Digital TV Reception

LarryJM wrote:
I've got 3 Vizio TVs a 20, 27 and 39 inch and each has a signal strength meter, but Vizio doesn't make it easy or consistent as to where it is in the sets software. On the 39 inch it is listed at the bottom of a whole list of items under "System Information". It is also not covered clearly in the manuals so you just have to try all the various displays until you find the signal strength meter.

Larry

Thanks, If I ever come across another VIZO I will remember that.

By the way one of mine is a Samsung, 19 or 21 inch, not sure which.

The Power brick outputs 14 volts DC... I have seen many who express concern about using a 12 volt DC TV on battery power (Direct) because in a motor home when you are charging it is somewhat higher (like as high as 14.6 or more) but the Samusng is a 14 volt device, so .. That answers that.

What's more I got the Samsung at a real good price due to no remote (Floor display remote got lost) and.. as it happens... I already had a remote from an older Samsung I had... Works just fine. Talk about lucky.

My "Big" set is a 29 inch Dynex, bought at a pawn shop for 90 bucks, Again, lacking the remote.. I had a remote for a different brand that did all the basic stuff but I had to access ONE function by push button on the TV itself (OK) Got the replacement DYNEX remote on E-bay for 12 bucks though so again happy.

wa8yxm wrote:

RoyB wrote:
Just go down to WALMART and get a 22-inch VIZIO flat screen HDTV... These are on sale alot and a good buy for the RV...

I have 3 different Digital ATSC TV's and have seen several others.

Of these VIZO is the only one where I could not find the signal strength meter.. This is a VERY important function for RVers as it is how you aim the antenna less you have a Sensar Pro, and if you have a Sensar Pro you still need that function to perform channel translation (Since now days the channel on the screen may NOT be the same as the channel on the antenna feed).

I've got 3 Vizio TVs a 20, 27 and 39 inch and each has a signal strength meter, but Vizio doesn't make it easy or consistent as to where it is in the sets software. On the 39 inch it is listed at the bottom of a whole list of items under "System Information". It is also not covered clearly in the manuals so you just have to try all the various displays until you find the signal strength meter.

Larry

Cable TV and Cable Internet are very different topics. Trying to find one solution that encompasses both of these requirements is going to be very difficult do deal with. I would suggest (my suggestion, not your requirement) that you provide TV to your campers and if they need internet they can contact the local provider or use their cellular connection. You are NOT required to provide an internet connection and if you choose to do so, nothing says it needs to be a high speed cable style connection.

P&PHitchhiker wrote:
Needless to say, this is of great concern to us. Does anyone have experience with other parks where a set top box is required. Could you provide the name of the park so that we can contact them and find out how they are handling the situation.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Well unless they are encrypting modern TV's should be able to de-code.

BUT.... Ther are parks that do it that way.. The problem is most RV's it's not all that easy to "splice in" the STB.

You charge a deposit, Charter will tell you how much, refundable on return of the box.. You should ask charter to make you an "Agent" in this regard and to provide the boxes in exchange for the occasional deposit when a guest drives off without his refund.

SCVJeff wrote:
About the only thing you can do is build your own head end. It requires a CATV box for each channel you want to supply to the park. Once you negotiate a bulk contract with the provider, you will need to provide an analog modulator for each of the cable boxes, a few splitters and a big amp or two and you're good to go. This will feed the existing park infrastructure. I've built several of these and it's no big deal. It's just money...

Thanks for that suggestion...we know that is a possibility, but we understand that if we do a head end that our users will not be able to have an internet connection at their site via cable. We have several seasonal guests who get their internet service via cable rather than through our WiFi system.

About the only thing you can do is build your own head end. It requires a CATV box for each channel you want to supply to the park. Once you negotiate a bulk contract with the provider, you will need to provide an analog modulator for each of the cable boxes, a few splitters and a big amp or two and you're good to go. This will feed the existing park infrastructure. I've built several of these and it's no big deal. It's just money...

We work in an RV Park in Montana where Charter Cable has informed us that after Sept 1, we will need to provide a set top box for every TV in the park in order for them to receive any cable channels. All analog cable channels will be discontinued after that date and no TV without a set top box from Charter will be able to receive a signal.

Needless to say, this is of great concern to us. Does anyone have experience with other parks where a set top box is required. Could you provide the name of the park so that we can contact them and find out how they are handling the situation.

Thanks for any suggestions!

bigdogger wrote:
You should be able to tune in the cable stations fine provided two conditions are met.

1. Your Television is new enough to have an input called "Cable" or something similar. It would have to be a pretty old television not to have that capability.

2. The cable system at the RV park is not scrambled. If it Qa which would require you use a box provided by the cable TV provider. This is uncommon at the current time, but may become much more common as the major cable companies are rapidly moving to a 100% scrambled system that will require a converter box. This is a business move motivated by the fact that a lot of cable signals get stolen and the fact that with a converter box they can get you to buy all sorts of pay per view movies and events.

Otherwise, it is probably operator error. Things like the cable isn't correctly run to your television coax input. Your antenna amplifier is "on". You are not scanning for channels while your television is in the proper mode, etc.

X2, and my old tube type TVs worked fine on cable with my cable box (scrambled cable) so I gave away 2 of those converter boxes when you could get them for nothing with the coupon. The converter box would have only allowed me to get digial tv over the air, which I had no interest in. But I agree with the others, get a new TV, they're really cheap now.

RoyB wrote:
Just go down to WALMART and get a 22-inch VIZIO flat screen HDTV... These are on sale alot and a good buy for the RV...

I have 3 different Digital ATSC TV's and have seen several others.

Of these VIZO is the only one where I could not find the signal strength meter.. This is a VERY important function for RVers as it is how you aim the antenna less you have a Sensar Pro, and if you have a Sensar Pro you still need that function to perform channel translation (Since now days the channel on the screen may NOT be the same as the channel on the antenna feed).

You should be able to tune in the cable stations fine provided two conditions are met.

1. Your Television is new enough to have an input called "Cable" or something similar. It would have to be a pretty old television not to have that capability.

2. The cable system at the RV park is not scrambled. If it Qa which would require you use a box provided by the cable TV provider. This is uncommon at the current time, but may become much more common as the major cable companies are rapidly moving to a 100% scrambled system that will require a converter box. This is a business move motivated by the fact that a lot of cable signals get stolen and the fact that with a converter box they can get you to buy all sorts of pay per view movies and events.

Otherwise, it is probably operator error. Things like the cable isn't correctly run to your television coax input. Your antenna amplifier is "on". You are not scanning for channels while your television is in the proper mode, etc.