Forum Discussion

jz1028's avatar
jz1028
Explorer
Mar 30, 2014

What type TV??

Just got back from Ft. Wilderness, Disney World. We still have analog TVs and had to get converter boxes from trading post. Could not get much info on what I really needed to have to receive all the channels without the box. The box was pure junk and lost sync a lot and had to be rebooted. Up until now, our TVs have been fine at all other places we have camped at. Just switched the input mode on the TV from TV to Cable, and got cable channels.

What do I need to look for when buying new TVs for the RV?
(my kids have been bugging us anyway)



Jay
  • It should be a digital QAM tuner (they all have them now). It just means that the set has the capability to recieve digital broadcasts...both HD and standard definition without a box (unless the programming is encrypted). Maybe your OTA box was hooked up to the "cable" jack in the rv...with the antenna booster on. It would not work that way- it's only a gov't box I assume and those are only used for OTA reception.
  • OTA antenna signals are digital
    That's why with your old analog TV you needed to use a converter box (changed antenna digital signal to analog for your old tv)

    New TV's have digital tuners and will receive over the air antenna signals without having to use the converter box.
    Just plug in antenna coax cable to TV
    Crank antenna up
    Aim the antenna head towards transponder towers (look where other have theirs pointed)
    Turn antenna 'booster' on
    Set TV input to 'antenna'
    Scan for available channels


    For cable....
    Hook up CG cable
    Turn antenna 'booster' OFF
    Set TV input to cable
    Scan for cable channels

    We replaced our old 27" analog TV with a 32" Vizio
    And put on 19" in bedroom

    Light weight, thin, easy to mount either with a flat mount or an articulating arm mount.
  • Don't know what you mean about a digital tuner. I have an OTA converter box and it didn't do anything at all and it is a digital tuner. Is there some spec I need to look for to get cable?
  • jz128,

    Pretty much anything from the big box stores will work- it just has to have a digital tuner (will probably have it anyway). Your main concern would be finding one that fits in the enclosure you have now...unless you're just going to set it on the dinette or table. No "box" will be necessary with any of the new sets- the exception would be a small number of rv parks that supply them to their guests upon check in. The other exception is if you decide to get satellite (I never have...if it's not off the air or thru cable, I just do something else).
  • Along with the opening measurements, Go to a big box store like walmart or best buy and look. Pick the TV that YOU like the picture quality on best. Personally I have had great service out of Samsung products. But no everyone likes the picture quality.

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