Rxp0Jopy1w

I think you missed the joke. LOL

not if one is buying them from big-box electronics stores...