caravan TV

Submitted: Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 00:34
ThreadID: 91015 Views:3095 Replies:6 FollowUps:6
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Happy New Year All
We have just purchased a Rank Areena TV/DVD from Target. It comes ready to plug in to the mains via an adaptor that delivers 12v/4amps. I would like to be able to use it direct from the 12v supply in the van ( when free camping).
We also want to purchase an antena that works in a good/medium reception area, without paying out nearly the price of the TV.
Would appreciate any feedback
Thanks
Brian
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Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 06:08

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 06:08
Dick Smith had the Digimatch caravan TV ariels on special last week. $35 instead of $70. Not sure if it is still going. Cheers,Bob

AnswerID: 474090

Reply By: Member - res.q.guy (Vic.) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 07:06

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 07:06
Hi
To use direct from 12 v, you would need to purchase a 12v cig. plug lead, from Kogan, Jaycar or similar outlet.

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Cheers
Neil
AnswerID: 474091

Follow Up By: Member Andys Adventures - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 07:47

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 07:47
I had an anderson plug fitted to the end of mine if you don't have a socket for the cig plug.
Andy

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Follow Up By: Member - res.q.guy (Vic.) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 08:05

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 08:05
Hi
I actually removed the cig plug with mine, and hard wired it into the 12v caravan system ... one less connection to worry about !!
Cheers
Neil
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Follow Up By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 11:01

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 11:01
My van has a 12v wall socket so it is a simple matter of changing the plug, on the above lead.

It will need a fuse in line too.

Bill
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Follow Up By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 11:05

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 11:05
I have been using a Happy Wanderer on my trip around the island. Easy to assemble and store and works in any area with a signal.

The digital signal that w are being forced to use will need the addition of a booster. I have one that plugs into the powerpoint inside the van rather than wire up one to the masthead. It works a treat. From Dick it costs about $35.

Happy Wanderer TV

Bill
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Follow Up By: Keith Berg - Friday, Jan 06, 2012 at 14:23

Friday, Jan 06, 2012 at 14:23
If you change the 12volt connection to the TV, do make sure you get the polarity right. I got the positive and negative the wrong way around once. They were not marked, so I assumed polarity was not important.
Blew the motherboard in the TV up and it was cheaper to buy a new one that fix it. It was brand new and an expensive lesson.
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Reply By: The Bantam - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 12:03

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 12:03
People in the TV antenna business just sit there and chuclke about many of the caravan specific antennas.......there are a couple that are decent...but there are a few that are just a scam........like the one that looks like a couple of bits of conduit assembled in a T.

they have been trotting out the same rubbish for decades....B&W, colour, digital or analogue they are just a joke....serioulsy you would be better of with two pieces of #8 fencing wire screwed to a lump of wood with a balun in the middle or lecky tapping a cheap pair of rabbit ears to a broom stick

All of the reputable aerial manufacturers make a caravan specific aerial that has technical merit and works properly.....they will all outperform the rubbish scam antennas.

The matchmaster caravan antenna used to be the pick of the bunch....Matchmaster make "Digimatch", that is their predominant brand now....I used to use one as a survey aerial crawling arround on roofs.

I've been out of the bis a while so I don't know the current product numbers.

But its always typical, people never want to pay for an aerial.....truth is if you buy a quality TV aerial (for home or the caravan) it will outlast the TV.

AND if ya don't buy an adequate aerial you have just bleep the money you spent on the TV up against the wall.

As for the need of anything special for digital TV, appart from the changes to the frequencies carrying the TV, the whole digital ready thing with antenna systems is a crock just like "Engineered For Colour" was.

If the aerial was properly selected and adequate for analogue it will be fine for digital......

In non fringe reception areas with a single TV you should not need any amplifier with an adequate aerial.

cheers
AnswerID: 474100

Reply By: Hi-ryder - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 15:52

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 15:52
Hi Brian Try one of these . Cheap and i can tell you first hand they are great . I brought one for myself and one for the old man . Both of our work great where some didn't get anything . For 30bucks they are worth a go .
AnswerID: 474118

Reply By: Member - Mikee (Two Wells) - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 18:20

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 18:20
Just remember that your caravan supply may vary from 11.5 to 14.5 volts depending on what the batteries are doing. Jaycar advised me not to plug directly but to get a DC to DC adaptor. I got one from Dealextreme, input 9 to 15 volts and selectable output voltage 12, 15, 18 and 19 so it can be used for the laptop too.
AnswerID: 474138

Reply By: Cobradave - Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 19:11

Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 at 19:11
What a waste of time, effort and money with these antennas, satellite reception is the only way to go www.sattvkits.com
AnswerID: 474144

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