The Simple Guide To A Better Backyard Movie Night

There’s just something fun about watching a movie outside on a warm summer night. With a portable projector and a few lawn chairs, your backyard can easily become your favorite place to watch a film.

But getting a clear picture and reliable stream outdoors takes a little more planning than watching from the couch. Wi-Fi can weaken once you move beyond your walls, ambient light can wash out the screen, and sound can disappear in open air. A few quick checks before guests arrive can help you spend less time troubleshooting and more time enjoying the movie.

A connection that works perfectly in your living room may struggle once you’re in the backyard.

Distance is only part of the issue. The signal may also have to pass through exterior walls, furniture, and dense materials such as concrete or brick before it reaches your streaming device.

Before guests arrive, put your projector in the exact spot where you plan to use it and play a video for a few minutes. If it buffers, drops resolution or loads slowly, the problem may be the Wi-Fi signal reaching the yard rather than the streaming app.

Depending on your setup, consider a Wi-Fi extender to help reach the yard, Whole-Home Wi-Fi from Verizon or Frontier for eligible customers, or a mobile hotspot as an alternative connection.

Outside, brightness matters. Even after sunset, porch lights, nearby windows, and streetlights can make the picture look washed out.

When comparing projectors, look for the ANSI or ISO lumen rating, not just marketing language for brightness. As a rough guide, the larger the screen and the more light around you, the brighter the projector should be:

As a starting point, AVIXA, a professional audiovisual association, suggests going with about 100 lumens per square foot of screen area when sizing projector brightness.

For the best result, wait until after sunset, keep the screen away from direct light and avoid making the image larger than your projector can support.

A projector is only as good as the surface it is aimed at. A wrinkled sheet, textured stucco wall or uneven fence can make the image look soft, distorted, or harder to see.

A portable projector screen is usually the cleaner option. Look for something that can stay flat and taut, especially if there is wind.

If you are using a wall, choose the smoothest and lightest surface available. Avoid heavy texture, glossy surfaces or anything that reflects light unevenly.

Projector speakers are usually fine indoors, but outside they can get swallowed up quickly. For a small group, a strong Bluetooth speaker such as a JBL Party Box placed near the seating area may be a good option.

Test the audio before guests arrive, especially if you are using Bluetooth. If the sound does not match the picture, switch to a wired connection or adjust the audio delay setting on your device.

With football season around the corner, the backyard can also become a place to watch NFL games with friends and family.

Afternoon games are harder to project than movies after dark. Place the screen in the shadiest part of the yard, keep it out of direct sunlight and use a brighter projector if needed. 

To get games onto your outdoor screen, Verizon is offering NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube, on us for eligible new and existing customers who switch to select Fios, 5G Home Internet, or mobile plans. Existing home internet customers can also lock in special discounted rates for the season.

With a reliable connection, picture and sound that reaches every seat, the same backyard setup can carry you from summer movie nights into football season.