As an owner of a PC and a television, I often wondered if I could connect them to each other via an ethernet cable. After some frustration trying to figure out the answer on my own, I decided to do some research and testing to find out if it was even possible. I’m here to share with you my findings, including how I solved the problem and any other solutions I discovered along the way.
It is impossible to connect a PC to a TV using an Ethernet cable or connection. Ethernet cables are network cables designed to transmit broadband signals. To connect your PC to a TV, you’ll need to use a cable capable of transmitting video and audio signals, such as an HDMI cable.
| Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI Cable | Transmits audio and video signals between devices. Connects most modern PCs and TVs. | High-quality audio and video transmission | Requires HDMI ports on both PC and TV |
| Wi-Fi Connection | Cast wirelessly from your PC to a casting-enabled smart TV or use dongles and adapters for non-smart TVs. | No need for physical cables | Requires both devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network |
| VGA Cable | Connects PC and TV through VGA ports. | Works with older TVs and PCs | Transmits video only, requires separate cable for audio |
| DVI Cable | Connects PC and TV through DVI ports or using specialized cables with HDMI and DVI ends. | Can work with HDMI port on TV if specialized cable is used | Transmits video only, requires separate cable for audio |
| Display Adapter | Use adapters or dongles to connect devices with different ports, such as VGA-to-HDMI adapter and HDMI cable. | Can connect devices with different ports | Requires purchasing an additional adapter |
| Ethernet Cable | Ethernet cables are designed for network connections, not audio and video transmission. Cannot be used to connect a PC to a TV. | – | Cannot be used for connecting PC to TV |
Table of Contents
Can You Use An Ethernet Cable To Connect A PC To TV?
Ethernet cables are responsible for carrying broadband signals between your modem, computer, and other devices capable of wired internet connections. By connecting an Ethernet cable to your PC, you can connect it to a local network and supply an Internet connection.
Many smart TVs also have Ethernet ports, which provide another method of connecting to the internet should the TV not be able to function over a Wi-Fi connection. Since wireless connections are more susceptible to interference, Ethernet cables provide a more reliable connection.
However, countless people have wondered whether it’s possible to connect a PC to a smart TV using an Ethernet cable and the corresponding Ethernet ports in the devices. Unfortunately, this type of connection is not possible due to the design and function of Ethernet cables.
One end of the Ethernet cable must be plugged into your router or modem’s Ethernet port to use an Ethernet cable. The other end of the cable needs to be plugged into your computer’s Ethernet port. Essentially, this allows your computer to access the internet and local network.
When connecting two computers using an Ethernet cable, you’ll be able to access and share data between the two devices. It’s also possible to use an Ethernet splitter to connect two devices to your router/modem.
Unfortunately, that’s the most you’ll be able to accomplish through an Ethernet connection.
An Ethernet cable will be useless when connected from a PC to a TV. Ultimately, Ethernet cables are network cables designed to work with wired network connections.
While this cable can be used to supply a PC or smart TV with an internet connection, it cannot be used to connect the two devices.
You’ll need to use an appropriate method to connect your PC to a TV. While many smart TVs support wireless casting, it is possible to connect your PC to the TV with the proper type of cable. In the following section, we’ll outline five methods that can be used to successfully connect these two devices.
Connecting Your PC To A TV
Since it’s not possible to connect your PC to a TV using an Ethernet cable, you might be wondering about how to set up your desired connection. There are five different methods to connect these devices. Ultimately, the specific method you use will depend on your TV’s capabilities and available ports.
HDMI Cable
Using an HDMI cable is the most reliable way to connect your computer to a television. This cable can transmit audio and video signals between two devices. HDTVs have been manufactured with HDMI ports since 2004, with the cable only becoming more popular over time.
To date, more than 10 billion HDMI-capable devices have been sold. Due to the design of HDMI cables, it’s easy to connect two devices. Since both ends of an HDMI cable are the same, it doesn’t matter which end is plugged into your TV or PC. HDMI can be used to connect most modern PCs and TVs.
Wi-Fi Connection
Many smart TVs now support wireless casting from your PC to a casting-enabled smart TV. To do this, both of your devices need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This network will be used to transmit audio and video signals without the need for an HDMI cable.
For non-smart TVs, dongles and adapters can be used to wirelessly stream between your PC and TV. One dongle that allows for such connectivity is the Google Chromecast. The Chromecast dongle plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, allowing you to wirelessly stream content to your television from Windows, Android, and Apple devices.
VGA Cable
Many TVs still have VGA inputs, which may be labeled a PC Input or D-Sub. If your PC also has a VGA port, you can use a VGA cable to connect your PC to the TV.
Unfortunately, VGA connectors can only transmit video signals, which means this cable cannot transmit audio. If you want to watch movies from your PC on your TV, you’ll need to use a separate cable to link your PC to your TV’s sound system.
DVI Cable
Like the VGA port and cable discussed above, many HDTVs also support DVI connections.
To connect your PC to the TV, you’ll need to plug one end of the DVI cable into your television and the other into the PC. There are also specialized cables with an HDMI end and a DVI end, allowing you to connect a PC to a TV even if they have different ports.
Display Adapter
Like the specialized cables we mentioned above, display adapters or dongles can be used to connect a PC to a TV when there aren’t matching ports. If your TV has an HDMI port, but your PC only has a VGA port, you can use a VGA-to-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable to connect the two devices. There are many different adapters available to connect your devices!
Conclusion
Ethernet cables and connections cannot be used to connect a PC to a TV since broadband signals are transmitted over Ethernet cables. If you’re connecting your PC to a TV, you’ll need a cable that can transmit video and audio signals, like an HDMI cable.
Read more: How can I tell if my TV is 120hz?
Sources:
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/send-vga-tv-38482.html
https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast?hl=en-US
https://www.comms-express.com/blog/what-does-an-Ethernet-cable-do/
