Camping is ment to get away from it all. However, sometimes we would like to watch a movie or the news before going to bed. So looking for advice on a good compact DVD / TV to buy? We have a new group 27 battery, but not sure what the power drain would be, so we are thinking about getting a second battery as a backup. We do have a EU2000 and a smart charger, so we can re-charge the batteries durning the day.
We have asked a lot of dumb questons since we joined, but everyone has been great!
Thanks
Quote from: rb_beachcplWe have asked a lot of dumb questons since we joined, but everyone has been great!
No you haven't.
I don't know of a good TV/DVD combo so I can't help you out there. I try not to take "good" stuff camping.:)
Seems to me that a smarter choice would be to get a lap top computer with a tv card built in. would give you so many more choices of entertainment. IE games, email etc.
Perhaps something like a Mustek Pl-8at-90 (http://www.beachaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=1856_3015_3388&products_id=68230) . Or an
Astar PDV-7077 (http://starvector.com/cgi/core.cgi?sku=PDV-7077&mt=perfect). I had a Virgin VP10 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000A4XR2/002-9177165-8041601?v=glance&n=172282) that I had purchased on clearance at Target, but I sold it on Ebay for a profit. :D
You always see those mobile DVD/LCD screen things for the back seat for you kids to play video games or watch movies. Not sure if you can get a tuner for it, though. I take an old (1985) Teknika 13 inch TV and the Directv dish when I camp with electrical hook up. Haven't looked for anything for boondocking, though
Allan
We just ordered this http://reserveamerica.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=28490 but got it from Amazon.com for $119.00. It's cheap, so if we don't like it, we will get something better.
Can't point to any TV/DVD combo, but would suggest you keep the size of the TV down. No larger than 13" if you plan to run it off the batteries. I have successfully used a 13" color TV (not a combo unit) and ran it off the battery using a 300/600Watt inverter (modified sine wave). I was able to watch news and weather nightly, and a movie or tow...plus run a 12v flourescent light for 6 days off a single Grp 27 battery....
I did practice very frugal use of the power in the early days of the trip because I didn't have any way to recharge the batteries. The one on the tongue was only a Grp-24 and I left it for working interior lights which got very little use due to the power the incandescent lights use.
If you are careful, a pair of Grp-27's (which I have now) should give you good service for an entire week if you limit TV watching to an hour or two per day at the very most....
We bought a 15" Dell laptop for like $500. Makes a great DVD player, runs off its batteries (we got the upgraded "4 hour" battery), and I can recharge it in the car overnight if the CG doesn't have electricty.
Also got a $25 web-like hanger to hang the laptop between the seats in the car so the baby can watch Dora or something on a long car trip.
We don't have time for the TV. Our crazy parrot gives us all the entertainment that we can stand while camping and he doesn't use up battery power. :J