What is best way for tv setup using my sky box + solar setup

[tclarkie]

Hi All, I am doing another self build, i need abit of help on a TV set-up. I don`t normally have tv in my vans but with a 3 year old it makes life easier i have sky at home and wondering if i can use the sky box at home where recorded programs are on so little one can watch tv in the evening mainly in the van. I thinking buying one of the TVs from Asdas or Aldi`s has i read a lot that these tvs will work on 12v. I am getting a solar panel pack with a large battery capacity so it lasts longer on wild camping.
I do have abit of budget and i dont want to paying over the odds for a Artex tv when a cheaper one will do. What aerial would be best to use with the sky box. I prefer the tv to have built in dvd player and built in freeview too. This is going to be the main power use in the van apart from charging the tablets and led lights at night.
So any help/advice for the set-up has i read so much about it that i still don`t know what is best set-up for what i need... Does have to be the most expensive equipment or can i can by on a cheaper version.

 

[badgerdid]

asda

When i was looking for a tv for the van the asda tvs were all hard wired so you couldnt run them off 12v. The early polaroids did have the 12v brick but it looks like they dont anymore, or at least didnt when i looked a year ago.

 

[sasquatch]

An easy option for a toddler would be DVDs of their favourite shows Peppa Pig etc or download to a portable hard drive and play them back through the TV,if it has a USB socket.

 

[Deleted member 951]

Would Sky Go on a laptop or tablet be an option Tracy? It's free to Sky customers.

 

[Admin1]

The sky box would need a sat dish to work in the van. You can pick up cheapish manual dishes that you stick on the van or on a pole, but they can be a pain to align. Also if you use sky go on an ipad or computer you will need to consider your data usage.

 

[ducato]

Would save up and buy an Avtec TV you get what you pay for. Works off 12 volt and does not kill your battery. Setting up a portable dish is straight forward. Enjoy wild camping with this no need for a hookup.

 

[rugbyreddragon]

A Sky Box uses 240v so would need an inverter to run it. Anything recorded onto the Sky Box+ at home however, could be viewed on your TV in the van without need for a satellite dish but as per other comments made DVDs are good to entertain young kids.

 

[Tezza33]

I use a Bush 22" LED TV, it has a 12v input and doesn't use much power, I personally wouldn't pay the extra for an Avtex TV although I know how good they are, I use a 12v Zgemma Star 2S satellite receiver, twin tuner and USB recording so it saves me using the inverter with my Humax receiver because although it is only a small inverter they still use more power than a dedicated 12V receiver, I have a 85CM semitronic satellite dish with the pole going in to the wardrobe, my solar set up is 250W panels with a Schaudt LR1218 Solar Regulator, even in winter I can watch TV although I take my generator as back up if we have a few cloudy days

 

[oldish hippy]

tezza have spare remote for bush 22 inch they nicked the telly but not the remote lol and porbaly have the mains adapter here somewhere

 

[Tezza33]

tezza have spare remote for bush 22 inch they nicked the telly but not the remote lol and porbaly have the mains adapter here somewhere

I hope to get to a few meets in 2016 so I will let you know which ones if you are going, a spare is always welcome, Maggy constantly loses the one we have, she will be able to lose two then:rabbit:

 

[maingate]

A camera tripod with a Sky dish mounted on it is all I used, in conjunction with a Sky box (non HD). Only took a minute to align using a compass (there are smartphone apps nowadays). A 150 watt inverter was big enough for the Sky box (the TV is 12 volt).

I got a cheap 19" Bush TV/DVD from a company that bought up old Argos stock. It was £79.99 if I remember right.

Fit one of these to your van. EXTERNAL SATELLITE & TV AERIAL SOCKET for your CARAVAN | eBay

 

[Compo]

sky

my sky box only works with the four channels itv bbc how can I make it show discovery channel ??????? and others

 

[colinmd]

I used to have a Viewsonic LCD tv and sky box converted to run off 12v, I now use an Avtex 'led' tv with built in sat(185drs), it uses less than 1/4 the power of my old set up, brought it as a returned item which cut the cost.

 

[pughed2]

TV in the van

Tclarkie.......sounds like you need to consider deeply if all that extra hardware is needed.......don't forget most tablets nowadays allow you to watch TV free hundreds of channels via the new world TV live web sites..........watching via the new 4g I think terrestrial TV signal available nearly everywhere as far as I can tell......your only problem for hours of viewing is keeping the tablet charged......in my van (trigano tribute) a 15minute burst of engine every 2 hours is enough to do the job, and having your van in a wi fi hotspot, to start off anyway.......pughed2

 

[listerdiesel]

We have an Avtex 15" + Comag satellite receiver in the trailer, and an identical setup bought for the Mercedes.

Travelling satellite dish converted to fixed mount on a hard point on both vehicles.

The early Axtex TV's are going for £100 or so, £30 or so gets you a receiver and a bit for a portable dish. The Avtex have built-in DVD player and can take some data by USB.

Here's a typical one on ebay (not mine!)

15" Caravan Tv / DVD 12v Or Mains Avtex W153D In White | eBay

Peter

 

[tclarkie]

Thanks Listerdiesel for that link i had seen that tv and i know i seen one 16" Ultra Slim LED Digital Freeview USB Record TV DVD. Caravan HGV Boat. 12 / 24 VOLT DC 12V + 240 for £130 + £10 delivery. Trouble is with relying on wifi or 4g Pughed2 is that i stayed in a wild camp spot the other weekend and they was no mobile signal so i cant rely on the wifi/phone networks cos i like do more wild camping then on sites has its more fun. If it is possible to download the cartoons from the sky box to a tablet so i can use the tablet to display on the tv maybe instead of using the sky box. Cos basically i have her cartoons e.g. paw patrol,peppa pig, blaze and some others already on my sky hd box which she watches every night same ones and i just like to have these on the tv and not actually have sky channels lived feed. Cos that way i can download to the box and put that in my van before going to used with tv then if there is no tv reception/signal then she can still watch tv. She be playing out most of the time but its for rainy days and night time. All i really want is a tv setup to ethier use with the skybox or if i can download them and watch them on tv somehow. I wouldnt be watching it much but i like a areial just incasae i get the chance to watch it myself but i be on my tablet or outside so its only to keep her happy...

What size of solar panel do people use in their van, I just be having led lights, tv and sometimes tablet on in the evenings plus abit of power to power the diesel heater...?