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We've just taken a possession of our first motorhome (Ace Firenze 09 plate) and need to address the issue of televisions viewing. My previous experience of staying in my-in laws caravan hasn't been too clever.
We have an internal aerial socket but no external aerial provision. I don't want to narrow our half-term options for staying places by insisting on being able to hook up to a site's aerial.
Freeview will suffice and I can do without tv when abroad. Personally, therefore I don't see the need for Freesat systems but am happy to be convinced otherwise.
TV.I would buy one that will operate on 12v.. You dont want to be tied down to just having a mains hook up or having to use an invertor off the battery.. The invertor and a mains only TV will work fine but it does loose that extra bit of power in the conversion and every bit helps. You dont have to spend a fortune on one either, shop about just check it has a seperate power supply that gives 12vdc into the TV. The one you mentioned would be fine.
Reception.. Motorhome and Caravan aerials are all a compromise and never work as well as a fixed home aerial. As you move about the country you always have to re-tune to the local transmitter. Campsites are not always in ideal reception areas. My choice is via satellite as it's a lot more guaranteed, you may come across some situations where you cant get reception due to tree's etc BUT in those cases you try to move slightly or select clearer pitches. You also have the option of also receiving British TV while abroad ( subject to location, dish size etc).
So if you are starting with nothing my suggestion is to put the cash you would have spend on an aerial towards the satellite dish..
Just my opinion...
______________________________________________________________ Steve Tonks...
I am a fan of Freeview, but I am biased. Try to find a TV that will run on 12V. For economy look for a high street own brand and look to see if it uses an external power supply. If it does than check the output voltage. Chances are that it will be 12V and less than half the price of the dedicated "Leisure TVs".
For aerial, you can either use a unit that is fitted through the roof (Status 530), or the Grade Vision Plus aerials, which use an external pole that can be clamped to your ladder or door mirror.
For setting up your TV for Freeview, follow my guide:
http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftoptitle-91771-getting-set-up-for-freeview-television.html
Gerry
There are many 15" LCD Tv's available that incorporate freeview, DVD, USB and SD card inputs.
Freeview is just starting to take over from analogue in large areas of the UK and will only get better and stronger. Use a directional ariel for best reception.
We paid £230 for a TV with specs as above three years ago and it fulfils all of viewing requirements.
______________________________________________________________ "On all the oceans white caps flow,
You see no crosses row on row
But those who sleep beneath the sea,
Rest in peace for your country is free".
This firm sells everything that you need so you'll get a good idea of aerial prices etc.
They also have advice pages as well which you may find useful. I've used them for lots of things but, although you may not as they could be miles away, you may still find their website very useful.
Hi
Just because a shop bought TV runs off 12v via an adaptor (like the one used to power a laptop) dont think its an easy job to buy one of these and just connect a 12v cable to it. Most probally it will be OK until someone starts the water pump up or turns a few ligts on and then the screen will go blank. These tvs need a very stable power supply and so you will need to spend another 30-40 quid to get the voltage stabilised power supply.
if you have an 09 van and it has a tv socket inside are you sure theres no TV antenna mounted.? It would seem silly to run wires to nothing.
Personaly i went for the Avtex TV with built in VD player and freeview ajnd this has been great in my van. I use a sat most of the time but on the odd occasion where theres been no sat the freeview has been great and takes 2 mins to set up.
Phill
______________________________________________________________ Just when i found out my dad was right I had a son that thought I was wrong.....Henry winkler.
This has been covered previously, but to sum it up:
It is possible to use cheap domestic set bought from retail outlet and use voltage regulated supply. BUT, these sets are not intended for mobile use. They cannot handle the vibrations and knocks that leisure tv's can. Also, cheap tv's often have rubbish picture and sound quality. The latest leisure tv's use high quality TV panels from well known manufacturers such as Samsung. Cheap domestic tv's sometimes use cheaper computer monitor screens that have rubbish viewing angles. Also, leisure tv's have a host of features such as ability to view photo's taken on your digital camera using card readers, one touch tuning (handy when mobile travelling around) and ability to record to USB memory sticks. Yes you pay more money for leisure sets, but like anything in this world, you get what you pay for!
I sound bias to leisure tv's and that because I am due to hearing about and seeing for myself the quality and life span of domestic sets when used in the leisure setting.
Im bracing myself for the onslaught from domestic set users
As for aerial, so many people buy aerials and get so frustrated when unable to get consistant reception results. As far as as im concerned, there is only one way to go and that is satellite. It doesnt have to be expensive either!
This has been covered previously, but to sum it up:
It is possible to use cheap domestic set bought from retail outlet and use voltage regulated supply. BUT, these sets are not intended for mobile use. They cannot handle the vibrations and knocks that leisure tv's can. Also, cheap tv's often have rubbish picture and sound quality. The latest leisure tv's use high quality TV panels from well known manufacturers such as Samsung. Cheap domestic tv's sometimes use cheaper computer monitor screens that have rubbish viewing angles. Also, leisure tv's have a host of features such as ability to view photo's taken on your digital camera using card readers, one touch tuning (handy when mobile travelling around) and ability to record to USB memory sticks. Yes you pay more money for leisure sets, but like anything in this world, you get what you pay for!
I sound bias to leisure tv's and that because I am due to hearing about and seeing for myself the quality and life span of domestic sets when used in the leisure setting.
Im bracing myself for the onslaught from domestic set users
As for aerial, so many people buy aerials and get so frustrated when unable to get consistant reception results. As far as as im concerned, there is only one way to go and that is satellite. It doesnt have to be expensive either!
Onslaught commenced!!
My Grundig Elegance 15" LCD, bought from Comet, is still going strong after three years of abuse!
I can plug it in directly to a 12 volt ciig lighter supply using my home made lead.
I can play DVDs on it. I can take the SD card out of my Fuji camera insert it into the TV and it plays a slide show.
Its got a USB socket but I haven't explored that or even felt the need to.
Another possibility which I've tried is a memory stick-sized Freeview thingymejig which plugs directly into the laptop and connects to the rooftop ariel.
It gives a brilliant picture on my Vaio lappy but the OH can't watch her telly while I'm onslaughting Snelly
______________________________________________________________ "On all the oceans white caps flow,
You see no crosses row on row
But those who sleep beneath the sea,
Rest in peace for your country is free".
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