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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/27/2013 : 16:33:54

For those liveaboards and others who use tv onboard, I want to pass along a new approach that I will be trying this summer. Instead of using a tiny (7") tv that works on either 12v or 115v power, I'll be using my laptop computer, with a 15.6" widescreen and a Avermedia television tuner adaptor ($49.99 at Amazon) that plugs into a usb port. I just installed the adaptor on my computer and it gets at least as good reception, at my winter home, as my 7" tv gets at that location. The benefits are a much bigger screen, and, instead of having to stow both a tv and computer before I can sail, I'll only have to stow the computer. Installation was simple.

In the past, I was hesitant to try this approach, because the speakers on my laptop were so weak that I could only hear the audio adequately by using earphones, but I bought a new laptop this winter, and the speakers are much better, and produce enough volume to not require earphones.

TV reception at my marina is iffy, and the cable company won't provide service to the marina, but last summer, my marina installed wi-fi, so I'll be enrolling in Netflix, which will make many movies and tv programs available. When local reception is bad, Netflix will provide alternative choices.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 17:39:32

I've had a pinnacle tv usb adapter for years now, worked great with my amplified radioshack antenna. The biggest problem is that unless you can find an efficient 12 volt laptop you are going to heat up the inverter and the adapter boxes when running off of the house banks.

I did but a 17 inch 12 volt to supplement my 7" for a hundred bucks.

Unless the WiFi at your marina is blazing fast and nobody uses it, netflix will be sketchy. I get my WiFi from my phone, but found out the hard way that if I stream to my laptop or my tablet, that Sprint counts that data differently. So I use my phone for netflix. Gonna buy the biggest phone possible.

Sten

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 18:22:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 I've had a pinnacle tv usb adapter for years now, worked great with my amplified radioshack antenna. The biggest problem is that unless you can find an efficient 12 volt laptop you are going to heat up the inverter and the adapter boxes when running off of the house banks.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">When I'm in the marina, I have 115v shore power. When cruising, I don't watch tv often - usually only on a rainy night, and then I watch a video on a 12 volt powered dvd player. It's very power stingy.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I did but a 17 inch 12 volt to supplement my 7" for a hundred bucks.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> I don't understand. What did you buy? a tv? I haven't been able to find one that size that works on 12 volt. What brand and model?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Unless the WiFi at your marina is blazing fast and nobody uses it, netflix will be sketchy. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Last year was our first year with wifi, so I don't know how fast it is, but it generally worked well and there's usually only one or two on at a time. We're a smaller marina and don't have many liveaboards. If netflix doesn't work for me, I can live without it. I only plan to use it when tv reception is sketchy. I always have a few videos available when neither tv nor wifi is working, such as in stormy weather.

I was surprised by the performance of the tv usb adapter. I thought it would be a poor substitute for a "real" tv, but it seems to work really well.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 18:44:52

I'll look when I get back onboard at the brand name, but the secret to finding a 12v tv is to look at the power intake or on the inverter and see what it takes or what the box is putting out. So yes, after years of using the 7", I broke down and bought the 17". Now I can watch two things at once! Actually I guess I could use my usb adapter and watch three things at once. My usb adapter came with a remote which is cool.

I'm still trying to find a 12v laptop... Hate heating up two boxes to get 19v dc at the plug.

The usb tv does work great except when it loses a signal, it takes a lot .longer to recover than a traditional tv.

I can use my phone with netflix and connect it to my tv with a hdmi adapter BTW. That seems to be the way to go.

Sten

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 19:14:16

I use an "Eye TV" USB tuner on my 17" PowerMac. I have used one for several years and am pleased with it. I use an RCA digital antenna.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 20:03:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 ...I was surprised by the performance of the tv usb adapter. I thought it would be a poor substitute for a "real" tv, but it seems to work really well.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You should not be surprised. TV stations broadcast over the air in HD using ATSC protocol, which is just an over-the-air digital stream of MPEG video. So all the "tuner" does is sync in to the frequency, and then sends the bit stream to your hard drive with almost nothing done to change it. So as long as you have steady reception (which can be difficult if your boat is rocking or pitching) and a computer/video card with enough processing power to decode hi-def MPEG while you watch it, you will get 100% quality picture with no degradation. Over-the-air HD is actually a better quality picture than the compressed crap that cable companies push out their cables.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...I'm still trying to find a 12v laptop... Hate heating up two boxes to get 19v dc at the plug...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I hate invertors with all my heart. If you had one catch fire in your car (like I did) you might feel the same way.

I have one in my boat for emergencies, but I've never taken it out of the box.

But there's no need to get a 12v laptop. Just get a 19v travel charger. It will take your boat's 12VDC supply and step it up to 19VDC without converting to AC. It's much more efficient, and less likely to catch fire.

I found [url="http://www.amazon.com/Targus-Charger-Charging-Warranty-APM32US/dp/B005LXOP8Y"]this Targus charger[/url] for $30 at Staples on Black Friday. It's currently $38 at Amazon (note the nasty negative review appear to be because it does not have an "Empower" adapter for airplanes, but you don't need that for the boat). I have not used it yet, because I have a very nice Compaq charger that does the same thing and is plug compatible with my 19v MSI Netbook. But I wanted a second one because my son has the same Netbook.

Edited by - TakeFive on 02/27/2013 20:06:46

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2013 : 22:38:24

I have a 175/350w inverter and have no issues driving my 15" MacBook Pro and and eyetv. An inverter with adequate cooling airflow, mine is on the front panel of the starboard settee, and operating within its power rating, my MB Pro has an 85w power adapter, really shouldn't be a problem. That said, a 12v power adapter is certainly more efficient. Watching tv or a movie nearly always means a marina and shore power and running my nav software while underway has never stressed my batteries.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2013 : 04:50:23

For you windows folks... Windows 7 Home Premium has Windows Media Center (free).. it has a built in Television and DVR app... that app is REALLY neat to mess around with (I keep finding new uses for it, because it's not just for TV, has a Netflix app, photos, music, etc). Also for about $19 from Newegg... you can get an infrared TV remote for it. There is even an option to boot the computer always full screen TV mode (of course you click the mouse and it kicks out of that)... Its an option I use now on my home computer in the rack with my stereo (I put a bluray player in it so it's all my "other devices")... with a cablecard TV tuner, for those of us home bound.

TV tuners are cheaper than dirt.. a nice USB one can go for as little as $10 for a basic over the air adapter (spend money for a cable card one if you get cable where you are, those boxes are bigger though, about the size of a typical wallet look at the Hauppage 2650 for cablecard).

The advantage of Media Center is a very easy to use PVR! Yep.. and the files are stupid small but high quality and full HD.
Example Remote (yep these work with all media centers):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880101009
Example TV Tuner:
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/kworld-ub445-tv-tuner-functions-digital-tv-receiver-tv-tuning-video/217390956.html

Oh and if you have Windows 8... the Media Center software is a $10 add-on... but if you search, you can find it free... there are free licenses from MS if you dig (not illegal, just promotional). Works great under 8 as well.

If you can find one, MCE will allow you to stream from the main DVR to Media extender, or another computer running MCE (um, your mate can watch 1 show, while you watch another using WIFI). Just saying.

Oh and if you want INTERNET from marinas that have free WIFI... look at one of these. http://www.rakuten.com/prod/levelone-wua-5600-wireless-n-150mbps-high-power-outdoor-usb-adapter-w/224169586.html (note 5m USB cable).

Edited by - shnool on 02/28/2013 04:54:58

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2013 : 13:44:43

I bought a 26" Vizio LED tv from Target that has 12v input, internet ready, wifi...

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2013 : 18:31:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 I bought a 26" Vizio LED tv from Target that has 12v input, internet ready, wifi...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Do you have a model number? I couldn't find one listed at Target with a 12 volt input.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2013 : 06:28:10

[url="http://www.truckers-store.com/store-products-deck15dr-RCA---15-LED-TV-with-DVD%2C-AC-DC-Power_1098086649.html"]found this online[/url]

we have an earlier model of [url="http://www.truckers-store.com/store-products-slc1369a-Skyworth---13-LCD-TV-DVD-Combo-with-133-LED-Back-Light-Panel--AC-DC-Power_1098086666.html"]this TV[/url]

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 05/09/2013 06:29:37

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2013 : 12:56:33

I don't have a TV but the combination of youtube, Netlix Instant and Amazon Prime on the Kindle Fire through a WIFI works for me. For audio, I run an aux cable to the headset jack and run through the stereo.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2013 : 18:07:39

Interesting this subject came up at this time. I noticed one of my dock mates TV as I walked by the other day. The picture was super clear. Noticed they had one of these for an antenna.

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=11151&partNumber=491712#.UYxIEbXvvNg"]TV Antenna[/url]

I've been thinking about getting one for my boat. Not sure if I'll do it now or wait until I re-launch in the fall.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/09/2013 18:08:20

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5445 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 07:20:58

Those oversize frisbees are quite old technology and are not omnidirectional.

My fav is "the Leaf" which is a flat, passive antenna from Mohu, an engineering company from N.C. See www.gomohu.com
It looks like an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper with a coax cable. No power or booster is required.

I live in a grade B area between the NYC and Hartford/New Haven TV markets and I use it for over the air HD reception - when I want to get a good picture (my AT&T Uverse pix quality is sub-par). The Leaf's performance beats the pants off my RCA square box, flatpack omnidirectional antenna.

Works for both VHF and UHF. It's so lightweight, you could use a piece of double-stick foam tape to mount it.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2013 : 19:03:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Those oversize frisbees are quite old technology and are not omnidirectional.

My fav is "the Leaf" which is a flat, passive antenna from Mohu, an engineering company from N.C. See www.gomohu.com
It looks like an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper with a coax cable. No power or booster is required.

I live in a grade B area between the NYC and Hartford/New Haven TV markets and I use it for over the air HD reception - when I want to get a good picture (my AT&T Uverse pix quality is sub-par). The Leaf's performance beats the pants off my RCA square box, flatpack omnidirectional antenna.

Works for both VHF and UHF. It's so lightweight, you could use a piece of double-stick foam tape to mount it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
How far are you from the broadcast towers?

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2013 : 04:33:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I haven't been able to find one that size that works on 12 volt. What brand and model?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Defender sells 12 volt tvs with dvds

heres a 22"
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C344%7C2028706%7C2028862& id=1896592

with the shakespear antena i can get many staitions ..i use my phone with a teather to the tv for netflix or youtube videos

nice tvs low power draw too 1.6 amp for the large tv

Edited by - SEAN on 05/13/2013 04:36:04

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