12 volt TVs

[stephen99]

We are definitely getting TV/Cable ready but are undecided on 120v or 12v. I would prefer 12v but have no clue who makes a good one. We probably won't use it much except maybe when rained in. Anybody have any experience with 12v TVs?

 

[nathanj04011]

Here's a thread I started...it might help:

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9/do-i-really-need-a-12v-television-7923.html

 

[rotateclockwise]

I have had good luck with Majestic. While they are more expensive than others, I believe it's a higher quality unit which can stand up to the rigors of the road.

12 Volt LED TV Designed for RV, Motorhomes, Caravans, Boats and Marine - Majestic Global USA - Majestic LED TV - Majestic Global USA

 

[tractors1]

22 inch RCA from Road Truckers has great wide viewing angles and a built in DVD player. Runs on either 12V or 120.

22" RCA 12v LED TV DVD Combo, DECK22DR RoadTrucker

 

[War Eagle]

We've had good luck with our NAXA 19" (12V DC with 120V AC adaptor):
https://www.amazon.com/NTD-1955-Class-Media-Player-Package/dp/B00RH8DIDY
They also make larger and high-def models, for example:
https://www.amazon.com/NAXA-NTD-2252-22-Inch-Widescreen-Digital/dp/B004YOGR1E

Some earlier models had a problem with turning themselves off unexpectedly, but I think they've gotten that fixed because ours has never had that problem. We've not verified it in our own use, but others have mentioned liking a feature that the built-in DVD player keeps track of where you are in the video even when you turn it off. So when you come back later, you don't have to search through the DVD to find where you left off. Again, we can't verify that feature.

 

[stephen99]

I have had good luck with Majestic. While they are more expensive than others, I believe it's a higher quality unit which can stand up to the rigors of the road.

12 Volt LED TV Designed for RV, Motorhomes, Caravans, Boats and Marine - Majestic Global USA - Majestic LED TV - Majestic Global USA

Yeah, looks good. Kinda pricey though.

 

[Karen H.]

I bought an Insignia from Best Buy (<$100USD and have had absolutely no problems; I can't remember but it either came with a 12V cord or I bought a very inexpensive one on Amazon:

Insignia 19" Class (18.5" Diag.) - LED - 720p - HDTV Black NS-19D220NA16 - Best Buy

 

[J Mac]

I've owned a 12 volt TVs before and some of them have point of view problems. Get a demonstration in store if you can, because with some, the viewer must be dead center in front of the screen to get a good picture.
Edit: Then again, it could have been just an inexpensive TV.

 

[tractors1]

I've owned 12 volt TVs before and some of them have point of view problems. Get a demonstration in store if you can, because with some, the viewer must be dead center in front of the screen to get a good picture.

That's what I like about the RCA; 170 degrees horizontal and 160 degrees vertical. Nice uniform picture quality, too.

 

[J Mac]

That's what I like about the RCA; 170 degrees horizontal and 160 degrees vertical. Nice uniform picture quality, too.

Is the RCA you're mentioning a 12 Volt TV?

 

[tractors1]

Is the RCA you're mentioning a 12 Volt TV?

Link is at post #4 above to check the specs. Had mine 4 years and no issues.

 

[J Mac]

looks like thats the one to get. Thanks tractors1

 

[stephen99]

I bought an Insignia from Best Buy (<$100USD and have had absolutely no problems; I can't remember but it either came with a 12V cord or I bought a very inexpensive one on Amazon:

Insignia 19" Class (18.5" Diag.) - LED - 720p - HDTV Black NS-19D220NA16 - Best Buy

Looks pretty good. Dirt cheap too.

 

[gbaglo]

I had Insignia 13" and found that you could only view it straight on, which is fine, if you are the only person watching. Maybe they have improved in the last six years, but I'd want to view the TV I'm considering ( and listen to the audio ).
The 15" Seiki I now have is better for viewing angles and came with a DC cord and an AC cord. Last I looked, the smallest screen they now offer is 22". Last I saw my TV, it was in a box under the bed.

 

[AK snowbiker]

I had Insignia 13" and found that you could only view it straight on, which is fine, if you are the only person watching. Maybe they have improved in the last six years, but I'd want to view the TV I'm considering ( and listen to the audio ).
The 15" Seiki I now have is better for viewing angles and came with a DC cord and an AC cord. Last I looked, the smallest screen they now offer is 22". Last I saw my TV, it was in a box under the bed.

When we picked up our trailer September 2014, I put a old MacBook Pro and the complete Seinfeld DVD collection and a couple of movies in one of the back overhead cabinets. 22 months later we have not watched one episode or one movie.

I don't even seem to have time to read the books that we bring along. Scott

Scott and Lori
I like bikes!

 

[gbaglo]

I hooked up my TV to cable at Osoyoos. Twenty minutes later it was still memorizing channels. Turned it off and put it away to go to beer swap.

 

[SFDavis50]

Is anyone using the portable Direct TV dish? I think that would be my choice if I had a TV in an RV. Any pros or cons?

 

[Steve Clark]

I hooked up my TV to cable at Osoyoos. Twenty minutes later it was still memorizing channels. Turned it off and put it away to go to beer swap.

Is anyone using the portable Direct TV dish? I think that would be my choice if I had a TV in an RV. Any pros or cons?

Given a choice, I'd go to the beer swap:cheers:

 

[rbryan4]

If picture quality is important to you I don't recommend most of the 12 volt TVs. The fact that its 12 volt should have nothing to do with the picture quality but the manufacuturers must not focus on that because it does. Even the high end 12 volt TVs can't compete with the picture quality of the 22" Samsung we use.

If you want it to run on 12 volts, as long as the brick power supply is designed to provide between around 12 volts to 14 volts, a generic 12 volt power cord with a 2.1mm "universal" plug on the end should work fine. Ours does.

Other bonuses : bigger screen, thinner bezel, and usually significantly cheaper.

 

[Brian B-P]

Is anyone using the portable Direct TV dish? I think that would be my choice if I had a TV in an RV. Any pros or cons?

It isn't portable, but I have a satellite TV setup (Shaw Direct, because I live in Canada) on my motorhome. The biggest problem with it is that desirable campsites often do not have a clear view in the direction needed to see the satellite, so there is no service at all. Advantages are that:

1. the channels are the same everywhere - no finding and figuring out what is available locally; and,
2. the full range of channels are available if there is any service at all, compared to a very limited selection over-the-air in most camping destinations, and only a basic channel set on a campground cable service (for those still offering this service).