Watching music videos and movies on big and high-definition screens will give you a great experience. Using a projector for everyday viewing is a good idea, and this article explains how to use a projector as a TV. However, you’ll have to find other adapters or add-on software for some projectors to use as a TV.
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Can You Use a Projector as a TV?
While projectors can easily replace TVs for most functions, they’re not exactly interchangeable. The most notable difference is that the TV has a built-in TV tuner to receive over-the-air broadcasts. So while you can easily use a projector instead of a TV to play video games, stream movies and shows, and other activities, the critical act of watching broadcast TV requires additional hardware.
Here are the options for using the projector as a TV:
- Cable Box: If you have a cable box, you can plug it into the projector via HDMI and use the projector like a traditional TV.
- Streaming device: If you have a streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick, you can connect it to a projector via HDMI and watch TV using apps like YouTube TV or fuboTV that let you stream live television.
- Native apps: Some projectors are built on platforms like Android TV and run apps natively. If you have such a projector, you can run TV streaming applications directly on the projector without the need for a separate streaming device.
- TV-tuners: These devices replicate features that are missing in TVs, but often in projectors. The way they work is to connect the antenna to the tuner, connect the tuner to the projector, and watch the local broadcast TV channels as if you were watching TV.
How to Use a Projector as a TV
Before using the projector as a TV, you need to figure out which method to use. If you have a cable subscription, a cable box is the best way to go because it gives you access to the service you already paid for.
If you opt for a streaming device, you’ll need to buy one and then pay for a subscription to a TV streaming service. If your projector supports native apps, then all you need to pay is a subscription to the app of your choice. If you want to watch local channels, then a TV tuner and a suitable antenna are the way to go.
Once you’ve decided which method to use, you can set up the projector as a TV:
1. Set up the projector as usual.
You’ll need a free HDMI input, so if your projector doesn’t have enough available input, you may need to unplug an input device, such as a Blu-ray player or DVD player.
2. Connect the HDMI cable to the projector’s input.
3. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to a cable box, streaming device, or TV tuner.
4. Connect the projector to a sound card, speakers, or home theater system.
5. If you’re using a cable box or TV tuner, you may have to wait a while for the device to receive programming information from the cable company or search for available over-the-air channels.
6. If you’re using a streaming device or native app, download and install the TV Streaming app.
7. You are ready to start watching TV with the projector.
Is It Okay to Use a Projector to Watch TV Every Day?
It is perfectly safe to use the projector as a TV using any of the above methods. You might have bought a projector for a home theater experience, but you’ll find it equally useful for everyday TV viewing, from watching the news to catching up on your favorite sitcom.
The only potential problem with using a projector to watch everyday TV is that our interactions with the TV tend to be different than the movies we watch on the projector. For example, many people turn on the TV to get background noise, and some even leave the TV on all day.
If your projector is using a relatively low lamp life, you need to take this into account when using the projector as a TV. For example, if you turn on a 2,000-hour projector bulb for extended periods of time every day, you could burn it out in less than a year.
If your projector has a long-lived LED light that lasts for tens of thousands of hours, it’s a lot easier to use it like any other TV, without worrying about changing the bulb every year. We still recommend turning off any projectors you don’t use regularly.
Why Buy a Projector Instead of TV?
Yes, you can buy one instead of a TV due to the unique advantages of a projector. That’s why a projector is a great alternative to a TV.
- The projector takes up the minimal floor and wall space
You just bought your TV; you can hang it on the wall or you may need a giant stand. Projectors save you floor and wall space. When the TV is the centerpiece of the room, the projector is smaller and can be placed on a shelf, reducing the footprint.
Consider getting a retractable projector screen. Instead of leaving enough empty space on the wall for the projector to shine, you can then hang the projector screen on any wall art you might have. So using a projector won’t limit you to decorating your walls.
- Projector is portable
If you compare the size of a TV and a projector, you will find that the latter is small and easy to carry. So, if you’re tired of watching movies at home, take them to a friend’s house and enjoy them together. You can also put the projector in a backpack.
Think movie party night; you can bring a projector and project it onto a blank wall to enjoy with friends.
- The screen is too big
Everyone wants to have the biggest screen in the universe. Thinking about buying a large flat-screen TV for over $300? However, a projector that costs less than $100 saves you a ton of money.
Not only does it save you money, but the projector also gives you the largest viewing screen, up to 120 inches wide. Don’t forget the quality of images and videos, projectors are the best.
- Reduce indoor accidents
If you have naughty kids at home, or kittens that don’t know how strong they are, a projector is needed. Especially if the projector is wireless, it will definitely relax your brain.
Projectors are durable, small, and unlikely to show up in people’s way at home. It also saves you any extra costs for TV damage and malfunctions.
Is Watching a Projector Better than TV?
Yes, watching video through a projector is better than using a TV, especially when it comes to eye care and video quality. The projector can produce large-size high-definition video with less stress on the eyes.
Also, when the TV screen emits light, the projector can only reflect the light into the eyes. So even after watching your favorite TV show for a long time, the light produced by the projector is not harmful to your eyes.
Concluding
You can find that watching TV with a projector is feasible, and it can be appealing. So if you’re looking to buy a large flat-screen TV, a projector might be a high-quality, portable option.
You will still consider your health and safety when planning to buy a TV. Therefore, the projector is convenient to ensure that your eyes are safe. Also, since the projector is suspended from the ceiling and cannot be seen, accidents are rare.
We hope this article has guided you in safely using your projector as a TV. So get one and enjoy unlimited comfort while watching your favorite live sports and shows.
