Small televisions

[S&T]

(Hi.  Please accept my apologies if this has been discussed often in the past - I did an archive search and have not found much.)

Anyone found a 'digital-over-the-air-ready' small television that won't break the bank but will allow us fall-camping football fanatics to tune in the big game while we pup?  (Yep, TV on a camping trip.  Just for the important stuff though, promise! )

A few years ago all the manufacturers made smallish, rugged, portable, affordable models... but it seems the death of over-the-air analog has shrunk the field to something close to nil.

I know a converter can make those old sets useable, but we're starting fresh, so no sense in buying obsolete.

Thoughts?

Thanks!!!

[CajunCamper]

I'll be watching this thread closely because I would like to purchase the same type TV for the the exact same reason you want yours.

Although, I will say that when we go camping and my favorite college football team (LSU Tigers) are playing, but not on TV, we enjoy listening to the game around a campfire at night on the radio. Brings back memories of listening to the game on the radio with my dad when I was a kid.

CajunCamper

[dthurk]

Sirius Radio carries all NFL games.  You'd be able to get some other sporting events, but I forget which ones (we've gone the other way to XM).  No converter needed, costs less to get into than TV.  Monthly fee, but we use it in day to day commutes around town and it's the best while traveling and towing that camper.  Has over 60 commercial free music stations that can be heard anywhere in the country.  No hunting for stations while traveling.  Would probably be much better all-round use than a small TV would be.  

BTW, XM carries all MLB and NHL games, if football's not your thing.

[rccs]

dthurk, the only thing is it would be hard for s&t to watch the action on sirius radio. LOL  We bought a 15" Sanyo lcd tv from Walmart for a little over $200.00 to use while camping and when not used camping it is for in our dining room. It works out very well because of the slim case size which takes up very little room on the table in the camper, it is also stereo sound, has both the analog and digital tuner so it so far has gotten several channels where ever we camped. The picture with digital signal is great and the speakers are on the front so the sound does not have to be turned up to high to hear what is going on. Our previous tv was a 9" ac/dc Zenith crt type tv which took up a lot of room on the table and the speaker was on the side so we always seemed to get the volume rather loud in order to hear it good.

[Recumbentman]

I just read an article the other day, saying that come black Friday, we will be able to buy a 42" flat screen TV for about $350 to $400. So you know anything smaller will be cheaper also.
 I need a new TV for the bedroom  

[dthurk]

dthurk, the only thing is it would be hard for s&t to watch the action on sirius radio. LOL

Just throwing out another option here.  I know it doesn't have a screen.  But, as I said, Sirius or XM radio would end up being a lot more versatile than a small TV screen.  You get to hear the game (use your imagination and you can "see" it, too) and also are able to use it in a lot more situations.  I've listened to a lot of games on radio and find it to be very enjoyable.  Stretch a bit and consider other alternatives.

[CajunCamper]

Just throwing out another option here.  I know it doesn't have a screen.  But, as I said, Sirius or XM radio would end up being a lot more versatile than a small TV screen.  You get to hear the game (use your imagination and you can "see" it, too) and also are able to use it in a lot more situations.  I've listened to a lot of games on radio and find it to be very enjoyable.  Stretch a bit and consider other alternatives.

I'm with you dthurk, when I was a kid many moons ago the LSU Tigers were on TV maybe once every couple of years, so unless you were at the game, you had to listen to it on the radio. My dad and I used to listen to the games on the radio and I would picture in my mind just how a play looked by what the announcer was saying. I gotta tell you, it's a pretty cool way to enjoy a game. Besides when you watch a game on TV your eyes are glued to the set, but listening on the radio allows you to look at the stars, the campfire or the reaction on other peoples faces during exciting plays.

CajunCamper

[sacrawf]

Three years ago we bought a small Emerson brand 9 inch color TV/DVD combo that runs on AC or 12 volt and came with it's own softside carry case that we use in the camper.  It is still a little bulkier than I would like. It was around $100 at Wal-Mart.  I haven't seen it for sale since.

However, I just bought a new HP notebook computer for personal use, which is relacing an old notebook and a desktop computer.  Although I wouldn't have paid extra for it, when I found a computer that had the 17" screen, processor, and memory level that I wanted, the package came with a TV tuner that gets both analog and digital over-the-air broadcasts, as well as cable or satellite ready.  You can also record TV directly to your computer from the TV tuner.  The tuner is a credit-card sized device that plugs into a slot on the side of the computer, and comes with it's own antenna or a connector to attach any coax antenna source. I have been amazed by how well it works. Since the computer also has a DVD-RW drive, the laptop could completely replace the TV/DVD needs in the camper, as well as having mobile access to the internet for downloading geocache information, accessing MapSource topographic maps, and handling personal finance while travelling.  For just a TV/DVD player, you wouldn't want to spend the money for the computer, but if you are in the market for a new laptop anyway, it's something to consider.  The TV tuner card may also be available for attachment to an existing laptop computer you might already have.

For listening to Big 10 (Fighting Illini) sports and White Sox baseball no matter where we are camping, we do carry a first generation XM2go.  I feed the audio into the Emerson TV audio input in the camper, and use the small $5.00 ipod speakers you can pick up almost anywhere to play the XM on the picnic table or in the bass boat.   While XM carries college sports and baseball, Sirius carries NFL, NHL, and NASCAR.   The XM2go has an internal battery, carry case, and is the size of an old Walkman so it can also be used with earphones enabling you to listen to the game while hiking or relaxing in a hammock. I have both XM and Sirius, and much prefer the XM, particularly for the quality and scope of the music channels.  Soon (I am told late this fall) with the merger of XM and Sirius, you will be able to select programming from both with ala carte channel packages from your existing radios.  With new radio purchase, you will be able to get the full programming of both systems but for a higher monthly fee.  Used XM2Go receivers are certainly reasonable on ebay.

For a television as you describe, check out what is carried at larger truck stops, as they are always selling smaller portable electronics for use in an over-the-road rig that would also make sense in a pop-up or for tailgating.

[S&T]

For a television as you describe, check out what is carried at larger truck stops, as they are always selling smaller portable electronics for use in an over-the-road rig that would also make sense in a pop-up or for tailgating.

Never in a million years would I have thought of that - GREAT idea!  Thanks.

dthurk - Thanks for the 'other alternatives' suggestion.  My old college team was never, ever on television during my matriculation or the decade+ that followed, but they've suddenly gotten very good and appear on the networks almost every weekend.  So I have been happy to enjoy listening them for the last 20 years, it's cool to finally be able to see them, too.  Just not cool enough to cancel a camping trip - so I'd like to merge the two.

CajunCamper - I'm cheering for the Tigers, too... but mine are few states north of yours.  Hooray, Hoorah, Mizzou!

rccs- That may be the very model we've looked at.  If it nudged down $50 or so, it might be a winner!

[brainpause]

I'm with you dthurk, when I was a kid many moons ago the LSU Tigers were on TV maybe once every couple of years, so unless you were at the game, you had to listen to it on the radio. My dad and I used to listen to the games on the radio and I would picture in my mind just how a play looked by what the announcer was saying. I gotta tell you, it's a pretty cool way to enjoy a game. Besides when you watch a game on TV your eyes are glued to the set, but listening on the radio allows you to look at the stars, the campfire or the reaction on other peoples faces during exciting plays.

CajunCamper

I LOVE listening to baseball on the radio, and carrying on other activities (working in the garage/shop, etc.

I did not grow up in the baseball-on-the-radio era. But I kinda wish I had. If you read John Grisham's "A Painted House," it gives you the desire to do so. Of course, I already had some of that desire before I read it.

Larry

[beacher]

You will be able to use any NTSC television with a battery powered Digital Conveter box when camping.  Winegard makes the RC-DT09A which operates on 9v.  The exact same model is sold at Target, however it's badged differently as "The Venturer" and costs $20 less!

I use The Venturer from Target connected to a portable 11" LCD DVD player acting as a monitor screen as my camping television.

[hoppy]

I bought a Magnavox 13"  digital TV / DVD combo at Walmart for 147.00.

 It doesn't have a flat screen picture tube which was what I was looking for, but the picture is just right for the inside of the PU. I think there will be glare when I use it outside the PU though.

[wavery]

Our bedroom TV is a Polaroid FLM 2001 15" LCD TV (bought it from Circuit City a few years ago for $199). It works off of 12DC. It has an inverter built into the power cable that converts 110V AC house current down to 12V DC. It's ideal for dual use in the camper and will work right off of your Battery. It says that it draws 5A but I find that hard to believe.

[4Campers]

Even though we plan to buy a new flat screen for the camper next year, the big issue is will we still be able to receive any TV stations? If using a "rabbit ear" antenna the answer will be No. If we have a cable ready site, then Yes. (Haven't seen too many of these, but now with no analog TV maybe more will come?) To receive any TV stations in the pup using rabbit ears will require one of the convertor boxes. So are we replacing the heavy large portable to have to carry two pieces in? Yes and I assume between the convertor box and the flat screen, no space will be gained either!

[naganthunter]

the package came with a TV tuner that gets both analog and digital over-the-air broadcasts, as well as cable or satellite ready.  You can also record TV directly to your computer from the TV tuner.  The tuner is a credit-card sized device that plugs into a slot on the side of the computer, and comes with it's own antenna or a connector to attach any coax antenna source.

WOW - sounds like a cool idea.  What is the name of this tuner gizmo so I can look it up!!!