How to make a smart TV from a regular TV

In modern conditions, technology is increasingly acquiring the Smart prefix. After all, almost all the technology surrounding the common man becomes “smart”. It will come as no surprise to anyone that there is a refrigerator in the kitchen that can change its temperature using an application on a smartphone, or an air conditioner that automatically selects the desired temperature in the room.

And on the shelves you can already find multicookers, the functionality of which is not only for cooking, but also for playing the radio and remote control, all from the same phone.

Among all this variety of different techniques, an ordinary TV that simply shows programs no longer seems so complete. However, the average user should not be upset, since an outdated TV can be improved by connecting a home computer to it, but this is not entirely convenient. In addition, the TV device will be controlled via a mouse and keyboard, which is connected directly to the system unit, which also does not have the best effect on the comfort of use. If the user wants to use all the advanced capabilities of modern technologies, then they should turn to Smart TV technology.

What is smart TV

This technology will transform the old TV, turning it literally into the flagship of television technology.This is done by purchasing a device or set-top box that connects to the TV. Smart TV technology provides the user with not only comfortable viewing of any TV shows or series, but is also capable of providing full access to the Internet and various applications.

These features make this technology extremely advanced, which is why it is popular all over the world. The user no longer has to buy a new device to enjoy modern technologies. In addition, a TV equipped with Smart TV technology will have a much higher price tag than a device without this addition.

How to make a smart one on a regular TV

In order to transform an ordinary TV, a small set-top box or additional device is enough. There are several types of such devices. Their list and connection methods will be discussed below.

Typically, such consoles run on the Android system, which allows them to be completely universal for absolutely any model of TV device, even for an old TV. Also, the Android OS provides the ability to use a wide variety of applications, as well as browse websites and play any movies or TV series (if they are officially available for viewing). Users of this OS on smartphones know that this system is quite flexible and allows you to install third-party applications, which provides users with scope to use absolutely any additional upgrades and improvements.

If an application is installed on the console that interferes with full functionality, you can always remove it without any problems. In special situations, the operating system can be “rolled back” to its original state.In this case, only the original applications will be left on the console. This makes it possible to use the device “from scratch.”

What you need

In order for your TV to have this technology, it is enough to purchase and connect a special device that allows you to turn a regular TV into a Smart TV. Before you start purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with all the console options. About them in order.

SmartTV stick. The simplest and at the same time universal device for creating a smart TV from a regular TV. It is a small module that looks more like a regular flash card than a console. The price category ranges from $40 to $80. The most widely used versions are those based on the Androin system, due to its versatility and convenience. Often the device is equipped with a special remote control, which makes working with the device more comfortable.

Smart TV set-top box. This console has slightly larger dimensions than the device presented above. However, the larger sizes come with much greater performance. Despite the fact that these consoles often have the same Android OS, such consoles have much higher functionality and performance than the SmartTV sticks described above. The biggest favorites in this segment of consoles are consoles from Xiaomi and Apple.

Such consoles support not only high-quality video playback and full-fledged Internet surfing, but also playback of games on the Android and iOS platforms, which takes them to a completely different level. For comfortable gaming, the Apple remote control has a full-fledged gyroscope.

Important! For comfortable and full use of all functions, the console requires a stable high-speed Internet connection. If it is missing, then there may be problems with image quality or content loading speed.

Users of these consoles have an unlimited choice of media resources from the Internet. The price of such devices is correspondingly much higher than others, but the functionality in this case is many orders of magnitude broader than that of simple Chinese analogues.

Smartphone or tablet. Also, instead of an additional console, a phone or tablet based on Android or iOS is suitable for creating a “smart” TV from a regular one.

Reference! For more comfortable use, the device must have sufficiently powerful characteristics so that there are no freezes or other software problems.

Instructions on how to do it

After all the options for creating a Smart TV from a regular TV have been described, you should consider how to connect and configure the presented gadgets.

SmartTV - stick. The simplest connection device has the shape and appearance of a simple flash drive. However, it is not connected to the USB connector, but to the HDMI port. Having connected this device to the TV, on the TV itself you should go to the “Signal Sources” settings and select the HDMI connector. After this, the setup menu for the SmartTV itself will appear on the screen. Using the remote control from this set-top box, the user can easily set basic parameters, such as time, date, Wi-Fi connection, etc. For each device, these settings are individual, so detailed instructions for setting up and managing this console are always included with the device .

Smart TV set-top box. Connecting this console is also not difficult, since it often comes with an HDMI cable, which should also be connected to the TV port. Then you should set up the TV as indicated in the previous paragraph, and begin setting up the console. Just as in the previous case, all official devices come with detailed instructions that describe all the steps necessary for the user to connect and operate the console.

Smartphone or tablet. For users who want to connect a mobile phone or tablet to a television screen, there are several basic ways to carry out this difficult operation.

Using the HDMI connector. The easiest way to connect to a TV is to connect via a mini HDMI connector. This port is present on some tablet models. If such a connector is not found on your existing device, you can use an adapter or microUSB to HDMI adapter.

Having a converter, you just need to connect your smartphone to it, and the adapter to the TV port. In the TV signal reception settings, set up a connection via HDMI, after which the TV will automatically select the required resolution and show the smartphone screen on the display. If the picture looks too stretched, you should use manual adjustment of the screen settings.

Wi-Fi connection. The most convenient and practical connection of a phone to a TV. In order to switch between devices, the following steps should be taken:

1. On your phone, in the Wi-Fi settings, select the Wi-Fi Direct function, after which it will automatically search for devices to connect.
2. In the TV settings, select the “Network” sub-item and find the Wi-Fi Direct option there.
3. In the menu that opens, select the desired phone model and connect the two devices.
4. Once a connection request appears on your smartphone, confirm it.

Now the user has the opportunity to play almost any media files, as well as launch games and applications installed on the phone.

Important! It should be remembered that when using a Wi-Fi connection on a mobile device, battery power is usually consumed quickly.

What do you need with a TV?

Usually, connecting additional devices does not require any special actions from the TV. You just need to open the signal source menu and select the required connector, after which the image from the set-top box or smartphone will appear on the screen almost immediately.

Many users have problems with image resolution. This is expressed in distortion or stretching of the picture. In this case, it is enough to use automatic tuning. To activate it, you need to go to the menu and find the “Automatic setup” item, after which the TV itself will select the required resolution and screen format. If the automatic setting does not help, the user can use manual selection of the screen format and resolution.

There may also be a connection problem when the TV device has problems with the HDMI port or is missing it altogether. In this case, adapters for working or existing connectors can come to the rescue. The most universal solution may be an HDMI-VGA adapter. However, it should be taken into account that the VGA connector does not support audio transmission, so such converters are usually accompanied by separate audio outputs such as mini-Jack or “tulips”.