TV s and digital antennas

[SeaDawg]

A very long time ago, we installed an RCA flat antenna with a booster in the back corner cabinet of our Oliver, used it a few times, and forgot about it, except when cleaning cabinets...

 

We have an original tiny Jensen tv, with the speakers attached, plus audio out to several speakers, a few of which do not work.

 

Obviously, we're not big tv watchers. But, I'd like to be able to pick up local weather and news once in awhile, beyond the radio. Or watch a rerun on a rainy day...

 

For those of you without roof mounted antennas, what do you use? Our RCA, if not connected to 110 on the amplifier, gets only one channel now, with the trailer  in the sideyard. Probably shot/ corroded.

 

Do any of you use a tv other than a jensen? Thinking a smallish 24 smart TV that could stream from my phone or tablet would be nice, once in awhile. We could use our Netflix subscription on the road...on a bigger screen than the tablet.

 

Ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Sherry

[Try2Relax]

We went the larger TV route, ours is unmounted, sometimes it goes with us sometimes it doesn't. I'm partial to the Samsung 4Ks, with how thin and light they are now they are easy enough to move around. I no longer bother with trying for antenna reception, the only thing I pay for is a YouTube TV subscription, it is the only one I'm aware of that offers ALL local channels, for whatever markets they cover, so when I went to Chicago it would look at where I was and play those channels along the way with all my stored recordings.

 

We don't watch much, so the data use isn't that intensive. In severe weather it is nice to find a local Redbox and rent a DVD, when on the road, to watch on a good sized screen, fed from the Oliver DVD unit with all the speakers going, it's like being in a theater.

[Commanche]

Sherry, We have the round outside roof mounted antenna, that Oliver installed. Last week when we were down in Monument Lake, sometimes we could pickup NBC and CBS out of Miami, some of the time. We have a Google chrome cast cable that attaches to the HDMI port, and get into our daughter's Netflix account. You also need a hotspot on your smart phone.

 

Stan

[Cobra1169]

I went the path of using 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a suction mount and accessing Directv Now.  The screen resolution and quality is amazing and the tablet has a million and one uses even when you are not in your Oliver.  Since I have an AT&T Unlimited data plan there is no data charges and I can access all my home Directv programming and content.  Coming soon will be access remotely to your DVR as well.

[SeaDawg]

Thanks, Stan and Carol. I was curious as to how the roof top antennas do in more remote locations. We use Netflix occasionally on our tablets, but they're both pretty small screens.

 

Cobra, a larger tablet could certainly be useful... Yours is quite large, probably comparable screen size to the tv that came with our 2008. A tablet has the advantage, also, of charging up on solar while the sun is high.

 

Since we put a fuse back in to the tv circuit, I've noted an increased vampire draw of .2 to .3 amps. Doesn't sound like a lot, but we rarely plug in, and now the refrigerator is strictly electric, so I'm really watching out for power waste. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Randy, I believe that YouTube is among the only no cable streaming services that allows you to access local channels wherever you are. I believe I read that Hulu live is restricted to your home zip, at least for now. We don't have either, yet. Just Netflix.

 

Sherry

 

 

[donbob3]

I have a Winegard Sensar 3 with their Wingman - home version - cost about $40. Has 110 amp.

 

I use a quick connect and put the amp in the line in the back cabinet.  Remove it when I use cable.

 

The antenna is supported with 2 pieces of tubing on Sat tripod.  Replaced Jensen with 110 Samsung -

 

(with sound bar) about same size and weight.  Much better picture.  Also carry Sirius table radio.    Takes about 3 min to

 

set up.