With projectors you can also watch TV channels such as ARD, RTL and ProSieben. But you have to set up classic television first. You have several options for this.
With your beamer you can also follow the normal TV program. This works in several ways. (Source: Sony / Screenshot: Netzwelt)
Thanks to special short-throw models, projectors are now a good replacement for a television not only in larger but also in smaller apartments. After all, projectors offer a larger and usually better picture than many TV sets. And when it comes to technology, projectors have long been on par with smart TVs. After all, you can now even watch classic television on home projectors.
- How can you watch TV with a projector?
TV receiver for projectors
Media Player: Streaming Sticks, Streaming Boxes and Co.
Beamer with smart operating system
Connect computer or laptop
Connect smartphone or tablet
Straight from the TV
The best and cheapest solution
While projectors were only used to display films in the early days, modern devices now offer a variety of options with which you can watch all free-to-air TV channels – including ARD, ZDF, ProSieben and RTL – also in home cinema format on the screen.
Beamer: It is important to pay attention to this when buying
Find the right projector
If you want to buy a projector, you have to clarify important questions in advance. You can see here what you need to consider in terms of resolution, brightness and functions.
How can you watch TV with a projector?
However, most projectors do not have an integrated television receiver, as smart TVs usually do. That’s why you need additional devices or cables for most projectors in order to be able to watch classic television. There are different solutions depending on the model. We show you several ways how you can watch TV with your projector.
TV receiver for projectors: be careful when choosing The projector is the easiest way to watch TV via receiver. With some receivers, you can even retrofit HD transmitters using a CI module. (Source: depositphotos.com / zwolafasola)
Probably the easiest way to watch TV with your projector is via a receiver. Do you already have one at home? Perfect. Otherwise you have to buy a receiver. You can get cheap models from 50 euros. You can either opt for a cheaper digital receiver or for a slightly more expensive AV receiver. The latter usually offer better sound and a variety of additional functions such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, voice control and integrated streaming services.
When buying a receiver, note that it should be compatible with your existing access technology (DVB-T2 HD, DVB-S, DVB-C). If you are unsure, you can consult a retailer in an electronics store. Basically, more expensive receivers also offer more additional functions. Here you have to consider how much you want to spend on additional amenities.
Of course, the receiver has to be connected to the projector so that you can watch the TV channels on the big screen. You can usually connect cable and satellite receivers to your projector with a simple HDMI cable. It is important that the projector has an HDMI input and the receiver has an HDMI output. You then have to switch to the appropriate input source via the settings of your projector.
You can also connect older projectors and receivers using a VGA cable. Keep in mind that you also have to connect your projector to speakers or a sound system (if you don’t already have it) so that you can also hear the sound. If the projector or receiver does not have the right ports (connections), you may be able to use a television adapter.
Media Player: Just plug in and watch TV Streaming devices such as Chromecast and Co. work on projectors just as they do on televisions – with the right connection. (Source: © Netzwelt; Image: Richard W. Schaber)
As the owner of a smart TV, you may already be familiar with the small dongles, streaming sticks and streaming boxes. This includes products like Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV. Instead of plugging them into your Smart TV, you can also plug them into modern projectors, provided they have the right connection.
Just like on the television, the small media players then add an interface with online apps and various smart functions to the projector. With some of these apps, such as Joyn and RTL+, you can access various TV channels and watch live TV at the same time. The media libraries of the public broadcasters are also accessible.
Operating the smart interface on the projector is no problem using the smartphone app for the respective media player. With a price of around 50 euros, media players are a cheap alternative to the receiver if you want to watch TV on your projector.
Projector with Android TV or webOS The smart operating systems of televisions are now also available on some projectors. (Source: BenQ Corporation)
If you don’t have a projector yet, the next option is particularly interesting for you. Some projector manufacturers now offer projectors that are equipped with a smart TV operating system. So you don’t have to go through the detour via one of the media players just described, but can access a large number of apps and online content with the projector alone without any additional accessories. The only requirement, as with Smart TV, is an internet connection.
The manufacturer BenQ offers smart Android TV projectors, for example, and various LG projectors are equipped with the manufacturer’s own operating system, webOS. Compared to a smart TV, you really don’t have to do without almost anything here and receiving the classic TV program via apps and media libraries is probably the easiest with such a projector.
Mirror TV program by computer
You may already know that you can receive live TV on your PC or laptop. Almost all major TV broadcasters offer live streams of the current program on their official websites as well as media libraries with recently shown series, films and shows. If only the image from a laptop or PC could somehow be transmitted to the projector. But wait, that’s very easy to do.
All you need is a suitable cable to connect your computer and projector. An HDMI cable is usually used for this, which you plug into the HDMI input of your projector and the HDMI output of your computer. Now all you have to do is switch to the corresponding input source on the projector and you can see the image from your computer via your projector. You can still navigate using the mouse or – if available – the touchpad on your computer.
An alternative is the wireless connection of computer and projector, for example via wireless HDMI. The way you connect your projector and computer is the same way you use it when you connect your computer to the TV.
Mirror TV program via mobile device Almost all projectors, such as this model from Asus, support mirroring of content via smartphone. (Source: ASUSTeK Computers)
And in the same way you can also connect your smartphone or tablet to your projector to reflect the content from there onto the big screen. With some projectors, thanks to the integrated Miracast function or AirPlay function, this can even be done wirelessly without an HDMI cable.
If only a cable connection is possible, the missing HDMI connection on various smartphones and tablets can cause you problems. In such cases, a suitable adapter can be a solution.
Connect smart TV to projector
If the projector acts as a replacement for the television, this last solution is certainly not an alternative. All those of you who have a TV standing around somewhere in addition to the projector can also connect it to the projector via HDMI. So you reflect the picture from the smart TV.
However, keep in mind that not all Smart TVs have an HDMI output, which you must use to set up such a connection. Many TVs only have HDMI inputs that can be used to send a signal to the device. You can see whether there is also an HDMI output from the description of the port on the back of your TV or you can look in the instructions for your TV set.
Since most HDMI cables are quite short and extension cables can have a negative effect on the signal strength, connecting projectors and televisions is certainly less practical in many households. Nevertheless, we do not want to leave this option unmentioned.
The best and cheapest solution
The easiest way to watch TV with your projector is if it already has an integrated TV operating system. If you watch TV regularly, you should pay particular attention to this projector property when buying it.
Projectors are a real alternative to televisions these days. With the gigantic image display, they promise even more cinema feeling. (Source: ASUSTeK Computers)
The next best option is to connect via smartphone or PC, provided you have one of the two devices and a connection cable at hand. The disadvantage here, however, is that switching between TV channels is usually quite time-consuming, since you have to switch between the websites or apps of the individual channels. This also applies if you use a media player.
It is certainly the most uncomplicated if you operate your projector with a receiver. Then you can change the programs just as easily as you are used to with a television. Since even cheap models are a good solution here, this option is hardly more expensive than if you invest in a streaming stick, for example.
Ultimately, however, it is up to you which of these options you want to use. As far as the picture and sound quality of the TV program on your projector is concerned, this is of course largely determined by the properties of your projector. However, a Full HD projector is always sufficient for simple television, since most TV stations still transmit in SD quality by default and only a few stations offer their programs in HD free of charge.
Projector under 1,000 euros in comparison: 6 buying tips for your home cinema
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If you also want to use streaming services in addition to classic television and watch Blu-rays via a connected Blu-ray player, a 4K projector may even be worthwhile if you want to enjoy films and series in the best possible resolution.
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