How to Use a Projector as a TV? A Step-By-Step Guide

Published: Last Updated on
How to Use a Projector as a TV

Using a projector as a TV can be a great way to create a home theater experience, especially if you have a large blank wall available to project onto. Here are the steps you can follow to use a projector as a TV:

  1. Choose the right projector: Make sure to choose a projector that is suitable for your needs. Consider factors such as brightness, resolution, and input options.
  2. Connect the projector to a video source: Most projectors have multiple input options, such as HDMI, VGA, and composite video. Connect your video source (such as a cable box, streaming device, or game console) to the projector using the appropriate cable.
  3. Adjust the projector settings: Once the projector is connected to your video source, you may need to adjust some settings to optimize the picture quality. Use the projector’s remote control to adjust settings such as brightness, contrast, color temperature, and aspect ratio.
  4. Connect audio: Most projectors do not have built-in speakers, so you will need to connect external speakers to get audio. You can use wired or wireless speakers or even a soundbar.
  5. Choose a screen or wall: You will need a flat, white surface to project onto. You can use a blank wall, a white sheet, or a purpose-built projection screen. Make sure the surface is clean and free of wrinkles or bumps.
  6. Adjust the projector placement: The placement of the projector will affect the size and quality of the image. Experiment with different distances and angles until you find the optimal placement.
  7. Enjoy your TV experience: Once everything is set up and adjusted, you can enjoy your projector as a TV. Use your video source’s remote control to change channels or select content, and adjust the projector’s settings as needed to get the best picture quality.

Using a projector as a TV can be a fun and immersive way to watch movies, sports, and TV shows. With the right equipment and settings, you can create a high-quality viewing experience that rivals a traditional TV.

Can You Use a Projector as a TV?

Yes, you can easily use a projector as a TV for most functions. However, TVs have inbuilt TV tuners that make it easy to receive on-air broadcasts. 

Since most projectors lack streaming features and inbuilt TV tuners, you’ll have to buy additional external adapters. By doing so, you can stream live your best TV shows at ease with the screen size of your choice.

Here are some external features you can use.

Streaming device: Streaming devices such as Fire Stick and Roku helps you watch your TV shows from Fubo TV and YouTube apps. Buy one to enjoy exclusive online content.

Cable box: You can connect your cable box to your projector through the HDMI cable. That links all the TV stations in your cable box to the projector. But, of course, a traditional TV is connected the same way.

Inbuilt apps: Some modern projectors have built-in features such as Android TV and other native-run apps. You can stream the TV shows directly into the projector without using an external device if you have such a projector. It’s better to find these projectors if you find it hard to make many connections on your projectors.

TV tuner: TV-tuners work the same as cable boxes to link the projector to the local broadcast channels. You just need to connect an antenna to the TV tuner and the projector. You’ll continue enjoying fascinating TV shows on your TV stations like the TV.

How to Connect TV to Projector HDMI

The first thing here is to check if your projector has an HDMI port. To do that, check out the seller’s manual or visually inspect the projector’s body.

If the projector has the port, you’re good to go. Follow these steps to connect your TV to the projector HDMI successfully.

  1. Shut down the television and the projector. Give the projector some time to cool down if it is on for a long time.
  2. Connect the first end of the HDMI cable to your projector’s HDMI port.
  3. To the other end, connect to the HDMI port of your TV. If you connect the HDMI jack to some TVs that lack the HDMI port, you’ll require an RCA to HDMI converter. Link an RCA (Red, yellow and white) cable at the back of your TV and connect the HDMI wire at the back of your projector.
  4. Power on the projector and the TV and remove the projector’s cap.
  5. If your projector doesn’t detect the connection automatically, go to the settings and change the video input of the projector to HDMI. You can also do that by pressing the projector’s HDMI button or scanning the projector’s input menu.

How to Watch TV on Projector Without Cable Box

With the technology growing swiftly, many people are growing out of using satellite dishes and cable boxes. Instead, they prefer using modern methods of watching TV shows using a projector. So let’s see if we can watch TV on a projector without a cable box.

We need a network source, for example, WiFi, and a smartphone, laptop, or a TV for streaming purposes. If you lack any of the above devices, you can prefer purchasing a cheaper streaming device such as Sling TV, Google  Chromecast, or Roku streaming stick.

Then:

  1. Plug your preferred streaming device into the HDMI port of your projector.
  2. Power on the streaming device by plugging it into an electric socket.
  3. Take your preferred device, a smartphone, tablet, TV, or even a laptop, and open any app you wish to explore. For example, if it’s movies, head to Netflix or open the Sling app to watch TV programs.
  4. If you’re using your tablet or smartphone, choose the square TV button at the right corner of your device.
  5. Pick your favorite streaming device if it asks you the device you want to stream with, and hit play on your video.

How to Watch Free to Air TV on Projector

Although many people use projectors for movies and gaming, sometimes it’s interesting to watch live sports or even soap operas on a big screen. However, projectors lack an inbuilt TV tuner making it difficult to watch free-to-air programs.

To watch free-to-air TV on a projector, you need a cable box or a TV tuner. Firstly, attach the antenna to your tuner box through the coaxial input and ensure that the connection is clear.

It’s easier to connect in urban centers than in rural areas. That means, in urban areas, you’ll access more free channels than in rural areas.

Still, you can link an HDMI cable to an amplifier that distributes audio to your speakers. The HDMI cable also connects the video to your projector.

If you lack an amplifier, connect the individual speakers to the cable box or a TV tuner through audio out.

Some on-air TV stations also go live on social media apps like Facebook and YouTube. Therefore, you can use streaming gadgets such as phones, laptops, and tablets and link them to the projectors to enjoy these on-air TV shows.

You can link those devices easily to the projector using an HDMI cable.

 Can I Connect TV to Projector Wirelessly?

Yes, you can connect your TV to a projector wirelessly. Wire-free set-ups help avoid cable clutters in your house and save you money. But unfortunately, wires are prone to accidents and make your home look disorganized.

To wirelessly connect your TV to a projector, you need to purchase a wireless transmitter gadget such as MyWireless TV2. Therefore, you can install your projectors anywhere outside or inside the house without cables.

A wireless transmitter gadget works in all devices having an HDMI port, a projector included. That means you can connect one to your projector and enjoy live streams from YouTube, Facebook, and other sites easily without cables.

To connect a wireless transmitter to your projector, plug it into the HDMI port. It would help if you supplied power to both your transmitter and projector.

Another way of wirelessly connecting your TV to the projector is by using WIFi other than other wired connections. Thus, it’s possible to eliminate any trip hazards and allows neatness in your house.

If your projectors are mounted to the ceiling, the wireless connection is the best choice. WIFI also comes in handy when your compound is full of kids who’re likely to trip or mess up with the wires.

Why Buy a Projector Instead of TV?

Yes, due to the exclusive advantages of a projector, you can buy one instead of a TV. These are reasons why a projector is an excellent alternative to a TV.

  • A Projector Takes Minimal Floor and Wall Space

You’ve just bought your television; you can either hang it on the wall or require a huge stand. A projector saves you both the floor and wall space. Where a TV becomes the central figure in the entire room, a projector is smaller and can be put on a shelf reducing the floor space.

Consider buying a retractable projector screen. Then, instead of leaving ample blank space on your wall for the projector to illuminate, you can hang the projector screen over any wall art you may have. Therefore, using a projector doesn’t restrict you from decorating your walls.

  • The Projector is Portable

If you compare the sizes of a TV and a projector, you’ll find that the latter is small and easily portable. So if you’re bored with watching movies at home, carry them to your friends’ homes and enjoy them together. You can also carry the projector in a backpack. 

Think of a movie party night; you can carry your projector and project it to a blank wall and enjoy it with your friends.

  • The Screen Size’s Amazing

Everyone desires to have the biggest screen in the universe. Think of buying a large flat-screen TV that costs you more than 300 dollars? Yet, a projector that costs you less than 100 dollars saves you a pretty large sum.

Not only saving you money, but the projector also gives you the biggest watching screen, up to 120 inches wide. Not forgetting the quality of the images and videos, the projector is the best.

  • Reduced Accidents in the House

If you have playful kids in your house or kittens who don’t know how strong they are, that’s where a projector comes in. Especially if the projector is wireless, it will surely put your mind at ease.

The projector is durable, small, and less likely to come on people’s way in the house. It also saves you on any additional costs caused by breakages and malfunctioning of your TV. 

How to Link a Projector With a TV Tuner

Linking a projector with a TV tuner can be challenging, especially if you’re a freshman with projectors. That’s because projectors lack a coaxial cable input that’s key for TV tuners. So projectors are also mounted on the ceiling where it’s coaxing to run cables.

For such situations, an HDMI transmitter may be rampant. Wireless HDMI transmitters technology isn’t well-developed since it’s a recent discovery. However, they can transmit video and audio signals for shorter distances.

To link a projector with a TV tuner,

  1. Connect your HDMI transmitter to your TV tuner. You can apply a short HDMI cable to make the connection. However, for some projectors with many video input sources but lack a coaxial cable jack, you’ll require another machine to link to the transmitter.
  2. Connect your coaxial cable to your `TV tuner. Ensure that the tuner is also connected to the antenna. If your tuner automatically accepts the transmitter, you’ll skip this step.
  3. To your projector’s HDMI input, connect the HDMI receiver.
  4. Power on the projector and set the HDMI as the video source.
  5. Power on the TV box, the sound devices, and the HDMI wireless transmitter. The projector displays the TV show on the screen.

4K Projectors vs 4k TVs

When it comes to choosing between a 4K projector and a 4K TV, there are a few things to consider. Projectors tend to be more expensive than TVs, but they also offer a larger screen size and better image quality. TVs, on the other hand, are easier to set up and take less space.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding between a 4K projector and a 4K TV:

  1. Screen size: Projectors can create much larger images than TVs, so if you want to go big, a projector is a way to go.
  2. Image quality: Projectors generally have better image quality than TVs, especially when it comes to contrast and color accuracy.
  3. Cost: Projectors tend to be more expensive than TVs, so if you’re on a budget, a TV might be the better option.
  4. Ease of setup: TVs are much easier to set up than projectors, so if you’re not comfortable with installing a projector, a TV might be the way to go.
  5. Space: Projectors take up more space than TVs, so if you’re limited on space, a TV might be the better option.

Ultimately, the decision between a 4K projector and a 4K TV comes down to personal preference. Consider what’s most important to you in terms of screen size, image quality, cost, ease of setup, and space before making your decision.

How to Use a Projector as a TV FAQs

Is Watching a Projector Better than TV?

Yes, watching videos through a projector is better than using a TV, especially regarding eye care and video quality. Projectors produce large and HD videos that put less strain on the eyes.

Additionally, as the TV screen emits light, the projector only reflects light into your eyes. Therefore, the light produced by projectors is harmless to your eyes even after enjoying your favorite TV shows for a long.

Concluding: How to Use a Projector as a TV

You can figure out that using a projector to watch TV is doable and can also be compelling. So if you’re looking to buy a big flat-screen TV, a projector may be of high quality and a pocket-friendly option.

You still consider your health and safety when planning to buy a TV. Therefore, a projector comes in handy to ensure that your eyes are safe. Also, there are few accidents since the projectors are suspended on the ceiling where they can’t come into people’s way.

We hope this article directs you on using a projector as a TV safely. So buy one and enjoy limitless comfort in watching your favorite live sports and shows.

Sharing is caring!

You may also like