TVs and Video Players

What to look for when choosing a portable TV

Using your TV abroad

Power consumption of mobile TVs

Using an inverter with a 230V TV

Teletext on portable TVs

The importance of a good aerial

Digital TV

Do you need a license for your portable TV?

Using a video player with a portable TV

Common problems with portable TVs

What to look for when choosing a portable TV

When choosing a TV, you will probably already have a good idea of the sort of thing you're looking for: colour or black & white, 5", 10" or 14" screen, teletext or not and so on. But there are many more features available on portable TVs and you should carefully consider the following options:

Will you want to operate the TV on 24 volts or only 12V & 230V?

Will you be taking your TV abroad?

How much power can you afford to use whilst watching TV?

Will you want to want to use your TV to watch video tapes or as a monitor for a camera?

Using your TV abroad

If you want to watch TV abroad, you'll need to buy a model which is compatible with the systems used in the countries which you'll be visiting. Most countries in Western Europe use a system called PAL BG but the U.K. has a slightly different system called PAL I. The French have a completely different one altogether - SECAM L while Russia and most other Eastern European countries use a variety of SECAM called SECAM BG.

A television designed to work only in the U.K. will simply not work in any other European country except Ireland but, even there, some areas are only served by VHF services which some TVs may not be able to receive.

If you never go to France or Eastern Europe, a dual PAL system TV could be just the thing. Look for PAL I/BG in the specifications. For most people venturing abroad however, the most practical solution is a full multi-system set which will work absolutely anywhere in Europe. We have several to choose from, including TV/video combinations. Look for sets which operate on PAL BG/1 SECAM BG/L.

Power consumption of mobile TVs

If you're concerned about power consumption, bear in mind that a B&W set will use far less power (1 amp per hour approx. for a 10" screen) than a colour set (4 amps per hour approx. for a 10" screen).

A small screen TV will use less than one with a large screen. A 5" colour screen will use approx. 1.5 amps per hour. Least power-hungry of all are L.C.D. TVs. A 4"model can use less than one amp per hour.

Using an inverter with a 230V TV

Running your TV from home with an inverter while away in your caravan, boat or truck might sound like a good idea but many inverters will produce a certain amount of interference on most TVs. The interference may be slight - usually it's a thin white line scrolling up the screen - but, once you've spotted it, you may find yourself watching the interference rather than the programme. Some TVs are affected more badly than others but you won't know how badly your TV will be affected until you try it.

Another pitfall to be aware of is that, although a domestic 14" TV may only draw in the region of 50 watts, when the TV is first switched on it can draw an awful lot more - more than some small inverters are able to provide. So a 150W inverter may not necessarily be powerful enough.

Furthermore, an inverter will consume power itself so that running a TV via an inverter will use significantly more electricity than a TV running on 12V or 24V D.C.

If you must use an inverter and you want to be sure that you won't have problems, use an inverter with a pure sine wave output or one that has been produced with the necessary filters to remove potential sources of interference.

Teletext

Several portable TVs now come with teletext and it can be a very useful feature to have. However, teletext is very dependent on a strong signal and, if you're in an area with poor reception or your TV aerial is not particularly efficient, you may not be able to receive teletext properly. Instead, you will see partial pages and gobbledygook.

If you want to be maximise your chances of receiving text, use a good quality, external aerial with an amplifier.

The importance of a good aerial

The picture on any TV can only be as good as the signal it receives from the transmitter. Teletext, in particular, will not work at all without a strong, clear signal. All our TVs have built-in aerials but, in areas of poor reception, you may still need an external aerial, preferably one that amplifies the signal before passing it to the TV. We have several to choose from.

Another point to bear in mind is that, the higher the aerial, the better your chances of getting a good signal. If possible, mount your aerial on a pole.

Digital TV

Can you receive digital TV on a portable set either now or in the future? In theory yes, in exactly the same way as you can receive it at home - via a set-top box. This could be powered from a small inverter without difficulty. Of course, digital TV is only available at the moment via satellite, cable or ON Digital and the satellite method is currently the only way to receive digital transmissions when you're on the move.

In America though, many campgrounds and truckstops have cable TV & internet hook-ups available so, maybe one day……

Do you need a license for your portable TV?

Yes and no. The law states that if you have a licensed TV at home but then go away and watch another TV in your truck, boat, motorhome, caravan, etc. you do not need another licence. Unless, that is, there are still people in your home who will be watching the TV you left behind. In that case, you must buy a second licence in the normal way to cover your portable set.

Using a video player with a portable TV

All the video players that we sell are designed for 12-volt operation. However, unlike virtually all domestic video players, most of them cannot be connected to the TV via the aerial socket. They must be connected to the TV via audio/video sockets or SCART socket. We always provide the necessary leads to do this.

Some older TVs do not have audio/video input sockets and cannot be connected to a video player in this way. We usually have at least one model which can be connected to a TV via the aerial socket.

Video players use very little power - around 1 amp or less per hour - and are considerably smaller than domestic models. Most come with remote control and some have long-play feature.

Bear in mind that 12V video players do not have tuners and so cannot be used to record TV programmes off air. However, we have several models which can be used to record the programme being watched on the TV. in order to do this, the TV must be equipped with audio/video outputs.

Satellite TV

This is a very complex subject in the U.K. We have a section for Satellite info further down the page!

Problems

If you're having a problem with your portable TV, a good first move is to try using it at home with it powered by 230V A.C. and connected to a domestic aerial or cable feed. If the set works but won't work in your vehicle, have a look at the following checklist.

No power at all:

Check fuses in the power cord plug, the circuit feeding the socket and - if you are technically competent - inside the set itself.

Note: Never start a vehicle's engine while a TV or any other appliance is connected to a lighter socket or other socket powered from the engine's electrical system. A surge of power can blow fuses or cause more serious damage

Set won't switch on even though there's power getting through. AND / OR Picture appears too small for screen:
Probably caused by lack of power. The battery may be low or the distance from power source to the TV is causing voltage drop in the cable. The best course of action is to see if the TV works on mains power or when connected to another source of D.C. power. If it does, check the vehicle's battery and, if possible, check the voltage going into the TV while it is switched on. If battery is OK but voltage at the TV is low - < 12V - consider using thicker power cable or plugging the TV in nearer the battery to reduce voltage drop.

There's a picture but no sound:

This is a surprisingly common problem and often arises when someone has taken advantage of a bargain seen in a French or Spanish service station. TVs sold on the Continent, unless there's a label on the box which specifically states that the set works on PAL I, will not pick up sound on UK TV.

Set comes on but it won't tune in:

Make sure that all switches on the TV are set to the correct positions.

Check that the aerial is connected correctly.

Can I Watch Terrestrial T.V. via Satellite?

What’s it all about?

Satellite television has many advantages over “normal” TV for anyone who wants to watch TV whilst on the move.

Firstly, with Digital Satellite reception, you either have a picture or you don’t, there is no “in-between”.

You must have a clear view to the South, Which is where the signal comes from. Secondly, the choice of channels and programmes is immense and includes radio stations. Thirdly, and most importantly to many people, U.K. TV channels are available over a large area of Europe so that, even as far south as Portugal or Greece even North Africa, you can still watch the programs you would be watching at home. However, receiving satellite TV can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. It is not just a simple matter of connecting a dish to a TV and pointing it at the sky, not for Digital broadcast anyway. The Digital signal is an exact signal, either you have it or you don’t. The equipment you need is a dish, a DVB receiver (digibox) a television and of course some method of locating the satellite signal, even with this equipment it may prove difficult to locate and retain the signal. Alternatively, a fully automatic satellite system such as the Oyster range will locate the signal and retain the signal all by the press of a button. Absolutely no hassle.

Yes, all current terrestrial TV stations are available through the satellite network as are a large number of radio channels including Radio 1 through’ to 5, also a selection of lifestyle channels will be available to you. You will, however, need a “Digibox” to de-crypt the signal and a “Free to View” card, which as a UK TV licence holder you would be entitled to. You will not receive any “premium Sky channels” unless you were to take out a subscription with BskyB.

What Size of Dish do I Need?

The Astra 2 footprint map shows that an Oyster Caro 55cm System is adequate for the UK and most of Central Europe. The 65cm Oyster SamY System is more than adequate for the reception of British broadcasted television in most of Europe, but for those of us that head to Southern Spain and Portugal, an 85cm Oyster would be advised. You should then receive most of your favourite channels without a problem. ( Please note that the software settings will need to be altered on your Digibox ). You may not be able to receive BBC and ITV and some of the “Premium Channels” as they are broadcasted from the Astra 2D satellite, which has a footprint that only covers the U.K. Eire and northern France. Further information can be found on the Astra website http://www.astra.lu

Is there a 12v “Digibox” available?

There was! However, many that are available now are graded and as such cannot be guaranteed. When we install a system we now include a small inverter that is far more reliable.

Does it need a Telephone Line to Work?

No, it does not need a phone line to work.

www.ses-astra.com
To request a viewing card for “Freesat” programmes:
Tel. 08706 06 1111