Help - Question on Portable TV for camping/hunting

[R_Bert]

All,

 

My dad wants a ~15" 12 volt DC powered portable TV to put in his 4x4 hunting van. (it would NOT permanently mount in console, etc). Budget $100 - $150 

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Bert

 

(there are numerous models on Amazon, too many in fact.  Looking for good brand, etc.)

[Photoguy67]

Go to a truck stop, they have 12volt dc powered tv's. Not sure of prices though.

[Chazmr]

Another option might be to just use a regular AC TV run off an inverter.  Especially if he already has a small TV.  That way it works in the hunting van, or at home.  If he doesn't already have one, small LCD/LED TV's are pretty cheap these days.

[Garufa]

My only suggestion is to stay out of the woods. Really, a TV?

[NextExit]

Another option might be to just use a regular AC TV run off an inverter.  Especially if he already has a small TV.  That way it works in the hunting van, or at home.  If he doesn't already have one, small LCD/LED TV's are pretty cheap these days.

This.  Those truck stop TV's are about $200+.  You can get a Cobra 400w inverter for about $30.

But now I'm curious.... is there an antenna on his van?  Digital signals are weaker than analog, so if he's >25 miles from a transmitter, one of those  Radio Shack / Wal-Mart antennas won't work.  Believe me, I'm not far from Knoxville and I had to get an amplified roof top antenna to pull in the local stations. The indoor antenna did nothing.

[runco]

This is the 21st century, everyone now uses a smartphone, internet service, and youtube. 

[R_Bert]

Garufa, on 27 Nov 2015 - 6:20 PM, said:Garufa, on 27 Nov 2015 - 6:20 PM, said:

My only suggestion is to stay out of the woods. Really, a TV?

He is 84 years old, and has killed 3 deer this season.  If it makes him happy, then who cares.

 

BTW, he stays in the woods 3-4 days at a time. Can't hunt post sundown.

Edited November 28, 2015 by R_Bert

[R_Bert]

This.  Those truck stop TV's are about $200+.  You can get a Cobra 400w inverter for about $30.

But now I'm curious.... is there an antenna on his van?  Digital signals are weaker than analog, so if he's >25 miles from a transmitter, one of those  Radio Shack / Wal-Mart antennas won't work.  Believe me, I'm not far from Knoxville and I had to get an amplified roof top antenna to pull in the local stations. The indoor antenna did nothing.

He usually is about 3000'asl in the North Cumberland WMA.  No problem with reception.  His old TV quit on him.

[raildog]

If its for the van buy a cheap TV at Walmart and pick up a inverter from Nothen Tool I might know a certain Raildog that has a TV, Macrowave, and Frig on his service truck just saying it gets lonely out on the tracks at night my truck has three battery's from the factory then I added a fourth in the tool box its a deep cycle like you would put on a boat and installed a battery separater so it will change off the tuck system till it gets fully charged to prevent over charging or running the truck batteries down

[R_Bert]

raildog, on 27 Nov 2015 - 7:24 PM, said:

If its for the van buy a cheap TV at Walmart and pick up a inverter from Nothen Tool I might know a certain Raildog that has a TV, Macrowave, and Frig on his service truck just saying it gets lonely out on the tracks at night my truck has three battery's from the factory then I added a fourth in the tool box its a deep cycle like you would put on a boat and installed a battery separater so it will change off the tuck system till it gets fully charged to prevent over charging or running the truck batteries down

He may already have an inverter.  If not, I have one.  He does have two deep-cycles for stuff, but not on the truck charging system.  The batteries would probably last OK no more than he would use it (Price Is Right & the News).

[gunwhatgun]

You dont need an inverter. Bestbuy's line of Insignia tv's (the small ones, ours is a 19") are 12 volt already. Just look at the back, it will have a round plug that goes into the tv from the power cord. Not all small tv's do this which is why I specifically mentioned the insignia brand. It was the only one I could findl that does this. I did it for the same reason in our camper.

[Murgatroy]

I would go with a tablet over a television. You can get a Kindle for less than $50, if his phone can be used as a hotspot, or he buys a hotspot he might be looking at $100 total, with a monthly reoccurring fee of up to $50 for more than enough streaming to watch whatever he wants. Throw in a $10 a month Netflix, and while it might be semi expensive, the utility will be unsurpassed. And much better than trying to get signal with a set of rabbit ears deep in the woods. Speaking of, since they went all digital, wouldn't he be looking at a higher cost anyways? Many carriers offer free data for certain streaming providers, such as Netflix, meaning he could get a basic ~$20 plan and not pay for any of the data used for streaming Youtube or movies.

 

Now, if he is talking about a VCR (since we are talking old tech like TV anyways, ;) ) you are going higher out of pocket with a $200 television and a $100 media player, than you would with the above plan, you your aren't incurring data storage issues such as you would if you were going stone age with no internet.

 

If it were me, I would just get a mobile hotspot/phone enabled hotspot and a basic tablet.

 

Which is what I have done. It makes road trips so much easier for music (why use XM when you can stream iHeart or similar for free) or take DVDs for a mobile player when you can stream Netflix. The days of 'Are we there yet?' are nonexistent when she is watching movies in the backseat.

 

While some might see this as the lazy alternative, I fully embrace the digital age, I predict two generations will completely end physical media beyond a novelty or collector status. I do however prefer private storage methods over the cloud. 

[teecro]

.... While some might see this as the lazy alternative, I fully embrace the digital age, I predict two generations will completely end physical media beyond a novelty or collector status. I do however prefer private storage methods over the cloud. 

 

At 84 years old many are not going to embrace the digital age... They simply want/need POWER, VOLUME, CHANNEL

[R_Bert]

teecro, on 27 Nov 2015 - 8:37 PM, said:

At 84 years old many are not going to embrace the digital age... They simply want/need POWER, VOLUME, CHANNEL

and especially...volume.

[rmiddle]

All,

 

My dad wants a ~15" 12 volt DC powered portable TV to put in his 4x4 hunting van. (it would NOT permanently mount in console, etc). Budget $100 - $150 

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Bert

 

(there are numerous models on Amazon, too many in fact.  Looking for good brand, etc.)

 

7" Portable LCD TV/DVD Player $89.37 & FREE Shipping

 

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032Z8KH0/

 

Cheap will run off battery's as well as using either an AC plug or DC car plug.  Fits the bill and under a hundred bucks.

 

Here is a 9" version http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XU7JSK/ at $114.90.

 

Granted not 15" but the prices is right.  

 

Thanks

Robert

 

Update:

 

Found a 15" for $139.95 but the 7" / 9" modules looks a lot nicer to me.  All 3 include a DVD player.

 

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005Z44QSI/

 

Thanks

Robert

Edited November 29, 2015 by rmiddle

[R_Bert]

Thanks, They picked one out, will have it ordered later this morning.

 

B.

[bersaguy]

At 84 years old many are not going to embrace the digital age... They simply want/need POWER, VOLUME, CHANNEL

I'm just about at that point and I am only 67.  Power, Volume, Channel and a cup of coffee and I'm good to go. I had my son in law tell me all about all this fancy streaming stuff and all the new gadgets out there. He showed me his Smart phone and all the apps on it and told me I needed to get one. I asked him how much all of this stuff costs and he told me how much it costs him and my daughter combined. I would have to move under a bridge somewhere in a tent cause it would consume most of my funds each month. Like I said I like things simple and the simpler the better..........jmho   

[teecro]

I'm just about at that point and I am only 67.  Power, Volume, Channel and a cup of coffee and I'm good to go. I had my son in law tell me all about all this fancy streaming stuff and all the new gadgets out there. He showed me his Smart phone and all the apps on it and told me I needed to get one. I asked him how much all of this stuff costs and he told me how much it costs him and my daughter combined. I would have to move under a bridge somewhere in a tent cause it would consume most of my funds each month. Like I said I like things simple and the simpler the better..........jmho   

 

Oh I most certainly understand... I find myself somewhere in the middle of that road.... I enjoy TV for a limited number of "discovery" type channels and little else... I enjoy my smartphone for a very limited number of apps.

Edited November 30, 2015 by teecro