TV Equipment

ALTYGEZZER555 · Nov 29, 2022

Hi I'm new to camper-vanning and wish to ask for guidance on setting up and acquiring what I shall need to get TV reception on my travels.
I have a fairly new 12v 20" portable free-view tv. I have looked at aerial's on-line but not sure what to look out for to get the best reception.
I have a Cali Ocean with a rear fitted bike rack and wonder if a mast and attachments fitted to that (when setting up on sites) is an available option?
Any assistance and advice would be greatly appreciated.

The Tall Luthier · Nov 29, 2022

If you need TV I’d be inclined to stream over the Internet via a tablet computer. Probably as cheap, certainly less faff and hardware.

OllieCollieCali · Nov 30, 2022

I have one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007JPOX8O?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
it seems to work well inside the van, unless you are in the middle of nowhere, but for the size gets good signal, and apparently its magnetic, so it turns the van body work into an aerial as well depending where you put it.

Resfeber · Nov 30, 2022

ALTYGEZZER555 said:
Hi I'm new to camper-vanning and wish to ask for guidance on setting up and acquiring what I shall need to get TV reception on my travels.
I have a fairly new 12v 20" portable free-view tv. I have looked at aerial's on-line but not sure what to look out for to get the best reception.
I have a Cali Ocean with a rear fitted bike rack and wonder if a mast and attachments fitted to that (when setting up on sites) is an available option?
Any assistance and advice would be greatly appreciated.

I bought a clamp for the awning rail and standard log periodic aerial. The feed from the aerial connects to a lead with an F type fitting that runs from the front passenger seat /kitchen cupboard to the rear left corner cupboard and exits via the rear light cluster wiring and mounts just below the left gas strut.
About 2 mins to mount aerial to mast and van, connect up and locate transmitter.
NB you must find out whether aerial is in horizontal or vertical orientation.
Plenty of apps give transmitter info in locality. Alternatively look at any nearby houses for this info.

Aerial lives with chairs in tailgate and mast (£12 B&Q) fits in the through load between the kitchen table and seat unless you have the optional storage box in this location.
Would also store in the upper bed but must lie in the centre area.

You may need an aerial amp for poor signal areas as well but in 3 years this has not failed.
Having said that streaming would be easier if you only want BBC, ITV hub etc but will depend on data speed where you are

Ozzy Pete · Dec 1, 2022

OllieCollieCali said:
I have one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007JPOX8O?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
it seems to work well inside the van, unless you are in the middle of nowhere, but for the size gets good signal, and apparently its magnetic, so it turns the van body work into an aerial as well depending where you put it.

I have one very similar to yours. Had it for about 6 years. If I recall it cost me around £35 at the time that’s 3 times the price of yours but it does have a 5 metre cable and weighs 400 grams so not lightweight.
Obviously doesn’t work everywhere and have spent ages trying to pick up a good signal. At the time it had the best reviews.

capt kirk · Dec 1, 2022

OllieCollieCali said:
I have one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007JPOX8O?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
it seems to work well inside the van, unless you are in the middle of nowhere, but for the size gets good signal, and apparently its magnetic, so it turns the van body work into an aerial as well depending where you put it.

Me too, works really well

GrumpyGranddad · Dec 2, 2022

We watch TV on an iPad. Either streamed services such as iPlayer/Netflix/Amazon if there’s good quality Wi-Fi or 4g available. (We have an unlimited data SIM)
Or if not, we use an August receiver and aerial for broadcast TV which has worked very well.
We also download a few films before a trip in case none of the above is possible (which has quite often been the case).
Note that some campsites have a TV point on each pitch, so worth carrying a long co-ax lead in the van.

capt kirk · Dec 2, 2022

Exactly the same set up as me….

HectaTheSpecta · Dec 2, 2022

I use IPTV

Far less faff and watch all the channels in the world

Use my iPad and need atleast 2mbs download speed to watch live tv

GrumpyGranddad · Dec 2, 2022

HectaTheSpecta said:
I use IPTV

Far less faff and watch all the channels in the world

Use my iPad and need atleast 2mbs download speed to watch live tv

What about when you can’t get Internet @HectaTheSpecta ?

HectaTheSpecta · Dec 2, 2022

GrumpyGranddad said:
What about when you can’t get Internet @HectaTheSpecta ?

Get a book out

Admittedly, there haven’t been many places I’ve been without Internet as I work remotely too

Kayleigh · Dec 4, 2022

ALTYGEZZER555 said:
I have a fairly new 12v 20" portable free-view tv.

Where do you store a 20 inch TV in a California?

Dell · Dec 4, 2022

I keep it when travelling, in between the extension mattress at the rear. As it is soft cushioned it is well protected.

Kayleigh said:
Where do you store a 20 inch TV in a California?

Anthony1 · Dec 5, 2022

The Tall Luthier said:
If you need TV I’d be inclined to stream over the Internet via a tablet computer. Probably as cheap, certainly less faff and hardware.

Spot on. I went down the TV route, aerial, (Tony Hancock for those who remember his tv aerial sketch). TV, cable, Arial, remote control, constantly re tuning etc. Then used a phone, then hotspotted a tablet from the phone. Netflix, Disney, iplayer etc. minimum storage. As long as you have enough data, this certainly is the way to go. You can also read your books, newspapers, check your maps et al via the tablet.

Resfeber · Dec 5, 2022

Kayleigh said:
Where do you store a 20 inch TV in a California?

I keep mine 21 inch in a soft shell case in the under bed drawer with clothes in storage cubes underneath it

Resfeber · Dec 7, 2022

Kayleigh said:
Where do you store a 20 inch TV in a California?

By way of an update here is what the TV soft shell case (with a stiffened face to protect the TV screen) looks like in the drawer and the storage cubes (IKEA) that fit underneath and support the tv case at the correct height to allow the drawer to close.
Couple of days of clothes, socks, underwear etc can be stuffed into the cubes.

ALTYGEZZER555 · Dec 8, 2022

The Tall Luthier said:
If you need TV I’d be inclined to stream over the Internet via a tablet computer. Probably as cheap, certainly less faff and hardware.

I really appreciate that and I will trial it! Thanks

ALTYGEZZER555 · Dec 8, 2022

Resfeber said:
I bought a clamp for the awning rail and standard log periodic aerial. The feed from the aerial connects to a lead with an F type fitting that runs from the front passenger seat /kitchen cupboard to the rear left corner cupboard and exits via the rear light cluster wiring and mounts just below the left gas strut.
About 2 mins to mount aerial to mast and van, connect up and locate transmitter.
NB you must find out whether aerial is in horizontal or vertical orientation.
Plenty of apps give transmitter info in locality. Alternatively look at any nearby houses for this info.

Aerial lives with chairs in tailgate and mast (£12 B&Q) fits in the through load between the kitchen table and seat unless you have the optional storage box in this location.
Would also store in the upper bed but must lie in the centre area.

You may need an aerial amp for poor signal areas as well but in 3 years this has not failed.
Having said that streaming would be easier if you only want BBC, ITV hub etc but will depend on data speed where you are

View attachment 102667

I thank you for your very detailed response and I will go down that route to see if it works for me. The pic helps too!

ALTYGEZZER555 · Dec 8, 2022

Ozzy Pete said:
I have one very similar to yours. Had it for about 6 years. If I recall it cost me around £35 at the time that’s 3 times the price of yours but it does have a 5 metre cable and weighs 400 grams so not lightweight.
Obviously doesn’t work everywhere and have spent ages trying to pick up a good signal. At the time it had the best reviews.

View attachment 102678

Cheers for that advice and the pics that explain everything.

ALTYGEZZER555 · Dec 8, 2022

GrumpyGranddad said:
We watch TV on an iPad. Either streamed services such as iPlayer/Netflix/Amazon if there’s good quality Wi-Fi or 4g available. (We have an unlimited data SIM)
Or if not, we use an August receiver and aerial for broadcast TV which has worked very well.
We also download a few films before a trip in case none of the above is possible (which has quite often been the case).
Note that some campsites have a TV point on each pitch, so worth carrying a long co-ax lead in the van.

View attachment 102691

View attachment 102692

Brill thanks so much. You went a long way to show the way you get what is needed. I will follow this through and can't thank you enough.

Magic Bus · Dec 9, 2022

We use a small August portable TV. Some sites have a TV aerial socket on the bollard, so we just use a length of co-ax cable to connect to it. On sites with no TV provision, we use an Avtex aerial that sticks to the outside window of the van, then feed the cable through the passenger door. The aerial is powered off the 12v socket behind the passenger seat.

This is the aerial we use:

Avtex STH3000 12/24v High Gain Aerial - Camping International

The Avtex STH3000 boosted antenna’s is designed specifically for use with digital televisions, it is light weight, compact and very easy to use. With it’s unique flexible mounting system it can be installed indoors or outdoors in seconds. The integrated 20db amplifier can be powered by the...

www.camping-intl.com

Costs about £40. Works well in most areas, we can get up to 120 digital tv channels. Even worked in the Welsh mountains and the Outer Hebrides.

TV Equipment

ALTYGEZZER555

The Tall Luthier

OllieCollieCali

Resfeber

Ozzy Pete

capt kirk

GrumpyGranddad

capt kirk

HectaTheSpecta

GrumpyGranddad

HectaTheSpecta

Kayleigh

Back in the ‘non-leaking’ T6 Beach

Dell

Anthony1

Too young to be old

Resfeber

Resfeber

ALTYGEZZER555

ALTYGEZZER555

ALTYGEZZER555

ALTYGEZZER555

Magic Bus

Avtex STH3000 12/24v High Gain Aerial - Camping International

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