Outdoor entertainment is a huge trend in the custom electronics industry. And it’s not just happening in warmer climates. Custom electronics (CE) pros in rough spots like Michigan and Minnesota are installing their fair share of outdoor displays, offering homeowners one more spot to catch a ball game or a movie.

“We’re seeing the first real demand for all-weather TVs that can stand up to the elements, stay outside all season long, and allow the family to watch their favorite movies, TVs shows and sporting events while lounging barbecuing and otherwise enjoying the good weather,” says Jon Robbins, president of HiFi House, with offices in Broomall, Pa., Jenkintown, Pa., and Wilmington, Del. “But buying and installing an outdoor TV comes with a number of considerations. Standard LCD and plasma TVs are simply not made to stand up to rain, bugs, humidity and temperature swings.”

For instance, most LCD TVS operate best in a range from 40 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, says Robbins, which means they most be warmed to room temperature before being used if they’ve been left out in the cold. Glare is another big issue. 

Recognizing this, long-time display and projection screen manufacturers such as Runco and Stewart Filmscreen have developed their own line of weatherproof displays. Runco’s line of Climate Portfolio high-def LCD TVs are housed in a sealed aluminum cabinet designed to withstand the elements, including temperature, moisture, dust, oils and intermittent water sprays. An internal setting allows the set to operate in colder temperatures (down to 0°C), and a thermostat activates a cooling system when it’s hot outside.

Stewart Filmscreen, meanwhile, offers a rear-projection display that’s as big as you’ll find for the outdoors. Available in screen sizes up to 126 by 204 inches, it’s ideal for serious outdoor viewing environments. Smaller versions are available, too, which can be integrated on a motorized lift so the unit can be tucked away inside a piece of furniture or some other structure for extra protection. Called StarGlas, the technology takes a thin image layer—a black screen that’s highly resistive to ambient light—and sandwiches it between two pieces of glass. The glass is extremely durable and scratch resistant.

Then there are companies that manufacture exclusively all-weather TVs. Displays from SunBriteTV feature an anti-reflective, impact- and scratch-resistant window, as well as an internal heating and cooling system that allow them to operate admirably in hot and cold weather. A variety of sizes are available, from 23 inches to 55 inches. All units come with a weatherproof remote control. And if you’re not sure where to put the display, check out SunBriteTV’s mounting products. One of the coolest is a pole that allows you to put your TV just about anywhere you want.

Another weatherproof favorite among custom electronics professionals is Pantel. The company offers one of the biggest outdoor LCD TVs on the market: a 65 incher. Smaller, and less expensive, units are available, too, and all have been pre-calibrated by the manufacturer to produce bright pictures that can be clearly viewed in the sunlight. You don’t have to worry about the remote getting wet, either. It’s waterproof and it floats. 

Click here to view a slideshow of weatherproof displays and installations.

Lisa Montgomery - Contributing Writer

Lisa Montgomery has been writing about home technology for 15 years, with a focus on the impact of electronics on a modern lifestyle.