Projectors are pretty handy when you want to project images on a wall. Projectors are generally meant to display images on a flat surface. But what if you want to project it on a wall like a TV screen? Well, it’s possible. In reality, all you need is a projector, the right accessories, and the correct techniques.
In this article, we’ll show you how to use a projector as a tv.
Can a Projector Be Used as a TV?
For the majority of purposes, a projector can readily replace television, although this isn’t always the case. The main distinction is that televisions contain in-built TV tuners that enable them to receive free-to-air programs. As a result, while you can play video games, stream movies, and TV shows, and perform other tasks without a TV, watching broadcast television still requires special equipment.
Your possibilities for using a projector as a TV are as follows:
- Cable box: If you have a cable box, you can connect it to your projector via HDMI so that you can use it just like a regular TV.
- Streaming gadget: You can use an app like YouTube TV or FuboTV to stream live TV if you have a streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick, which you can connect to your projector through HDMI.
- Native apps: Some projectors can run apps natively because they are designed on platforms like Android TV. If you own a projector like that, you might be able to stream television shows directly from the projector itself, eliminating the need for an additional streaming device.
- TV tuner: The missing capability in projectors that is generally present in televisions is replicated by these devices. They operate in the same way as a television: you connect an antenna to the tuner, then the tuner is connected to your projector, allowing you to watch local broadcast television channels.
See our list of the best projectors you can use as a TV here.
Using a Projector as a TV
You must choose your approach before you may utilize a projector as a TV. A cable box is the best option if you already have a cable TV subscription because it gives you access to the service for which you are already paying.
You will need to buy a streaming device and then pay a monthly fee for a television streaming service if you choose this option. All you need to pay for is a subscription to the app of your choice if your projector supports native apps. The optimal combination for seeing local channels is a TV tuner and the right antenna.
You’re prepared to set up your projector to use as a TV once you’ve chosen the technique to employ:
- The projector should be set up as usual.
Note: If your projector doesn’t have enough open inputs, you might need to unplug an input device like a Blu-ray player or DVD player since you’ll need a free HDMI input.
- Connect an HDMI cable to your projector’s input.
- Your cable box, streaming device, or TV tuner should be connected to the other end of the HDMI wire.
- Connect a sound bar, speakers, or home theater system to your projector.
- It could take some time for a cable box or TV tuner to request programming data from the cable provider or look for available over-the-air channels if you’re using one of these devices.
- Get a TV streaming app and install it if you’re using a streaming device or native app.
- Now that your projector is set up, you can begin viewing TV.
Read: Things You Should Know About VR Streaming
Is It Okay to Frequently Watch TV on a Projector?
Any of the aforementioned techniques can be used to operate your projector as a television without any problems. Your projector may have been purchased to provide you with an at-home movie experience, but you’ll discover that it also performs admirably for regular television viewing, including newscasts and catching up on your favorite comedies.
The only issue with utilizing a projector to watch TV on a regular basis is that we watch TV differently than we watch movies on one. As an illustration, a lot of individuals use their televisions as background noise, and some even leave them on all day.
When utilizing your projector as a TV, you’ll need to consider the bulb it uses, especially if it has a short lifespan. For instance, if a 2,000-hour projector bulb is left on for extended periods of time each day, it will swiftly burn out in less than a year.
If your projector has a long-life LED lamp with a lifespan of tens of thousands of hours, it will be much simpler to use it like a regular television without having to worry about changing the bulb every year. Even so, we still advise switching off any projectors that aren’t being used right away.