The development of the flat panel television just over a decade ago has given rise to a whole host of other uses for LCD and plasma TVs other than home entertainment. Digital signage, information screens, advertising displays and video billboards are now a common sight around local shopping malls and retail parks, while televisions in our home have got bigger, flatter and with better definition.
They are also more practical in comparison with their cathode ray tube (CRT) predecessors enabling them to be easily wall mounted, one of the driving forces behind the digital signage revolution. And while indoor locations can generate high audiences that will view a digital signage display, such as in a shopping mall or other location, outside, audience figures can be even higher.
And outdoor digital signage is not the only reason why people want to take a television outside. Increasingly, more and more people wish to have a television in the back yard, poolside, beside the barbecue or on the patio, to allow them to watch their favorite TV shows and sporting events outdoors. Not just householders either, pubs and bars find that by placing a TV outdoors, especially in areas affected by indoor smoking bans, revenues increase as people are more willing to stay longer.
The biggest hurdle in placing a TV outdoors is normally cost. Outdoor and waterproof TVs are manufactured from several big names but they cost a fortune compared to regular LCD or plasma screens. While this investment may get a return for an outdoor digital signage user or for a bar chain, for householders and small business owners it can be too steep a price.
Fortunately, there are cheaper and simpler ways of placing a TV outside and the secret is to use standard equipment, whether that is an LCD or plasma, and place it in a protective outdoor TV enclosure.
Outdoor TV enclosures come in a variety of sizes to match the majority of modern LCD and plasma screen size. From compact 24" enclosures, ideal for a small TV in the backyard, to giant 70" outdoor digital signage enclosures.
All the outdoor protection needed to run a TV outside, from the waterproofing to the temperature control, is provided by the outdoor TV enclosure. Once enclosed, the internal climatic systems (cooling fans and sometimes heaters for very cold locations), keep the screen operating at the optimum manufacturer's range.
Not only are outdoor TV enclosures weatherproof, but also they are highly secure. Lockable and wall mountable, once installed they will not only be secured against theft, preventing any removal of the TV screen, but they are also resistant to vandalism as often they are manufactured from steel and have shatterproof screens.
Outdoor TV enclosures can house both commercial and consumer grade screens allowing you to source whatever screen suits your requirements, and once installed the screen will probably last longer as it will always operate in the perfect environment fro LCDs, and if eventually down the line, if the screen does fail, then it can be replaced with the new TV able to be installed back into the outdoor TV enclosure thanks to the universal VESA mounting system (Video Electronics Standards Association) adopted by both the TV and outdoor TV enclosure.
