RE: Suitable tv for poptop van

Ash · Member

RE: Suitable tv for poptop van

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

We have a 19" HD LED TV with DVD player and PVR in our 15.5' van. Keep an eye on the Kogan website for their specials on both LED and LCD TVs. www.kogan.com.au

Although it does not get used that much as we bush camp and prefer to be outdoors, however it is there for those rainy days and when we stopover in a Caravan Park. We are not avid TV watches anytime and find this to be a good unit that importantly works via our vans 12v system.

Our van came with a 19" Palsonic LCD TV/DVD (pre SD/HD) that had a 240/12v power supply. However this TV would not fire up on our vans 12v system if it was above 12.0v so in the bush it had to be used via an inverter and the supplied 240/12v power source.

The one aspect is that is not flash with the smaller Kogan LED TVs is that the sound is a bit tinnie, but this can be overcome with the use of small computer plug in speakers if it is a concern.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Monday 27th of August 2012 02:01:25 PM

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Monday 27th of August 2012 04:07:25 PM

ruth5322 · Member

Hello - I apologise if this topic has been done before but this is my first post. My partner Colin and I have just bought our first poptop and are so excited. It has all the fitments for a TV but we were wondering what the best size TV is and price wise. We have a 16'7 Regent Poptop. I would so appreciate any advice. Thank you blankstare

Delta18 · Guru

We just upgraded our 19 inch LCD Palsonic with inbuilt DVD to a 21.6 inch LED Palsonic also with inbuilt DVD.

An added bonus is that the new LED TV uses 1.6 amps compared to the old LCD 19 inch using 2.4 amps and is a featherweight compared to the heavier LCD.

Beth, if you have the files in avi format, transfer the file(s) to a small USB key/portable hard drive which you can then plug into the TV's USB slot and play.

Cheers

-- Edited by Delta18 on Monday 27th of August 2012 04:12:24 PM

hagar · Veteran Member

have a look at the kogan site on the internet led tvs priced well and a good selection of sizes

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Ash wrote:
Hi Ruth and Colin,
Welcome to the site, I have a 18" AWA with a built in DVD player which I find is just great,it hangs off the wall with a swivel bracket,can be veiwed at any angle....Dont get a LED tv had one veiwing angle was a pain ....Hope this helps
ASH
Ps...LED tv is fine if you are veiwing it directly in front,at eye level,if you are sitting and the tv is well above you the picture is very black...

-- Edited by Ash on Monday 27th of August 2012 09:20:05 AM

ditto, stay away from LED they are crap

ruth5322 · Member

Thanks heaps Ash

So I am guessing that LCD are the best? Will drag Col out today and have a look and also on the websites. Thank you SO much for the advice

Ruth

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome Ruth5322 from me, enjoy here and out there.

wombat said "ditto, stay away from LED they are crap"

No there not, they are a TV.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Dougwe wrote:
Welcome Ruth5322 from me, enjoy here and out there.

wombat said "ditto, stay away from LED they are crap"

No there not, they are a TV.

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

you are correct, I should have said crap tv biggrin biggrin

brickies · Guru

We have had a 19 inch LCD Palsonic hd TV with built in DVD in our Caravan for 5 years no problems , We chose not to fix the TV to the wall so we are able to move it from place to place on demand it has work for us , Most TV sold today are LCD

Beth54 · Guru

Bugga! I bought a Kogan LED not long ago!

It's a 24" HD with built in DVD player and PVR, 240 or 12 volt. I haven't tried it out in the van yet, been using it at home. The only problem so far is that it doesn't like burnt discs. I have to play them on my laptop. By the way, I don't do any burning, I wouldn't know how and I know it's illegal. wink

The only other problem is with the person using it. hmm confuse I finally learnt how to use the DVD player, but still don't understand the PVR. My 14 year old granson probably knows how to use it! biggrin I'm sure he'd like to come and educate Nana. disbelief

And welcome Ruth. You'll find all sorts of great info one this site. And some people,,,not mentioning any names,,,are just plain silly and are often in the naughty corner. biggrin

brickies · Guru

There are 3 choices for TV LED,LCD AND PLASMA , Which one would member suggest is the best

Cupie · Guru

As I understand it, you have the choice of

the old (heavy) CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) ,

the usually power hungry Plasma and

LCD types.

LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display?) have the option of the 'old' fluro backlighting or various types of LED (Light Emiting Diode) backlighting. This leads to the term LED LCD

The LED LCDs are generally the lowest power consuming type when comparing like to like.

Wombat's comment about crappy LED LCDs may be right, he is a very knowledgeable fellow. I have not checked viewing angles. Perhaps the problem relates to the original perimeter backlit types & not the latest configuration.

Of course there may be straight LED types that I have no knowledge of. Must investigate. (A thought bubble while editing this reply)

I must declare my interest, in that recently I went away with my old faithful CRT TV, set top box & DVD Player. (PLUS THE GRANDKIDS).

Unfortunately the DVD player wouldn't power up & I had forgotten the set top box remote, and with the rain I had a problem entertaining the anklebiters.

I went to Kmart to pick up a cheap DVD player & maybe a set top box, but was confronted with a 'special' $190 12v/240v LED LCD with built in DVD player. Sure it is not true full HD in that the screen refresh is only 50hz - not 100 or 200hz but what the hell. It is much lighter than my old combo & fits the DIY cupboard top mount well.

We usually only watch it from the bed so the view angle is great (I use my laptop with built in tuner thru a splitter if I want to watch TV). The sound on the first set was tinny so I swaped it for a replacement .. no questions asked.

My advice would be to go and look at TVs in the stores and see if you can notice the viewing angle problem. Ifyou can then decide if it will be an issue in your set up. Look at the TVs in other vans. I think that you will find that the vast majority of new ones are LED LCDs.

Get a 12v type if you intend to camp without power.

Choose a model with the lowest power consumption.

Ours is 21.5" (screen). It seems to be adequate for us. Wouldn't want it any larger.

If you can't wall mount it, it is easy to make a DIY table mount & reinforce the supplied stand as I did.

If you are going to do any rough roads then you might be well advised to look at a dearer purpose built caravan TV, or to try t o remember to un-mount it for storage while traveling.

ps.. I have just put one of those all singing all dancing 3D LED LCD smart TVs in my 'retreat/rumpus/home cinema' or downstairs get away, at home & it has a great picture and can do all those things that I don't want to do, or can't do, like connect to the internet & all sorts of other wireless stuff.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

The Led TV is still a LCD screen it just refers to the light that is used to illuminate the picture. The range of viewing angle, usually depends on the quality of the screen, many Tv's would now be using LED's for the light source and if the screen is very thin it will be edge lit, using LED's. We have one of the latest Samsung thin screen tv's and there is no problem whatsoever with the viewing angle, when LCD screens where first introduced there was, in many cases a problem with viewing angles.

We also have a Kogan 19 inch, led, lcd, tv in our van and it has no viewing angle problem, and the sound is quite acceptable.

Cheers

David

DeBe · Guru

Hi Beth, Re the DVD not playing burnt DVDs. Some will & some wont, The TV in my van has a DVD player & it wont play burnt DVDs. So i purchased a small cheep $39 player & it plays burnt DVDs, so use that in the van.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

DeBe wrote:
Hi Beth, Re the DVD not playing burnt DVDs. Some will & some wont, The TV in my van has a DVD player & it wont play burnt DVDs. So i purchased a small cheep $39 player & it plays burnt DVDs, so use that in the van.

this problem could also be the burnt dvd is a minus or a plus (DVD-R or DVD+R) some dvd's play both others may only play one or the other, Beth try one of each to see if either will work.

Ellice · Senior Member

Hi Ruth and Colin,
We also have a AWA combo TV and DVD, we have never had a problem with this and it hangs of the wall pluss we bought a biger one also that does the lounge part and turns around to do also the bedroom.. When travelling we lay it on the bed...

Ellice · Senior Member

Hi Ruth and Colin,
Sorry also welcome to the site....

justcruisin01 · Guru

Ash wrote:
Ps...LED tv is fine if you are veiwing it directly in front,at eye level,if you are sitting and the tv is well above you the picture is very black...

-- Edited by Ash on Monday 27th of August 2012 09:20:05 AM

Must be your tv, we have a LED in a poptop, it mounts on the top wall plate when parked so the viewing angle is at eye level when standing & upwards when sitting & works perfect. Found this to be the best position for it to be mounted on a wall mount & removed when travelling.

JC.

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks DeBe and Wombat.

I'm not concerned as it plays fine through the laptop, even though the screen isn't as big as the TV.

My ex burns the movies, and I have no idea how it's done or with what discs. I guess I don't have enough interest in it to learn it. He has hundreds of movies, so it's easy for me to just borrow them like a video shop, without it costing me a cent! Bargain! biggrin

brickies · Guru

I was at a mates Electrical Store and an LG rep was there , and I ask which is the best TV his answer was walk around all the TV which were all turn on and pick the picture you like best , May I suggest you do the same thing has you alone has to be pleased with it good luck

Beth54 · Guru

Delta18 wrote:

Beth, if you have the files in avi format, transfer the file(s) to a small USB key/portable hard drive which you can then plug into the TV's USB slot and play.
Cheers

-- Edited by Delta18 on Monday 27th of August 2012 04:12:24 PM

I have no idea what that means, so that may be a job for my daughter too. Thank you.

Ell&Mick · Senior Member

TV is a personal choice for whatever you decide works best for you. The problem we have encountered
getting decent reception. It has cost us a small fortune in antennas, and we still cannot get a decent
picture!!!

Ell

justcruisin01 · Guru

Ell&Mick wrote:
TV is a personal choice for whatever you decide works best for you. The problem we have encountered
getting decent reception. It has cost us a small fortune in antennas, and we still cannot get a decent
picture!!!

Ell

We bought a small signal finder, took all the guess work out of it. Still doesn;t give you tv if there is no signal but boy it saves a lot of trying.

Available from dicksmith, just connect it to the tv cable where it connects to the tv, runns on a small battery with led's redout, adjust ant possioning to max signal, job done. Qld can be tricky with some areas having a vertical signal, generaly one light will flash so change ant to vertical & re alaighn. Once you have max signal , remove device & connect cable to tv.

JC.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hi JC - is that signal finder the same as the one you get with satellite tv? would the one we have work on the telly?

brickies · Guru

The Palsonic LCD TV has a set button which does a search for signal of TV station where ever you are , we do this search when ever we stop works great if there is a signal it will tune it in

Esmeralda · Guru

I have a Phoenix with a built in DVD drive - works a treat and an Explorer aerial - so far I have always had reception for at least 3 stations but usually much more.

rvvista · Newbie

When buying a LCD or Plasma TV one of the specs you should look at is the viewing
angle ie:

A Kogan set

Viewing Angle:

H:170°

V:160°

A Sony set

Viewing Angle:

H: 176° (Right/Left)

V: 176° (Up/Down)

The greater the angle the more off set a viewer can be from the screen and still see a good

image.

Better quality sets will have a better viewing angle whilst some cheaper models will have a very poor
viewing angle.

Some of the latest computer LCD monitors have excellent viewing angles and you can view them from
just about any angle you can see the screen from, no doubt TV's will follow soon.

-- Edited by rvvista on Tuesday 28th of August 2012 11:46:00 AM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Ell&Mick wrote:
TV is a personal choice for whatever you decide works best for you. The problem we have encountered
getting decent reception. It has cost us a small fortune in antennas, and we still cannot get a decent
picture!!!

Ell

can I suggest you get a vast sat system, once you get your head around the setup you will get all digital tv in ALL parts of Australia.

keviny6 · Veteran Member

have a kogan 18 inch tv with dvd player --usb port ---when downloading movies from utube i have to convert them to mpeg2 to use on player. some i burn to disc and they play ok,
tv is placed on top of wardrobe to watch ,no trouble viewing