using a laptop as a tv

Thanks John,
Have you used this method? I’m guessing you can plug an aerial into the USB tuner. With a decent aerial and decent speakers I would have thought that a laptop would be a reasonable way for camper trailer people to watch their favourite team while away. I’m guessing there may be issues I’m unaware of, otherwise I thought more people would do it…. Mind you, I’ve gone thirty years camping without it. LOL
Myles.

Myles,

Haven't used it under low signal conditions but very impressed with TV performance. The aerial problem is that the little USB stick tuner only has room for a tiny aerial connector (like that on a mobile phone), and ours came with a tiny aerial to match - about 15cm high with a magnetic base. Works, but wouldn't be much good in a low signal area. Adapters are available to plug into a decent aerial as suggested above.

You will really need amplified speakers - again quite solvable.

The only real downside is that your TV now includes a sizeable aerial and speakers that both take up space. In our rig space is jealously guarded! The laptop does make an excellent TV though.

Cheers

John

Beaut, thanks John. Still got a little room left so I'll investigate further.
Myles.

Thanks StormyKnight,
I’ll investigate more now that I know it is being done. I didn’t know anyone using a laptop for a tv and wasn’t sure it was worth pursuing.

Origin 2009: Maroons make history
June 24 | Queensland became the first side to win four consecutive State of Origin series with their 24-14 win at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

Yep, I’m with you, hope the Blues make it a bit of a competition this year.
LOL
Myles.

Rick
Without wanting to sound bigotted, the biggest complaint I had while touring Oz a few years ago was the constant blaring of car radios tuned in to football matches every saturday and sunday. I don't begrudge people their interests, but it's a bit much when every second car in a caravan park has the radio turned up so the owners can hear it wherever they happen to be. You see/hear it all the time - dad sitting in the annexe with a coldie. The car door wide open and the radio blaring.

teege

Yep & these same people would complain if you ran a Generator.

Teegee

Would the noise pollution from the car radio be worse than the TV?

I'd suggest that if pollution is an real issue, a caravan park is not the place to be.

Rick
Most people don't have their tv set in the dash of their car. Therefore they don't have to turn the volume up so they can hear it in the annexe, or inside the van. Believe me, it becomes annoying. Only happens during the football season.

teege

Our biggest problem is that our USB TV tuner is digital and in a lot of areas (as of last year) you could only get one or two digital channels, (ABC and or SBS) the rest were still on analogue. This problem will disappear over the next couple of years as analogue is phased out.

A good antenna is a must. Yo can watch a poor analogue signal on a small TV but you cannot watch digital with a poor signal.

Now movies on the laptop - that is another story. I now also have movies on my phone for Jetstar and Virgin flights.

Stevesub

Hi, I ran TV from a laptop for some time both from a USB stick and also a built in card, the stick was a " Pinnacle Tuner" and had both analogue & digital, after some time decided rather than run an $1800 computer it would be much cheaper to burn out a much cheaper TV, the Scot in me won out, Bill