Looking for advice on our back patio. Searched and found some pretty old threads but would like updated advice.

I want to put a TV on the patio and want to make sure I think through all the options.

Also looking into sound options. We have Sonos throughout the house and right now, we just carry a Play1 out there when we want music. Want to do something more permanent and maybe tied into TV as well.

We currently have DirecTV.
Should I just get a new Genie client box and all the costs that go with that? Run cable to the TV location? Are there better wireless options?
Mirror one of the indoor TVs? What is best way to do that?
Carry the client box out there when I want to watch TV?

This is not a covered area right now but the TV would be mounted close to under the eave. Any particular concerns there? I assume I would get a cover and cover it most of the time it's not in use.

Anything else?

I just finished a project on our back patio just like this.

I ripped old vinyl siding soffit off back patio and installed electriduct conduit for speaker wiring/cat5e and tv wiring (hdmi/optical) in rafters from desired location to connected garage. Then I added beadboard ceiling over it, and down mounted a tv under the soffit. It's an LG 4k smart tv, so it was able to connect to the wifi in the house to run Youtube TV, and i have a sonos connect amp in the garage running two speakers mounted on the soffit as well.

What about just a roku stick for TV? I use that in my garage since I only really watch watchespn (directv login) or plex out there.

You can use a roku stick as well, but if you are planning on buying a new tv, the smart tvs nowadays are reasonably priced. a 43" lg 4k smart tv is $270 bucks.

My advice on outdoor TVs... Get a CostCo extended warranty, get what fits your budget, and get a nice cover.

Sound depends on what you want out of it. You can do anything from a Bluetooth speaker to rock speakers and in-ground sub.

Unless you are doing 4K DirecTV, I'd look into the wireless genie and either take it out there or get an extra that stays.

Has anyone put an anti glare film on their TV? At certain times of day it gets difficult to see.

For TV, I'd echo what the others are saying. A roku TV is ideal and you can get a TCL 4K 400 series with Roku built in for cheap. I have a 65 inch on my patio and it works great. If you are not in the market for a new TV, a Roku stick should suffice.

I'd recommend starting here for the TV as you can stream from other devices and programs (ie youtube). I think it also has mirroring. If you find that you don't like the experience and want more of a traditional setup with the cable box, you have two options. You can find the TV you are ok with sharing a signal with, put a HDMI splitter on it (Running the output of the cable box to the splitter and then the split to each TV). With this setup, you have to watch the same programming on each TV concurrently. The alternative is to purchase a separate box and stick it outside behind the TV using zip ties to tie it to the TV and/or TV mount.

I ended up with choosing the latter as I have a family with small kids and this was the easiest for them and the wife to manage without my presence.

Regarding sound, you have a few options. You can try to utilize a receiver from inside to power speakers on the patio but this will require some work. You'd have to get the TV's HDMI Arc run to the receiver and then run the speaker cable from receiver to speakers. You would also have to identify a way to control the audio power on receiver while outside (note some TVs have this capability once connected and setup). It's a lot of work but will be the most permanent/reliable solution.

An alternative is to use a Sonos sound bar or speakers. You can run the TVs HDMI Arc to one of the Sonos speakers and use the Sonos network to couple the speakers if you have more than one. This will allow you to play music as well as tv audio on the speakers for when you want to do either. I did this at my house and it worked great. One thing to note is that you will need to make sure you put it in a spot where it doesn't get soaked by the rain. Mounting under the eave above the TV or in the eave itself may be an option.

Regarding TV protection, you really just need to keep it directly out of the elements. If you have it on a patio where it never gets wet directly by rain, there really isn't a need for a cover. If it has the potential to take a direct hit from rain and get wet, you will need to protect it.

HTH. Good luck and let us know where you land.

Just put a TCL 400 series Roku TV on my patio. The wife found a 55" for just over 300 bucks.

I also have DirecTV and was able to sign into all the channels we watch with my DirecTV account. I just stream everything. Only problem is local stations, I guess I am going to wind up getting an OTA antenna for those.

ETA: My plan is to move it into the shop during football season where it will stay until next summer. We only really use our patio during the months that our pool is open.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will definitely go with a Roku TV. Just need to decide size. I may just try it it for awhile streaming. Then I can always add a DirecTV box out there if I decide. Would probably put a wireless genie there.

Leaning toward putting a Sonos Amp in the garage and adding outdoor speakers. Will the Sonos Amp be ok in the garage? Heat/dust?

Ant TV mount suggestions? Would like to swivel the TV.

So far so good on the Sonos Amp in the garage, and I live in Houston heat.

Unless the TV is uncovered, don't worry about getting an outdoor TV. They're crazy expensive and unnecessary. Don't get the extended warranty either. A regular TV will outlast that warranty, and TVs are cheap enough now that just replacing it after it dies in five years is far more cost efficient.

Source, I've had outdoor TVs for years.

I ran cat 5e to behind the outdoor tv from my media room equipment rack. I then use an hdmi over cat 5e extender. Audio is done via a Sonos amp in the media room that powers the outdoor speakers.

When I set it all up, I had directv and didn't want to get another receiver. This allowed me to share the one in the media room. Now we cut the cord and use ps vue. I bought another fire tv box dedicated to the outdoor tv but have it in the media room hooked up the same way.

Like others said, don't get a dedicated "Sun Whatever" it is TV. We use a Vizio 60 on the patio. It does have a cabinet though. When Harvey came, it came in hard on that side. We had just wrapped the cabinet it plastic, which was mostly torn away in the hurricane. When we got power back, the TV worked.

The key factor is, never kill the power supply to the TV. Humidity kills them. When in a cabinet, and power on, not TV on, they still give enough of a heat signature to keep their components dry. Don't unplug them, or "kill" the power to them under any circumstances, unless your house is burning down because of them.

Pilmer said:

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So far so good on the Sonos Amp in the garage, and I live in Houston heat.

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Do you do anything to protect it from dust, etc. in the garage? Cover it or have it in something? Or is it just sitting on a shelf? I'm about to set this up.

I originally had it on top of my garage fridge, but bought a hide it wall mount and mounted it high and out of the way. I've got nothing covering it from dust.