How monitors are made. We turn a monitor into a TV with our own hands

Here are the TOP 10 most common malfunctions of LCD monitors that I have personally experienced. The rating of malfunctions was compiled according to the personal opinion of the author, based on his experience working in a service center. You can take this as a universal repair manual for almost any LCD monitor from Samsung, LG, BENQ, HP, Acer and others. Here we go.

I divided the malfunctions of LCD monitors into 10 points, but this does not mean that there are only 10 of them - there are many more of them, including combined and floating ones. Many of the breakdowns of LCD monitors can be repaired with your own hands and at home.

at all, although the power light may blink. In this case, the monitor lights up for a second and goes out, turns on and turns off immediately. In this case, tugging at the cable, dancing with a tambourine and other pranks do not help. The method of tapping the monitor with a nervous hand usually doesn’t help either, so don’t even try. The reason for this malfunction of LCD monitors is most often the failure of the power supply board, if it is built into the monitor.

Recently, monitors with an external power supply have become fashionable. This is good because the user can simply change the power source in case of breakdown. If there is no external power source, you will have to disassemble the monitor and look for a fault on the board. In most cases, disassembling an LCD monitor is not difficult, but you need to remember about safety precautions.

Before fixing the poor guy, let him stand for 10 minutes, unplugged. During this time, the high-voltage capacitor will have time to discharge. ATTENTION! DANGEROUS TO LIFE if the diode bridge and PWM transistor burn out! In this case, the high-voltage capacitor will not discharge in an acceptable time.

Therefore, EVERYONE check the voltage on it before repairing! If dangerous voltage remains, then you need to discharge the capacitor manually through an insulated resistor of about 10 kOhm for 10 seconds. If you suddenly decide to short-circuit the terminals with a screwdriver, then protect your eyes from sparks!

Next, we proceed to inspect the monitor’s power supply board and replace all burnt parts - these are usually swollen capacitors, blown fuses, transistors and other elements. It is also MANDATORY to solder the board or at least inspect the soldering under a microscope for microcracks.

From my own experience I will say that if the monitor is more than 2 years old, then 90% there will be microcracks in the soldering, especially for LG, BenQ, Acer and Samsung monitors. The cheaper the monitor, the worse it is made at the factory. To the extent that the active flux is not washed away - which leads to failure of the monitor after a year or two. Yes, yes, just when the warranty ends.

2nd place - the image blinks or goes out

when you turn on the monitor. This miracle directly indicates to us that the power supply is faulty.

Of course, the first thing you need to do is check the power and signal cables - they must be securely fastened in the connectors. A flickering image on the monitor tells us that the monitor's backlight voltage source is constantly jumping out of operating mode.

3rd place - turns off spontaneously

after the time has elapsed or does not turn on immediately. In this case, again, there are three common malfunctions of LCD monitors in order of frequency of occurrence - swollen electrolytes, microcracks in the board, faulty TL431 chip.

With this malfunction, a high-frequency squeak from the backlight transformer can also be heard. It typically operates at frequencies between 30 and 150 kHz. If its operating mode is disrupted, vibrations can occur in the audible frequency range.

4th place - no backlight,

but the image is visible under bright light. This immediately tells us that LCD monitors are faulty in terms of backlighting. In terms of frequency of occurrence, it could be placed in third place, but it is already taken.

There are two options - either the power supply and inverter board burned out, or the backlight lamps are faulty. The last reason is not common in modern monitors with LED backlighting. If the LEDs in the backlight fail, then only in groups.

In this case, the image may darken in places at the edges of the monitor. It is better to start repairs by diagnosing the power supply and inverter. The inverter is that part of the board that is responsible for generating a high-voltage voltage of about 1000 Volts to power the lamps, so under no circumstances should you try to repair the monitor under voltage. You can read about repairing the power supply for a Samsung monitor on my blog.

Most monitors are similar in design, so there shouldn't be any problems. At one time, monitors simply fell off due to poor contact near the tip of the backlight. This can be cured by carefully disassembling the matrix in order to get to the end of the lamp and solder the high-voltage wiring.

A simpler way out of this unpleasant situation can be found if your friend-brother-matchmaker has the same monitor lying around, but with faulty electronics. It won’t be difficult to make two monitors of similar series and the same diagonal.

Sometimes even the power supply from a monitor with a larger diagonal can be adapted for a monitor with a smaller diagonal, but such experiments are risky and I do not recommend starting a fire at home. But in someone else’s villa, that’s a different matter...

6th place - spots or horizontal stripes

Their presence means that the day before you or your relatives had a fight with the monitor over something outrageous.

Unfortunately, household LCD monitors are not equipped with shockproof coatings, and anyone can offend the weak. Yes, any decent poke with a sharp or blunt object into the matrix of an LCD monitor will make you regret it.

Even if there is a small trace or even one broken pixel left, the stain will still begin to grow over time under the influence of temperature and voltage applied to the liquid crystals. Unfortunately, it is not possible to restore dead monitor pixels.

7th place - no image, but backlight is present

That is, a white or gray screen appears on your face. First, you should check the cables and try connecting the monitor to another video source. Also check whether the monitor menu is displayed on the screen.

If everything remains the same, look carefully at the power supply board. The power supply of an LCD monitor usually generates voltages of 24, 12, 5, 3.3 and 2.5 Volts. You need to use a voltmeter to check if everything is okay with them.

If everything is in order, then carefully look at the video signal processing board - it is usually smaller than the power supply board. It contains a microcontroller and auxiliary elements. You need to check if they are getting food. With one probe, touch the contact of the common wire (usually along the outline of the board), and with the other, walk along the pins of the microcircuits. Usually the food is somewhere in the corner.

If everything is in order regarding the power supply, but there is no oscilloscope, then we check all the monitor cables. There should be no soot or darkening on their contacts. If you find something, clean it with isopropyl alcohol. In extreme cases, you can clean it with a needle or scalpel. Also check the cable and the board with the monitor control buttons.

If all else fails, then perhaps you are faced with a case of broken firmware or microcontroller failure. This usually happens from surges in the 220 V network or simply from aging of the elements. Usually in such cases you have to study special forums, but it’s easier to use them for spare parts, especially if you know a familiar karateka who fights against unwanted LCD monitors.

8th place – does not respond to control buttons

This case can be easily treated - you need to remove the frame or back cover of the monitor and pull out the board with the buttons. Most often there you will see a crack in the board or in the solder.

Sometimes there are faulty buttons or cables. A crack in the board violates the integrity of the conductors, so they need to be cleaned and soldered, and the board must be glued to strengthen the structure.

9th place - reduced monitor brightness

This occurs due to aging of the backlight bulbs. According to my data, LED backlight does not suffer from this. It is also possible that the parameters of the inverter may deteriorate, again due to the aging of the components.

10th place - noise, moire and image jitter

This often happens due to a bad VGA cable without an electromagnetic interference suppressor - a ferrite ring. If replacing the cable does not help, then it is possible that power interference has penetrated into the imaging circuits.

Usually they are eliminated from the circuit design by using filter capacitors for power supply on the signal board. Try replacing them and write to me about the result.

This concludes my wonderful rating of the TOP 10 most common malfunctions of LCD monitors. The bulk of data on breakdowns was collected based on repairs of such popular monitors as Samsung, LG, BENQ, Acer, ViewSonic and Hewlett-Packard.

This rating, it seems to me, is also valid for LCD TVs and laptops. What is your situation on the LCD monitor repair front? Write to and in the comments.

Sincerely, Master Pike.

P.S.: How to disassemble the monitor and TV (how to snap off the frame)

The most common questions when disassembling LCD monitors and TVs are how to remove the frame? How to release the latches? How to remove the plastic case? etc.

P.P.S.: Power supplies and frequent malfunctions of LCD monitors

Recently, monitor manufacturers are increasingly equipping new monitors with external power supplies in a plastic case. I must say that this makes it easier to troubleshoot LCD monitors by replacing the power supply. But the operating mode and repair of the power supply itself complicates the operation - they often overheat.

I showed how to disassemble such a case in the video below. The method is not the best, but it is fast and can be done with improvised means.

DIY LCD monitor repair

A common malfunction is when the LCD monitor lights up for a second and goes out. What to do in this case and how to use this TOP of faults.

It's simple. To repair your LCD monitor, follow these steps:

• Step 1. Disconnect the monitor from the 220 V network and from the computer and decide whether we will repair it ourselves or take it to a service center for diagnostics at an inexpensive price.
• Step 2. If you decide to figure it out yourself, then take the tools: screwdrivers, a knife or scalpel and a soft base to lay the monitor down with the matrix.
• Step 3. Disassemble the LCD display, observing safety precautions and remembering the latches. How they open is shown in the animation above.
• Step 4. Discharge the high voltage capacitor. It is necessary! Especially if you want to achieve a positive result of the repair.
• Step 5. Inspect the board for swollen capacitors, burnt transistors and microcracks.
• Step 6. If any findings are found in Step 5, replace the burnt ones and solder the cracked ones.
• Step 7. Check the functionality of the monitor, observing safety precautions. If everything is ok, then go to Step 10.
• Step 8. Take a multimeter and test the fuses, diode bridge, transformers and transistors. Replace burnt radio elements.
• Step 9. Check the operation of the LCD monitor. If the monitor continues to blink, check the voltage at the test points on the board. This requires knowledge of circuit design, as well as a service manual with an ideal circuit. Further actions are difficult to describe in general terms. This is where the creative process of the Repairman begins. To discuss, write in the comments or contact.
• Step 10: If you successfully repair the flickering LCD monitor yourself, do a test run for 2-3 hours in a disassembled state. After this, the monitor can be assembled and used.

Technology, especially computer technology, tends to become obsolete, and recently this has been happening at a very rapid pace. Old monitors may no longer be needed by anyone, and selling them will be very problematic. You can breathe a second life into an old LCD display by turning it into a regular TV for use at home, for example, in the kitchen. In this article we will talk about how to turn a computer monitor into a TV.

In order to solve the problem, we do not need a computer, but we will have to purchase some hardware. This is, first of all, a TV tuner or set-top box, as well as a set of cables for connecting an antenna. The antenna itself is also needed, but only if cable television is not used.

Tuner selection

When choosing such devices, you need to pay attention to the set of ports for connecting a monitor and acoustics. On the market you can find tuners with VGA, HDMI and DVI connectors. If the Monique is not equipped with its own speakers, then you will also need a linear output for headphones or speakers. Please note that audio is only possible when connected via HDMI.

Connection

The configuration of a tuner, monitor and speaker system is quite easy to assemble.

Conclusion

As you can see, making a TV from an old Monica is quite easy; you just need to find a suitable tuner in stores. Be careful when choosing a device, as not all of them are suitable for these purposes.

Modern electronics stores offer an extremely wide range of television equipment: from budget models to expensive new products. However, not every consumer can afford to purchase a new TV.

What is the way out of this situation? It’s all very simple, convert the monitor into a TV, especially since it’s really not difficult to do. Firstly, today probably everyone has a computer monitor. Secondly, even if it doesn’t exist, a new one is still much cheaper than a TV device.

How to make a TV from a monitor? There are several different ways. Anyone can set up a TV with their own hands, the main thing is to follow the instructions. In the future, it can even be used to receive cable channels.

Monitor as a TV

Many may think that turning a monitor into a TV is impossible, but this is not so. To implement this plan you will need some free time. Let's start with choosing a monitor - which one is best suited for such functions?

Experts conducted extensive testing, checking the performance of a huge number of different monitors, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the results of the study in order to make an objective decision. The leading position is held by the popular South Korean manufacturer Samsung. Converting such a display into a TV is quite simple.

Second place was shared by Sony and LG, offering consumers updated screens with exclusive designs. You can use a computer monitor as a TV, regardless of the manufacturer.

When using a monitor as a TV, you need to take into account such a parameter as screen resolution. Naturally, if it is high, then the image quality will be appropriate.

Perhaps the main difficulty for a beginner will still be the lack of special skills. For example, not everyone will be able to solder a module or connect a component. To avoid mistakes, follow the instructions or seek professional help. You don't need a system unit, the main thing is that you have a screen and a power supply for it.

TV from an old CRT monitor

Cathode ray tube displays fell out of favor with the advent of liquid crystals. However, few people sold or threw out CRT monitors that had gone out of use; prudent owners hid them, as they say, “for later.” Actually, today the moment has come when you can make a TV out of an old screen, breathing a second life into unnecessary equipment.

How to make a TV? We answer the main question, which is undoubtedly of interest to absolutely everyone. The easiest way is to remove the control unit and graphics card. You also need to purchase additional components; they can be found at any TV equipment store.

The main condition is the presence of a VGA connector; without this interface, turning an old CRT monitor into a full-fledged TV device will absolutely not be possible. However, all old screens were equipped with this port for connecting a PC system unit.

If you know absolutely nothing about connection diagrams and basic computer components, then it is unlikely that you will be able to turn an old monitor into a TV; certain skills and knowledge will still be required to achieve the task.

The created product requires the following components and components:

1. The most important functional device of television equipment is the module responsible for adjusting the color of the image. The quality of the broadcast image depends on the correct operation of this node.

Color module from AIWA TV-1402KE TV

1. Radio channel - this module selects intermediate frequencies among all incoming signals, necessary for television broadcasting.

Radio channel modules 40-32V6GM-NIUI2XG

1. The control unit is a part responsible for setting up and controlling the TV in manual and remote modes.

Samsung TV control unit UE32F4500AKXKZ

To make your own TV, connect the missing nodes and insert them into the screen body, after connecting them with cables to other basic modules. It is possible that to enhance image quality you will need resistors; they need to be soldered. A comprehensive audit is then carried out.

TV from LCD monitor

The modern consumer is gradually abandoning the desktop PC. It’s not surprising, because you can buy more compact and no less functional laptops and netbooks. Therefore, if you still have one, don’t rush to throw it away or sell it, because you can make a TV out of it.

Again, first you have to visit a store or radio market to purchase the components necessary to implement this idea:

• splitter and cord for connecting digital television;

• antenna and cable for connecting it.

To connect a new TV, you will need at least 2 sockets - for the tuner and the power adapter. Connect the antenna cable and plug the plugs into the outlet. You need to attach the tuner and power adapter to the back.

The tuner is equipped with a built-in speaker, its sound will fully satisfy the needs of the average user. Aesthetes and music lovers will have to additionally purchase an external speaker system to expand the sound range. What options? For example, you can take a soundbar or DC with a subwoofer; even ordinary speakers will do.

A TV from an LCD monitor will pick up channels perfectly, but TV broadcasting in HD quality will remain unavailable - perhaps this is the main drawback.

If we compare the image quality of liquid crystal and CRT displays, then the advantage is on the side of the former.

How to make a TV with a high-quality picture from a monitor? When making a TV from a monitor, you must consider several important points that largely determine the image quality:

• signal response time;
• viewing angle;
• illumination;
• depth of dark tones;
• contrast.

The LG 710 monitor, like LCDs from other manufacturers, is characterized by a long response to the signal. The viewing angle is also very small. These are too significant shortcomings. The bottom line is that the broadcast image will be of high quality as long as you sit clearly in front of the screen; a slight tilt will cause black spots to appear and the picture will be distorted.

It is impossible to solve problems associated with insufficient black depth, which is why LCD monitors have lost the competition to LED displays.

In most cases, tuners are connected to the TV via a VGA connector. However, if the required interface is missing, you can always use an adapter.

I think that for most computer owners, the word “modding” no longer raises questions. Modding is for a computer geek what tuning is for a car driver. Coming from the English modify (modify, change), this concept has grown into a whole direction, with an ever-increasing number of fans. And all thanks to enthusiasts who tried to elevate the boring and nondescript gray boxes that so quickly appeared in our apartments. Moding is plastic surgery for your computer and its peripheral devices. With the help of paint, lighting and some modifications, you can achieve a unique, individual design.

I am not inclined to classify myself as a “modder”, although I visit sites devoted to this topic with great pleasure. In practice, I encountered this completely unexpectedly. But first things first.

Where it all started

It all started with a simple renovation in the kitchen. The TV, which returned to its rightful place after the renovation was completed, ended up right under the ceiling - the fact is that the new refrigerator is twenty centimeters higher than the old one. As a result, watching the morning news with a cup of tea became very difficult. After a week, this began to irritate not only me, but the whole family.

At the family council, it was decided to retire the “old hard worker” and replace him with a new modern liquid crystal “perfection” with further placement of it on the wall. There is nothing easier - go to the nearest consumer electronics store and choose a suitable copy. But the prices for these TVs are very, very impressive. There are, of course, inexpensive models, but they don’t inspire confidence in me. And those that attract attention are in the price range from 17,000 to 32,000 rubles. If you take a closer look at the technical characteristics of televisions in this group, there are almost no differences between the matrices of LCD monitors and the matrices of LCD TVs. And often with the same screen resolution (1024x768), they are inferior to them in brightness, contrast and viewing angles. So what's stopping us from combining an inexpensive LCD monitor with an external TV tuner? It’s decided, we’ll assemble the TV with our own hands.

Selection criteria

Here we need to clearly understand what we want to get in the end, and, based on this, draw up a certain list of conditions by which we will select applicants.

We can immediately divide our conditional list into two groups. Group “A” will include mandatory requirements; failure to fulfill at least one will result in rejection of the applicant. In group “B” there will be desirable ones - those that we can, if necessary, compensate on our own. All this, of course, is subjective, and what I have identified for myself may not coincide with the conditions of others.

Monitor (from 9000 to 10500 rub.)

Group A requirements

1. Appearance or design - it’s up to anyone. But if we want to get a TV, and not the feeling of a monitor operating in “screen saver” mode, then we should pay special attention to this point.
2. Viewing angles. A very important parameter, and we are interested in both horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The higher these values, the more comfortable the viewing experience.
3. Brightness and contrast reserve. This parameter, like the previous one, will allow you to achieve satisfactory image quality.
4. Illumination uniformity. Screen illumination is not always uniform. In many inexpensive models, the lower part of the screen is noticeably brighter, especially on uniformly dark images. The better this is implemented, the more evenly the light is distributed. The most common backlight is bottom lighting, when the lamp illuminating the matrix is ​​located at the bottom. Another implementation is possible, but it is more relevant to more expensive monitors or widescreen screens.

Group B requirements

1. Built-in sound system. If you are satisfied with the quality of the sound reproduced by the built-in speakers of the monitor, then the problem of implementing sound for the TV will be solved. Otherwise, in the future you will have to choose an additional sound system, and also look for an additional outlet for it. Powering our TV from three outlets is too much, although this can be easily bypassed if desired.
2. Built-in power supply. The external unit will have to be hidden somewhere.
3. Monitor stand. Ease of dismantling and non-violation of the design features of the monitor will allow you to maintain the warranty on the device. There are stands that allow you to mount the monitor on the wall. It is also advisable to avoid stands with connectors located on them. But all this is subjective, and everyone will choose what they are looking for.

It is advisable to check all these parameters at a stand, and when purchasing, do not really trust the manufacturer’s technical characteristics - sometimes they are disingenuous.

TV tuner (from 2000 to 3000 rubles)

Group A requirements

1. Confident, high-quality reception. The resolution of a conventional TV is slightly lower than the resolution of an LCD monitor, and the more noticeable will be the interference associated with a bad antenna cable, unsatisfactory wiring on the panel and uncertain signal reception. If you can try to solve the first two components on your own, then the latter can only be solved by replacing the device.
2. Fine tuning. Ability to adjust the channel after automatic tuning.
3. Broadcasting system. You need a tuner that automatically adjusts to the broadcast system of the selected television channel, or with the ability to set these values ​​for each channel separately. In accordance with the existing standard in Russia, broadcasting is carried out in the SECAM system, but some regional cable channels use a different encoding for generating color signals.
4. Remote control operation. A convenient remote control and the ability to switch from channel to channel with one click of a button, that is, so that when switching to channels from one to nine you don’t have to dial zero at the beginning, and then 1, 2, 3 ... 9. It’s not difficult, but believe me, it’s inconvenient .
5. Menu. The more convenient the menu is, the more settings that allow you to make corrections after auto scanning, the easier it is to achieve high-quality picture and sound.

Group B requirements

1. Russified menu and documentation. Of course, this is an optional requirement, but it allows you to more comfortably navigate the menu and study the documentation.
2. Channel preview function. It is very convenient, without flipping through channel after channel, but by looking at the preview window and selecting what you are looking for. As a rule, 9-12 channels are displayed on the screen.
3. Return function. Conveniently switch between two channels by pressing just one button. Almost every TV has this feature, and I’m sure many have gotten used to it.

I deliberately do not give specific numerical values ​​for various characteristics, since a discussion on this issue would be inevitable. In addition, for some this may become an unnecessary limitation when choosing devices.

After a short but productive search and comparison, two devices were selected that met my needs. This is BenQ FP591 LCD monitor and GOTVIEW TV tuner - BOX.

In my opinion, BenQ's designers did a great job - I'm sure no one will remain indifferent when they see this monitor. Plus very decent sound with the SRS function and a built-in card reader. As for the tuner, it is also very good. The model, originally designed for the Russian market, has very good reception and a convenient settings menu in Russian.

Assembly

Having everything we need in hand, we begin to implement our plans.

The first thing we need to do is check how well all the devices perform their functions. Only after we make sure that our tandem is working can we begin the main part of the work.

The monitor stand is secured with four screws, which will come in handy later. We unscrew the stand and select a place to mount our LCD panel on the wall. The optimal mounting height, taking into account vertical viewing angles, is approximately 1.5-1.6 m from the floor. We outline the contours of the panel, and also mark the depth of the “pocket” where all the connectors will be located. The two top screws that held our panel on the stand will now hold it on the wall, which means we also mark these places with a pencil. Loops for fastening can either be purchased or made using part of the stand for this purpose (I will not dwell on this, since there is nothing complicated at all).

Next, we estimate and mark the place where we will place the tuner. You need to approach this issue creatively and choose a convenient location for the wires from the tuner connectors. I positioned the device so that the connectors faced to the left - for me it was convenient, although not entirely rational. Considering that the top cover of the tuner will be removed, we make a recess in the wall, approximately 30-35 mm. If the wall is concrete, then you can’t do without a hammer drill. It was somewhat simpler for me - the air duct box is made of plaster, and it lends itself well to a simple chisel (taking this into account, the forces had to be controlled so as not to fall a hole into the shaft).

Next, we carry out preliminary assembly to mark the places where we will hide our numerous wires. Then we make a groove and put everything back in its place, but this time with the laying of the wires.

Next is the most inconvenient, but important moment. Since all the wires will subsequently be closed, and we will not have the opportunity to change their length, we measure as accurately as possible the length of the remaining uncovered wires that will connect the tuner to the monitor. We assemble the entire system and note the length that allowed us to later assemble everything together without interference.

Considering that in the future the visible area of ​​the tuner and the wires will be covered with a layer of mortar and wallpaper, it is necessary to resolve the issue of ventilation and push-button control of the TV tuner.

The issue of ventilation is easily resolved. One option could be a small oblong hole in the air duct shaft, which can be covered with fiberglass or metal mesh. That's exactly what I did.

Push-button control of the tuner was implemented as follows. Wires were soldered to the buttons on the device, as well as to the IR receiver and the diode signaling the operation of the device; a regular IDE cable was used for this. Duplicator buttons were placed on the monitor stand, which in turn was a decorative panel covering part of the tuner.

The panel is attached in the same way as the monitor - using two standard screws on the edges of the stand, which in turn use hinges made from a regular tin can.

Also on the panel were placed: an LED indicator and an IR receiver. To make it easier to dismantle the panel, I connected the wires from the tuner and panel via a standard IDE connector.

The upper part of the buttons was made of colored diodes from the old hub. In my opinion, it turned out very attractive. But I didn’t backlight these very buttons - the abundance of glowing diodes does not give me pleasant feelings. Very reminiscent of a server rack, although this is a matter of taste. You can duplicate and display all the tuner connectors on the panel. It all depends on whether you want to use them in the future or not.

Conclusion

As a result, after finishing the painting and plastering work, wallpapering and final installation, we get an excellent multifunctional TV, of very decent quality, at a price of 12,500 rubles. Plus a bonus for our efforts in the form of a built-in card reader.

The bonus, although exotic, is very useful. Whatever you say, it’s nice, sitting at a good table, in the circle of friends or family, to show on the screen photographs of a recent trip to the sea or to the World Cup. What exactly to show is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

There are situations when an old TV breaks down and there is no point in repairing it. If your plans for the near future did not include an item on creating a home theater, then you should not run to the store for a new TV receiver - watching TV shows on a computer display may well satisfy you. When the size of the screen does not play a big role, then the smallest thing is to find out how to make a TV from a monitor.

Features of LCD monitors

Middle-aged consumers still remember bulky tube monitors with a high level of negative radiation from the kinescope. More compact versions of cathode ray tube (CRT) displays can still be found on the shelves of some stores. They have been replaced by completely flat models using liquid crystal (LCD) technology. They have undergone many modifications to improve their performance and do not produce harmful radiation.

At first glance, modern LCD monitors are no different from televisions made using the same technology. The only difference between the two is that the displays cannot show television programs due to the lack of a tuner. However, some developers have corrected this oversight by releasing several models with a built-in TV receiver.

But still there are differences. And each device has its own characteristics.

1. On TV receivers diagonal selection much more than monitors. This is especially true for gigantic screen sizes, which displays practically do not have.
2. Minimum allowable distance between the viewer and the TV is three screen diagonals, while you can be at arm's length from the monitor.
3. Pixels on the TV screen are more visible, and the monitor, since it supports many formats, has more dots and is harder to see.
4. System elements of the latest TV models use more methods for interaction than a monitor. But the latter always use only the most advanced frame scanning.
5. If you take two devices with the same small diagonal, then the monitor will cost less. But if you compare the largest display with the same TV, then on the contrary, the price of a computer screen is much higher.
6. Controllers are not available for monitors for remote control.

Of course, on the most modern TVs that support the monitor function, these differences are significantly smoothed out. But we are not talking about these models.

Using a TV tuner

After purchasing a new monitor, the fate of the old one is to gather dust in the closet. Meanwhile, it can be easily converted into a full-fledged TV. To do this you will need to buy a tuner. But when choosing a device you need to be careful - you will need a completely independent console, and not an application to a computer, even an external one.

Important! A separate TV tuner is essentially a TV, but without a screen. This is achieved thanks to the built-in motherboard. All that remains is to connect the device to the monitor using a wired connection.

To connect you will need to use complex RCA cable. You will also need access to an analog antenna. And if you want to watch programs in a digital signal, then you can’t do without a DVB T2 receiver.

The tuner kit includes a remote control. And if the monitor does not have built-in speakers, then you will have to connect separate speakers to the receiver. But in this regard, the choice of decision remains with the owner - sound can be output through a home theater or through a music center.

On the plus side Such a decision highlights the following points:

• no driver installation required when connecting;
• The compactness of the TV tuner allows it to be placed anywhere;
• a simple and fast connection can be applied to a laptop, temporarily turning it into a TV;
• It is possible to connect to both indoor and external TV antennas.
• The tuner can be used as a hub for all home audio systems thanks to its own audio output.

Of the minuses You can note the very weak native speaker of the TV tuner (if it exists at all). Also, devices with a receiver are expensive and do not have USB ports.

Advice! Using an external TV tuner when converting a monitor into a TV is perhaps the best solution for places where there is no Internet coverage or the network signal is very weak.

Using a set-top box

If you have Internet access, you can use a set-top box to turn your monitor into a TV. They are different. By using T2 set-top boxes turn an ordinary monitor into a full-fledged TV, showing a high-definition image. Converting a simple tuner into a digital receiver was described above and consists of adding a receiver. But Smart TV set-top boxes are an improved type of tuner with increased functionality: in addition to watching any TV shows directly from the World Wide Web, you can surf web pages and even enjoy gameplay without a computer.

Advantages of a Smart device:

• access to YouTube, social networks and other useful applications;
• support for both wired and wireless (Wi-Fi) connections;
• receiving a clear signal and demonstrating it on the monitor matrix creates a picture whose quality is much higher than the image on a regular TV;
• The presence of a dual or quad-core processor on the console speeds up all actions significantly.

The disadvantages include the inability to use the set-top box outside the Internet, the high cost and the mandatory presence of an HDMI-VGA converter. Also in this case, you need to be prepared for additional costs for the audio system, which also requires additional space.

Advice! From the above it follows that making a TV from a Smart set-top box is an expensive pleasure, which is relevant only for the city. It will not work to use the method for the dacha option. Yes, and unprofitable.

Using the board

You can use the option without a TV tuner - using a board (skyler), of which there are a great variety. But of all the models, it is better to choose universal ones - they contain a video decoder and all the necessary connectors, including HDMI and USB. Of these, three models are distinguished.

1. MV29.P. A budget option. Although there is one USB port, it is used only for firmware.
2. MV56U. Already with USB support.
3. VST.3463.A. Provides reception of digital and analogue television.

To make a TV this way, you will need to disassemble the monitor and instead of the LVDS board, install one of the three described above. In this case, you may have to replace the cable and add a power supply. You also need to make sure that all parts fit into the monitor body. If you don’t have certain skills, you can’t do without the help of a specialist. Of course, this can increase the cost of the operation, making it unprofitable.

other methods

Don't forget about installing a tuner, but in your computer. Unlike the independent device described above, there are three types of tuners that cannot be connected directly to the monitor - they require a computer or laptop to work.

1. Built-in TV unit. This tuner is inserted inside a computer system or laptop.
2. External receiver. Connects to your computer via ExpressCard.
3. Network tuner. The device is connected to the router, and the software is installed on the PC. The connection is used both wired and Wi-Fi.

If to the old monitor connect your smartphone or tablet, then it can also turn out to be a TV. This procedure requires an HDMI or VGA cable with adapters to your mobile device. If connected to the Internet, online television will be received on a smartphone or tablet and displayed via wire on the display. If there is no network, the mobile device will work like a regular player. And on the big screen the video that is recorded on the memory card will be demonstrated.

It’s even easier to watch TV online via computer or laptop using IP technologies. To do this you need:

• download IPTV player and install it on your computer;
• then you should load the channel playlist in m3u format into the player, but this must be done through the “Channel list address” item;
• then you need to save everything and use it for its intended purpose.

Features of connecting CRT monitors

There is an option for a homemade TV from an old CRT monitor. Anyone who did not throw away their first display with a tube picture tube can get a completely tolerable TV receiver for the kitchen or cottage. But this will require parts, knowledge and experience in installing radio electronics. VGA inputpresent in every old monitor, and the necessary parts can be ordered on the Internet or visit a special store.

You will need:

• color module - it directly affects image quality;
• TV radio channel - without it it is impossible to select the necessary video and audio frequencies;
• control unit – preferably one with an infrared port for remote coordination.

We disassemble the old monitor and remove the unnecessary control unit and video card from it. We place the purchased modules inside the case and connect them to the corresponding nodes. You may need to solder in a few resistors, after which your DIY TV is ready. All that remains is to check all the systems and you can connect it to the antenna.

Disadvantages of a monitor as a TV

Very often, monitors have a higher screen resolution than a TV, so their image quality is higher. But since The black depth of the computer display leaves much to be desired, then the impression may be spoiled, especially if you watch the film in the dark. You also need to be very careful with adjusting the contrast - if you exceed it, the image will come out flat.

The response time of the monitor is deliberately made to be long than the TV. This is because a computer display was originally designed to work. It would be very difficult for a person to sit for several hours in front of a screen on which the picture changes very quickly. Therefore, the transitions between images were made smoother - this is much better for the eyes. But when viewing dynamic scenes, the color change will be delayed. For example, where there should already be black, white is still shown. Or there is an object from the previous frame on the screen.

Important! Work on the monitor takes place in close proximity, so developers do not take into account such a factor as the viewing angle. To avoid black spots appearing on the screen and the picture being distorted, the viewer needs to be directly in front of the display when viewing video files - at a right angle.

From all of the above, we can highlight a number of disadvantages that are inherent in monitors acting as televisions:

• greater signal response than television equipment;
• lack of viewing angle;
• insufficient depth of black color;
• Contrast problems.

You can also add the need to purchase adapters for VGA connectors. But this is not very significant.

Which monitor is better

There is no clear answer to this question. Experts say that the higher the screen resolution the monitor has, the better the picture will be.. Accordingly, it will be better to display such a homemade TV receiver, even compared to some TV models. Further factors that were described in the previous paragraph will influence.

But nevertheless, experts tested the suitability of the monitor to perform the functions of a TV. And computer displays from South Korea were in the lead in all positions, from the famous manufacturer Samsung. They are far ahead of their closest competitors - Sony and LG. Other less famous devices received low scores in these parameters.

So, turning an old and unnecessary monitor into a TV is within the power of anyone. You just need to choose from all the methods the one that suits you best both financially and in terms of capabilities. Of course, you can always contact specialists, and they will do everything at a professional level: both assembling the device and connecting it. But if you follow all the recommendations described above, then you can do everything yourself.

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