Cello Traveller TV
Hi, I have looked at previous threads regarding TVs for use in the van but wondered if anyone has a Cello Traveller? Looking to buy something around the 18-20 inch size with DVD and possibly a built in sat tuner.
The two obvious sets are the Avtex and the Cello and whilst there is a significant price difference that is not an issue if the Avtex is the better product but interested in others experiences.
Thanks.
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Hi TG, thanks for that. At the moment the Cello is £200 and the Axtex £350 so a big saving which may be why I am a little reluctant as it seems a bit too good to be true!
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We thought the same, so had a good look at them at the Glasgow show, can't say we found any difference, maybe someone who has an Avtex could comment. Just to say if you have any issues with the Cello the helpline number is very good for after sales service.
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We have been using the Cello for the past 4 years now without a problem with the TV. I had dropped the remote and that became problematic so I bought a new one really cheaply from the company who sold us the TV via their Ebay shop & no more problems. The speakers are like the rest of small flat screen TV's, poor, but I have plugged in a pair of 240v external small computer speakers and the quality is very good. All in all a good buy for us I think. Regards, Roy
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Browsing for more information on the two sets came across the Finlux which has some good reviews. That's one of the things with tinternet, you can end up with info overload which is not always a help when trying to make a decision!
Still looking like it will be the Cello as it's a new model and has the advantage of the sat receiver and ezy cast.
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A and J.
I paid £269 for the Avtex but only a 16" as this to will be used off grid.I also went for the "satellite version".The ease of set up is good and sound quality of speakers is much better than my old TV.
Has a built in DVD player which keeps the grandchildren quiet.
It has been mentioned before that the Avtex has no ahead planning for recording programmes,only for the day ahead,but I haven't tried to record anything yet.
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we had a Cello in the bedroom of our previous van.
when getting this van geared up, i asked the dealer to transfer over the Cello to the bedroom (along with instructions to the technician on the necesary Sky/Magic Eye connections.
when i collected the van, i noticed that they had replaced the Cello and put in a new, larger screened, VisionPlus TV.
I think the technician must have misread 'transfer TV' for 'put in new TV', however it was all FOC...
.....and the VisionPlus is a marvellous piece of kit, with a great picture.
I'd certainly recommend having a gander and would see them as a direct competitor to Avtex and Cello.
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Viewing them all for comparison purposes would be advantageous, but where?
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So the shortlist now is; the Finlux at £140 but with no sat tuner, we have an old sky box that was given to us, Cello at £200, Vision Plus £270 and Avtex £350.
The Finlux will be fine but would prefer to have a built in sat tuner but is it worth spending £60 to get something that may be used once a year? As the only concern is that the Finlux may be a tad large for us the it's looking like the Cello.
As dmiller says it would be nice to view but have in the past dismissed sets for home that had a rubbish picture only to find that it was down to the rubbish set up in the shop and not the set itself.
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just a couple of points about sky boxes (sorry if you already know this....)
ypu say ypu have an old' box....the very old 'javelin' boxes were 12v and anything 10 yrs (ish) newer will be mains only.
So, if ypu do any off grid camping (THS etc) youll need an inverter to run it, whereas with a TV with sat tuner,it will be 12v.
however, the Sky EPG is light years ahead of anything on a freesat TV, and ypu may be able pick up a few different channels on the Sky box, even without a subscription.
we have freesat tuners in both our van TVs, but dont use them as we are Sky subscribers and the interface is so much more user friendly.
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The Finlux will be fine but would prefer to have a built in sat tuner but is it worth spending £60 to get something that may be used once a year? As the only concern is that the Finlux may be a tad large for us the it's looking like the Cello.
I would say yes as having the satellite receiver built in saves a lot of extra gubbins in the van. We used to have a separate receiver when we used a free standing dish but when we decided to have a fully automatic roof mounted dish we also purchased the Avtex which we have been very pleased with and appreciate its all neat and tidy in the van. I can't comment on other makes as have no experience.
David
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I have no experience of the Finlux but on another Forum someone was saying that they can't pick up French digital tv with theirs. Now that may not be an issue for you just thought I would mention it incase.
I would also agree having a built in tuner is better, less kit to have to accommodate around the van, so less leads etc. The Cello having sat, freeview, Irish freeview, DVD and a USB all built in keeps it nice and tidy. We do record using a portable hard drive, put lots of it on while at home and then if we want to go out while away can set it to record while we are out. Can be an issue if trying to do it to far in advance because of the EPG.
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Many thanks for all the feedback.
A set with a sat tuner would stop the "why are we carting this box around" question but deprive me of the opportunity to say "because you want to watch TV abroad". We don't have Sky at home and only started using TV abroad when given the old box to catch up on news.
If it was not for the Avtex we have showing its age,DVD not working, would soldier on but looking like the Cello will get the vote.
Thanks again.
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Following a call to acdctv, who had the Cello on offer at £199.99, have now carried out a review of my potential viewing of UK TV when in Europe. The reason being that, 'due to high demand', the set is now £249.99 which mean s I would be paying £100 for the inbuilt sat tuner.
They did offer it at £219.99 but when I called back said that was a 'mistake' and best price would be £239.99 so still £90 for a sat tuner so will not now be buying.
Thanks again to all who responded with advice/comments.
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A heads up about the Cello range of tvs.
We bought a 22" Traveller tv with sat receiver inside and was generally pleased with it however recently noticed that there are several new tv channels on freeview which however do not appear when we retune arriving at a different site.
I contacted Cello asking about a software update only to be told they do not have such an update meaning the tv will become obsolete regarding new introduced channels.
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A software update would not make any more Freeview channels available, a full channel scan will pick up all available channels from that particular transmitter assuming the aerial is adequate and not all transmitters transmit the full array of channels.
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Absolutely, just scan regularly for those added channels, and also every time you change location. The point about an adequate aerial is very relevant too, in some areas you will definitely need an aerial which can be rotated horizontally or vertically to take into account the polarisation of the broadcast mast. Only then will you enjoy all the channels 'supplied'!
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Used the cello for about three years with no problems. The SAT tuner is very basic and I use an external one now with HDMI.
Just changed it for a really cheap Manta from box.co.uk (also cheap for the Cello models) which is very light and has really good picture. I use a separate tuner for sat and stick for video.
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I can't comment on Cello or Finlux, but we had a fairly old flatscreen TV in the van, not a motorhome or caravan specific model, not even 12v, I had fitted an inverter to power it (amongst other things) if we were "off grid"....
But the O/H constantly complained about the viewing angle and screen quality ( I didn't really care after a few vino's).....
After looking at everything on the market, we bought one of the new Avtex Pro 9 series ( with built in sat & two tunery do da's so you can watch one & record the other channel. Or something...
). Outwardly it appears to be a nice bit of kit.....I found it very hard to compare viewing angles when looking at the published specs, some of the manufacturers seem reluctant to publish info which allows you to make meaningful comparisons....
In the end I decided that even though the Avtex was more expensive, I've never in life regretted buying something decent & the additional cost spread over 5 or 10 years is neither here nor there.....
We use it with an Avtex aerial and find the picture quality very good.
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Our Caravan TV is also a 22” Samsung HD we got it about 2 years ago. It was a Curry’s exclusive and works off 12V, claims to be 14V but we have never had a problem even with a less than fully charged battery. Cost about £120 plus another £10 for an after market power supply that I could butcher to make a 12v lead. Very good picture and more than adequate sound for our needs.
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Does anyone know if a Freeview recorder needs to have a signal when playing back pre recorded programmes, my Sky Box won't play any recording unless there is a signal? I would like to take one to Spain next summer but we will be too far south for Sky. Any advice would be great fully received.
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BB is your man for info on Sky boxes but as you say I don't think they will play back without having a signal.
Maybe if you do a separate post RE Sky in Spain BB will see it.
We use a Cello Traveller with a Freesat tuner when in the van, we don't subscribe to Sky although we do have a box somewhere in the house.
When away in France/Spain we take an 85cm dish and use Astra 2 where we can get a signal, however that drops out near the border so we then switch to an encryption box and tune into Intel 907.
Edit, should have said we have a portable hard drive that we pre record tv programmes on when we are home. We then play them back via the USB lead to the tv when away and can't get a signal.
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I just left the TV at home when we went to France in the summer. Saves hassle and weight.
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We have a very old Avtex which serves us well but is considerable bulkier and heavier than the new ones. Have been contemplating upgrading so this thread is useful. Do any of the TVs discussed have Bluetooth capability? Ours has an FM transmitter and sound can be played through the onboard speakers and my radio headphones but Bluetooth would be much more flexible.
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hi Kevin.....thanks TG for those kind words (the vinos are on me
....)you're right in that you can be 'too far south' for Sky but this really only refers to those 'home' Sky channels that are broadcast on the UK spot beam....BBC, ITV etc...
despite this, in Spain your dish (almost any dish) will be able to see the Astra 2 group well enough to get a signal and to lock on..
this, in itself, is enough to allow 'connection' to Sky to verify your subscription and to play your recordings....however, you need your viewing card inserted in order to check your sub...
now, to the 'too far' issue....
as I said, being anywhere south of the French/Spanish border will be a no-no for BBC etc even on an 85 cm dish....
however, Sky broadcasts its Sports and Movie channels on the Pan Euro beam which covers all of Europe right down to the south of Spain.
provided you have the right subscription, you should be able to pick up the sports and movies well into Spain on a 65/85 cm dish.
we have an 85 cm dish and get these easily at the Valencia area.
we will be going further south in January and will be interested to see what sort of range we get....
good luck.
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CY, summer is a different kettle of fish.
Light warm nights where you can sit outside or go for a walk/cycle/people watch
winter on the other hand, dark by teatime not warm enough to sit outside (without a coat) got to have something to do once the dishes are done Thanks BB, a nice vino by the lakes in May sounds just about right
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"got to have something to do once the dishes are done "
Use your imagination, girl!
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