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How To Choose The Best Motorhome Or Caravan TV

How to choose
the best motorhome or caravan TV

Being able to watch TV when out on the road is important to a lot of caravanners. Maybe it's because we depend on the television to keep us informed. Perhaps it is more about the entertainment. At any rate, shopping for the right motorhome TV is a lot like shopping for the right motorhome.

The state of modern technology is such that watching TV in your motorhome or caravan is like watching it at home. For the best possible experience though, you really need to purchase a name brand television along with the necessary equipment to give you access to all of your favourite programming.

We personally recommend Avtex and VisionPlus systems. There are others out there, but we feel these two brands are at the top of the list. Take a look at this quick guide we have put together to get you pointed in the right direction. If you would like to know more about Avtex and VisionPlus for your motorhome or caravan, feel free to contact us today for more information.

tV Type

Your first consideration is the type of TV you are looking for. There are two things to consider in this regard. The first is CRT versus LED. A CRT television is old technology. It is the same technology that powers those big, bulky computer monitors. A CRT television will do the job, at least for a while, but it is not designed to put up with constant vibrations and movement of driving down the road. 

From our perspective, CRT technology isn't good for motorhomes. Not only do you have to surround a CRT unit with plenty of shock absorption, but you also need extra room due to the size of CRT cases. You are far better off with an LED model.

LCD With LED

Be aware that LED televisions are not new, either. In fact, the 'LED' designation is a bit of a misnomer. LED TVs are really LCD TVs with LED backlighting. If an LCD TV is not LED backlit, it is backlit with a standard cold-cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) which, in our opinion, isn't that much better for travel than a CRT. 

The beauty of lighting with an LED is the fact that the LED lights will last longer and stand up to more punishment. They are also not subject to damage from road vibration. You get a consistently better picture over a longer amount of time just because LED lights work so much better for backlighting.

Standard Versus Smart

The other consideration in terms of type is whether you want a standard television or a smart unit. A standard TV will require some sort of aerial or satellite dish for reception. A smart TV, while still usable with an aerial or dish, is also Wi-Fi enabled. That means that a motorhome park that offers Wi-Fi gives you instant connection to the outside world. 

A smart TV should give you access to all of the features and programming you could ever want via the internet. And then if you do have a satellite dish and package, you can use that too. You essentially get the best of both worlds.

your budget

As with anything you buy for your motorhome, you can find some exceptionally good TVs for a couple of hundred pounds. If you want something truly top-of-the-line, you can easily spend as much as £500 or so. But remember, this is your motorhome. Depending on how often you use it, be circumspect about how much you are willing to spend.

Screen Size

TV measurements are always presented in terms of screen size. Your typical motorhome features a TV somewhere between 16 and 25 inches, measured diagonally. Here's something to remember – there is a correlation between size and weight. The heavier the unit, the more it may wobble or sway as you drive. Heavy units have to be made more secure. 

If you want a larger screen in a smaller space, consider an LED TV with edge-to-edge display. These are extremely thin models that look a lot like computer screens without borders. You can get away with a smaller screen because you do not have that border on the outside to reduce your field of vision.

Power Options

In terms of power options, start with a TV that is certified Energy Star efficient. You'll be glad you did the next time you hook up to a system with a trip switch. In terms of voltage, you'll need a 12V model to run directly off your motorhome's power system. We recommend a 12/24V and mains hybrid so that you can use yours outside of your motorhome, if you like. 

This next point is extremely important: look for a motorhome or Caravan TV with a built-in safety function that shuts the unit off in the event of a voltage drop. Otherwise, such a drop could damage the TV and create a fire safety hazard.

Features

In terms of features, it is really a matter of what you prefer. The most modern TVs for motorhomes bring a lot to the table. For example, a Wi-Fi-enabled television is one of the best for access to streaming services. You can buy units with built-in CD and DVD players or USB ports that allow you to save programming to a flash drive. Of course, HD display is a must these days. 

Another thing about features relates to how you watch TV. In the UK, most motorhome owners find themselves choosing between terrestrial digital television and satellite TV. Both options are viable. If you are hoping to take your motorhome abroad, satellite is the way to go. Terrestrial TV won't do you any good outside the UK, unless you buy special equipment usable in other countries.

TV Brand

As a motorhome owner, you have a number of choices for TVs purpose-built for motorhomes and caravans. You can also buy standard home televisions that have been modified for caravan use, though we would strongly recommend against such units. They just aren't safe for motorhomes. 

The two brands we carry are Avtex and VisionPlus. Both are particularly good. Let us talk about Avtex TVs first. They have been around for the last 30 years or so and in that time have developed quite a following among people who take their road entertainment seriously. Most Avtex 12V TVs feature the following:

- Compact and lightweight design

- Full HD viewing for both terrestrial and satellite

- Built-in tuners for both terrestrial and satellite

- Built-in Wi-Fi for internet streaming

- Free BBC iPlayer, ITV hub, All4, My5 and UKTV Play

- The ability to set reminders for future programming.

Avtex's Freeview Play & Freeview HD software also comes free on all of their newer models. The software is your key to a wide range of television entertainment you won't get anywhere else. 

Moving on to VisionPlus, they are one of the few companies that can compete with Avtex. Their TV units are designed around motorhome and caravan use. Their newer models come with a matte screen to provide hours of entertainment without glare or reflection. The matte screen produces colour and clarity that is hard to replicate.

The newest VisionPlus models also feature:

- Built-in HD tuners for terrestrial and satellite TV

- 12/24V and mains power support

- Support for multiple viewing angles

- Exceptionally low power consumption

- Quick Start Tuning (QST) technology

- Lightweight and compact design

- Multiple HDMI ports (can accommodate laptop computers)

- Recording and pausing live TV with built-in USB. 

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