LCD TV

[nigel carton]

Hi,

 

I'm after a small flat screen tv (12v) that I can take with me on boat moves, I don't want a 2" screen, more like 6" - 8" so it can be carried in my kit bag. Any ideas?

[nbtafelberg]

Hmmm..

 

You could try a CAR TV screen they are exactly that size.

[dor]

My first thought was one of the portable DVD players, but then you will still need a tuner, unless there is one around that has that included now.

The quality of these things is very variable, and not necessarily proportional to price. There are some good 7inch ones around.

 

The Venturer at Argos is quite good for the price. It has a scart to phono adapter cable included so you could use it with a freeview box.

Edited December 22, 2004 by dor

[nigel carton]

Ok thanks for that. Nigel

[Yamanx]

I bought a 7" one from Ebay on Buy-it-now for £75 delivered. Brand new from a UK supplier and its really good. Probably Chinese but it works fine and has a pretty good picture, remote control and loads of leads for various stuff. It can work from 12v, 240v and batteries.

 

Very pleased with it.

[nigel carton]

Yamanx, can yours connect to an ariel or has it got its own or both?

nigel

[stuart]

Halfords have a good range of DVD units (but not TV tuners)

 

 

This is quite a nice model for £199 http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_detail...&type=0&cat=338

 

Even comes in its own travel bag!

[stuart]

Actually this looks a lot better!

 

http://www.allcam.biz/products/lilliputtv.html

 

 

* 7 inches (diagonal) active matrix slim panel display

* Optional 4 display modes: 4:3<-->16:9 <-->16:9 Zoom<-->4:3 For CCTV

* High resolution (H x V): 1440 x 234 = 336,960 pixels

* Advanced color configuration: RGB stripe

* Auto Search & 90 channels preset/memory

* Video system: PAL/NTSC auto conversion

* DVD/VCD/Security system/ GPS Navigation system compatible

* Super slim design only 26 mm

 

£125.98 inc VAT

[dor]

Looks pretty neat.

 

Does anyone have any views on voltage stabilisers for LCD tv's? I've heard they can be sensitive to over-voltage, which you could get if the engine is running with an external regulator holding voltage at 14.8V.

 

In other words, are these necessary:

 

http://www.amperor.co.uk/prod_cps_55a.asp (12v)

 

http://www.amperor.co.uk/prod_adp_90dc-125525.asp (12/24V)

[stuart]

All your really needing is a decent dc-to-dc converter 10v-15v to 12v.

 

But the link you give above would work fine. Just check the power requirements as 70Watt may be one the light side.

[dor]

I had thought in the past of using a dc to dc converter to keep my TV going when it decides to cut out through low voltage, but they seemed rather expensive. The 12v gizmo above is about £10 which is muuch more reasonable. My CRT 10" TV is rated at 39 watts; I think similar sized LCD tvs are less than half that, so shouldn't be a problem.

But the real question is: do LCD tv's actually need this sort of thing?

[nigel carton]

Stuart,

 

thanks for that, ordered the one you displayed, its looks the dogs do dars!

NIGEL

[zimmer4me]

Hi

on the subject of LCD TV's am also in the market for one but at least 15 inch and 12v/240v.

Any thoughts ? have seen a crown one for £350 odd but not convinced about quality.

Regards

JK

[dor]

I bought a 17inch wide screen recently. In my research I found little difference in quality of the picture for equal pixel size. Some cheap ones are only 600x800 for a 4:3. I suspect most makes use the same source anyway. The one I bought for 399 had the same basic layout - switch positions etc - and firmware as a Philips at 599 and a sanyo at 499. Picture quality was identical. Sound qualaity however did vary and the philips was definitely better. However a £29 pair of active speakers gives better sound than any of them.

[Martin]

Someone a while back pointed to the following device:

External Digital TV Tuner

This is designed to be used in conjunction with a PC Monitor (CRT, LCD or even Projector) and so you don't need to buy an LCD TV.

There is also an analogue version on the same website for those who don't want the 30(?) Freeview channels.

 

I have been looking into this but would want a bit more PC integration.

 

What I want is to have a PC with TV Tuner so that I can record to the HDD and then burn to DVD if I want to keep what I have recorded.

Since the PC requires significant amounts of power though, I want to be able to use the tuner without switching on the PC.

 

The product above just sits in the line between the PC video output and the screen so does not need the computer to be on - indeed it does not need a computer at all.

But it doesn't actually speak to the computer so HDD recording is not possible.

If this box had a USB interface with the PC it would be just the job.

At £103.40 for a digibox that plugs into a computer monitor, it is probably worth a look anyway!

Edited December 23, 2004 by Martin

[stuart]

Heres an interesting solution for someone after a large TFT panel - 17"

 

 

Very good price at £139.83 (Inc VAT)

 

http://www.microlandtechnology.com/product...p?partno=MN2564

 

then combine with a high resolution TV tuner with teletext, such as the "Aver TV Tuner Box 9"

 

 

http://www.ameiva.co.uk/index.php?section=...F5-54666B03644D

£123.38 inc VAT

 

This allows you to

Use your PC/Laptop with a TFT monitor

Use a DVD player/xbox/playstation etc.

Access to teletext

High resolution 1280x1024 display.

 

Good combination for less than £264 !

[stuart]

I have been looking into this but would want a bit more PC integration.

What I want is to have a PC with TV Tuner so that I can record to the HDD and then burn to DVD if I want to keep what I have recorded.

Since the PC requires significant amounts of power though, I want to be able to use the tuner without switching on the PC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You mean like this http://www.mysettopbox.tv/. This is what I use for watching TV at home, replaces my old Tivo unit.

[Martin]

I will have to trawl through the threads probably!

Thing is though - to be able to watch TV without booting Windows (or Linux).

 

Be aware with cheaper TFT/LCD Screens....

Look at the "response time" before you buy.

This is the time it takes for the screen to update from one image to the next.

According to a review in a computer mag this week, you should not look at anything with a figure of over 25m/s.

Newer ones are getting down to 8m/s.

Too high and the picture will be jerky or blurred - like watching an mpeg with the sample rate too low.

The one from Stuart above is 16m/s so should be acceptable unless you are picky!

I would like to see it against a new 8m/s one to compare.

Edited December 23, 2004 by Martin