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For a TV or projector, start with the Garmin R50’s HDMI output. Its USB-C connection has a different job and does not charge the R50. If you want third-party simulator software on a computer, plan that software connection separately from the cable carrying the picture to your display.
Research-based buying guidance, checked September 13, 2026. We have not tested this setup in person.
Table of Contents
Four jobs that should not be combined into one cable assumption
The R50 owner’s manual distinguishes HDMI audio/video output, the power connection and USB-C software updating. A connector’s shape does not establish every function commonly associated with it. In particular, do not buy a USB-C display dock expecting it to replace the R50’s HDMI and power connections.
| Job | Starting point | Check on your equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Show R50 output on a TV or projector | HDMI output | Display input and cable route |
| Power or charge the R50 | Dedicated power connection | Supplied power equipment and outlet location |
| Computer software update | USB-C and Garmin Express | Current Garmin update instructions |
| Run third-party simulation | R50 Connect workflow and supported software | Host computer, network and licenses |
TV setup: establish a simple working picture first
Before permanently routing any cable, connect the R50 to the intended display in a clear area. Select the correct HDMI input on the TV, power both devices and confirm that the R50 output appears. Start with the simplest direct connection so an extra switch, receiver or adapter does not become another unknown.
Once the picture works, review the R50’s external-display settings. The manual provides mirroring and aspect-ratio controls, with a centerline option for an offset arrangement. Use a golf screen or menu containing clear edges to check the result. A picture that fills the display is not automatically geometrically correct; stretching can make the course look wrong.
Projector setup adds an optical decision
An HDMI connection does not tell you where the projector belongs. You still need to match the projector’s throw characteristics and lens position to the actual screen dimensions and usable mounting location. Resolve that geometry before ordering a long cable or cutting a ceiling opening.
Keep the projector, cable and support hardware outside the swing and ball paths. An enclosure’s outside width is not the projected image width, and neither is the golfer’s swing clearance. Our simulator projector guide explains the wider display-planning choices without treating a single room size as safe for everybody.
Test the complete intended signal route before installing it permanently. If you add a receiver or HDMI extender, check that exact device’s supported signal and power requirements. A cable being physically long enough does not establish that the whole chain will work at your selected output settings.
A computer changes who is generating the game
Showing the R50’s own screen on a display is a different arrangement from running another simulator application on a PC. Garmin’s manual directs third-party connection through the on-device Connect menu and the selected application’s instructions. Confirm that the application explicitly supports R50 and that your account has the required license before buying a computer for it.
Draw the signal path: monitor to software, computer to display, and power to each component. Label the network connection separately. This avoids the common mistake of treating the R50’s USB-C socket as a universal simulator-and-video link.
Our launch-monitor subscription guide helps separate hardware access from software entitlement. An existing subscription to one service is not evidence that a different simulator is included.
Order accessories after a short connection test
Make a list of the actual inputs, output settings and measured cable lengths. Include a little routing allowance without creating loops in the walking area. Decide how cables can be disconnected when the bay is packed away, and avoid arrangements that pull on the R50 when someone moves the display.
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Check the exact model, generation and seller. Results can include alternatives; a search link does not confirm availability. Use the official supplier links for specialist products and services.
Useful purchases may include an appropriately specified HDMI cable and cable management, but neither accessory validates a third-party software combination. Keep the receipts and original packaging until the complete setup has passed a real connection test.
Sources and method
We checked Garmin Approach R50 owner’s manual. Product facts come from these official sources; the decision steps are our editorial guidance. Confirm the exact US package and current terms before ordering.