Do I need a special TV for my touring caravan?

STRB
STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited February 2017 in Caravans #1

Hi, just took delivery of our first touring caravan and need to get a small TV for it. Would people recommend one of the low power caravan specific TVs such as the Avtex or just a standard LED TV?

We will only use it when we have electric hookup. 

Any advice greatly appreciated. 

Scott

Comments

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #2

    The standard small TVs work just fine.  Don't get a big one though as you will not be able to sit all that far away from it.  The power consumption is very low so they can be easily used running from 12v - many are actually based on being 12v anyway and have a plug top power supply to run it.

    Aldi/Lidl have sensible offer prices, and some folk have mentioned Asda and Tesco as well. Depending on the age and construction of your caravan you may even find a bulkhead to fix a bracket to.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #3

    One of the main benefits of the Avtec is the wide range of angles it can be viewed from. They are certainly not the cheapest, but it does depend where it is located. We found the cheaper type great when you were directly in line with the picture on a similar level, but picture quality suffered when viewed from an angle or below.

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #4

    It seems that ordinary sets are OK although most are mains only. I brought an Avtex caravan set because I hope that it is designed for the rough and tumble of touring life. It also works on 12 volts and has a built in CD player. 

    Dearer yes; worth the extra? Ask me in ten years time.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #5

    One of the main benefits of the Avtec is the wide range of angles it can be viewed from.

    Seems a good reason to choose one Steve. Not for us rarely used.

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
    100 Comments
    edited March 2017 #6

    It will depend on how you plan to use your caravan.  If you are only going to use sites with EHU then get a standard tv.  We used a 19 inch domestic tv bought from Tesco for many years.  If however you plan on doing rallies with no EHU then you will need a tv capable of running off your battery, like the Avtex.  Since we changed to a motorhome we have had an Avtex tv and find it excellent.  Expensive compared to a normal domestic tv though.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited March 2017 #7

    It is still possible to buy standard TV's with an external power supply and use a lead to run from the battery.  If I remember correctly our 22" Samsung cost us arround £130. Excellent viewing angle HD. Addmitdly no DVD but we play films from a memory stick.  Compare that price to an Avtex TV.  

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #8

    If only going to use on EHU a standard flat screen tv is fine we have a 19inch from Tesco £95 in a sale does us fine and we are in our c/van a lot 6yrs now

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #9

    Ps including HD and DVDwink

  • pagan8c
    pagan8c Forum Participant Posts: 91
    edited March 2017 #10

    We have a Samsung 22" as well but bought a cheap DVD player to use when needed. I think the DVD was about £25 and the TV£129 in a sale. You can also use a USB memory stick with it as well. Good viewing angle as well. Like the OP only use electric hook ups so no problems.

  • markflip
    markflip Forum Participant Posts: 177
    edited March 2017 #11

    It's 'horses for courses' really, if you want a TV that will work anywhere then an Avtex is worth the extra money as it is designed for 12v and can work off a digital aerial and/or a satellite dish with no extra boxes etc.  If you are happy to watch TV only when you can get a digital signal and only on EHU then a cheaper 'normal' TV will serve you just as well.

    Although you could probably buy a cheap portable satellite system and a cheap small TV for less than the cost of an Avtex, you would then have a lot of wires and an extra box to site somewhere and power, but that is an option.  

    We 'inherited' our Avtex with the van and while it's a great bit of kit, 'live' TV isn't that important to us while we're away, so if I had to buy myself I'd probably go for a cheaper mains only TV.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #12

    There's quite a lot more to Avtex than just its dual voltage capability. It's a set which has been designed from scratch for leisure vehicle usage. It's tuning is very easy, it's ability to capture weak signals is better than most supermarket small sets, it's picture quality including angle of viewing is above average, it's current consumption is lower than average, it's robustly built for the rough and tumble of travelling. But it's expensive so not for everybody

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited March 2017 #13

    We had a Avtex, good picture but tinny sound, and poor quality handset.

    Never used it of mains so got rid of the Avtex for a proper TV, now use a 32" samsung smart tv. Excellent sound and great picture, and wireless for when you have wifi on site.

    Problem with smaller sets was seeing the text on the bottom of the screen, at the time it was cheaper to buy the 32" full HD tv, than a 28" HD ready.

    I also have an invertor should we ever get a power cut.

  • STRB
    STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #14

    Many thanks for all the replies and various views. Going to try a standard led from Tesco or somewhere and if need be can always change to an Avtex down the line!

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