New TV needed (1 Viewer)

[Touchwood]

It would seem our MH TV has gone on the blink - works apparently OK but can't change channel, either with handset or with button on the TV itself.

It's never been particularly good - we have a small TV in the kitchen at home that seems to have much better reception when compared with the MH TV, which refuses to pick up BBC1 or 2 on the kitchen aerial - but the kitchen TV doesn't have a 12v option.

So - we need a replacement, and as ever I turn to the inexhaustible fund of good advice to be had from you lot!

We need:-

18" screen
Built in DVD player
Decent sound quality
Robust build (to withstand being carefully stowed away every time we move the 'van)
Option to run on either mains or 12v (I guess 12v only would be an acceptable option)
Not expensive - TV whilst away in the MH isn't a big deal for us, nice to have but I won't pay a fortune for it!

Don't think it makes a difference but we only watch terrestrial channels.

Over to you guys! and in anticipation, many thanks

 

[Chris]

Not Avtex - that's all I can say on the subject.

 

[pyro]

No fan of Avtex here, either

Cello are fair, good for the price, but audio isn't the best and viewing angles reportedly a bit limited. Works for us

You gets what you pays for, I'm afraid.

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[RowleyBirkinQC]

Conversely, I quite like our Avtex L218DRS

 

[peterc10]

We have no problem with viewing angles or audio quality with our 19" HD Cello.

 

[Jaws]

Avtex .. Great for the first five minutes.. We have had two, both failed within days of the warranty expiring and both times we were quoted £199 to have them fixed.. One was 3 days out of guarantee but they would not budge
After that we moved over to a 21" Cello. That was about 3 years ago.. I now want to upgrade it to a full HD unit but have so far failed to find a suitable replacement ( 24", HD tuner, dvd, USB, and be able to receive analogue stations too ( as many camp sites are still using analogue distribution systems down in Spain )

So we will continue to use our Cello for the foreseeable future !

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[gradyp]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112340570786?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I've just ordered this. Will let you know what it's like when it comes

 

[pyro]

Our Avtex fell apart internally, so spent part of the refund on a Cello, and pocketed the rest.

We do find the audio a bit limited, but have not had the viewing angle issues that people have mentioned here and elsewhere.

The ability to play back MP4 asnd MP3 from a USN stick has been very handy

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Avtex .. Great for the first five minutes.. We have had two, both failed within days of the warranty expiring and both times we were quoted £199 to have them fixed.. One was 3 days out of guarantee but they would not budge
After that we moved over to a 21" Cello. That was about 3 years ago.. I now want to upgrade it to a full HD unit but have so far failed to find a suitable replacement ( 24", HD tuner, dvd, USB, and be able to receive analogue stations too ( as many camp sites are still using analogue distribution systems down in Spain )

So we will continue to use our Cello for the foreseeable future !

Avtex fixed a previous tv for us FOC when the warranty period had recently lapsed (think it needed a new circuit board), perhaps we just got lucky or it was a known issue with the model? Chose to buy the replacement from John Lewis for the extended 5 year warranty they throw in at no extra cost.

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[pappajohn]

Anything from a supermarket.
When on offer at Aldi or Lidl they usually come with a 3 year guarantee.
Most, up to maybe 22", run on 12v via the mains power brick system so only need a fused and regulated 12v lead.
They are robust enough to withstand the odd knock and bump and if they do fail its only around a hundred quid to replace rather than the many hundreds for an Avtex etc..

 

[138go]

I have used ..

http://www.acdctv.co.uk/product/12-...-12-volt-tv-with-built-in-hd-satellite-tuner/

Very impressed with customer service. Have had problems with a Snipe unit. It has now been replaced FOC with a new one after 18 months use ..

 

[EX51SSS]

Are all new tv's able to get TV in France. I have an Avtex and tbf, very happy with it but because France changed to HD transmission then it won't pick up there but fine in Germany up to now.
Do they do a set top box like when we changed from analogue to digital. Sorry, shouldn't have nicked a bit of your thread.

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[DanielFord]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112340570786?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I've just ordered this. Will let you know what it's like when it comes

We have a 15" Cello, and it is brilliant, sound quality could be said to be not the best, but perfectly OK for Motorhome application, plus we can put the sound through the sound system, should we choose to!

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

All an say on the matter is every 12 v tv I've ever had has been a compromise and they never lasted that long .
Now I have a small inverter and take a 19 inch tv DVD player from the kids bedroom great picture excellent sound , never fails .


Vlad

 

[DanielFord]

All an say on the matter is every 12 v tv I've ever had has been a compromise and they never lasted that long .
Now I have a small inverter and take a 19 inch tv DVD player from the kids bedroom great picture excellent sound , never fails .


Vlad

I'd be very surprised if that TV was not in fact running from a 12v transformer! Most LCD/LED TV's are actually 12v, and come with a 240v transformer!

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[Vlad The Impaler]

I'd be very surprised if that TV was not in fact running from a 12v transformer! Most LCD/LED TV's are actually 12v, and come with a 240v transformer!

I had read something similar somewhere ,indeed I had a tv with the brick thing between the plug and tv ,got an adapter and it worked with a 12 v plug
Re the tv we use now there is no brick does that mean the transformer is built into the actual tv .
I think it's a joke that 12 v specific tvs are around £200 quid more than the 240 v equivalent. For me a decent quality 240 v through a little inventor is the way to go


Vlad

 

[Mickey1]

I've just ordered this one , no DVD but I think there is one with.
Amazon product ASIN B01158ONOO
Mickey.

 

[old-mo]

I bought two (2) "Cello`s" for our unused caravan which we have just part X`d for a M-home...

Put one in the new M-home and have the other at home...

I think it is a 14 or 18 inch.. (Sorry not home at the mo, so not sure)..

It is 12 v only and has a built in DVD player...

Paid some where in the region of £140...

It has no box, as was fixed in the caravan and box disposed of..

Switched on once and tuned in... then taken out...

Will be selling it for £80.... if it was £140.... or will sell for less if it cost less than £140...

Watch the "For Sale" section on Wednesday..

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[Khizzie]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112340570786?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I've just ordered this. Will let you know what it's like when it comes

Good choice. Mine is brilliant.kicks the posers avtex into touch.

 

[pappajohn]

Are all new tv's able to get TV in France. I have an Avtex and tbf, very happy with it but because France changed to HD transmission then it won't pick up there but fine in Germany up to now.
Do they do a set top box like when we changed from analogue to digital. Sorry, shouldn't have nicked a bit of your thread.

As far as i know France has switched to FULL HD transmission and anything other than a full hd tv or digibox wont now work.

FULL HD not HD ready.

 

[EX51SSS]

As far as i know France has switched to FULL HD transmission and anything other than a full hd tv or digibox wont now work.

FULL HD not HD ready.

Yes it did last year just before we went. I just wondered if I could get a set top box thingy to save getting a new TV.
I appreciate Avtex aren't the most reliable or cheapest but lots complain about sound and/or viewing angles on Cello.
Might just forget tele in France and just watch dvd when there..

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[pappajohn]

Yes, a set top digibox will work.
The French viewers even got a 25€ grant towards a tv or digibox if they had older equipment.
As long as it can receive FULL HD it should work.

 

[EX51SSS]

Yes, a set top digibox will work.
The French viewers even got a 25€ grant towards a tv or digibox if they had older equipment.
As long as it can receive FULL HD it should work.

Brilliant. Are they available to buy in the supermarket like Carrefour or L' Eclerc?

 

[Brakers]

Hi There
I have two Avtex tv I like to record when away and watch later on that day, if you get back early and want to watch another tv programme while the Avtex is recording you can’t.

Although I have two Avtex tv's I certainly would not recommend them to anyone I don’t think the picture is top notch for the price and if one breaks I will be looking for another make with a record function while I can watch another station at the same time if there is such an animal.

Avtex are certainly a reasonable tv but vastly overpriced in my opinion and comparable options are available from other suppliers.

If sound is a problem on other company products if the product has a head phone socket or Bluetooth then a separate Bluetooth speaker might be an option to overcome that.
People say you get what you pay for but in this instance I don't think that is true.
Best Wishes Tony

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[SuperMike]

Or you could have a 43" LG that runs on a 12v brick or straight from the battery.

 

[Touchwood]

Thanks to all. Looked at the Cello, seems fine but more than I wanted to pay, really. I'm going to try the supermarket route - Aldi, Tesco - hope to find one that has an external 240/12v transformer which can run on 12v - hopefully around the £100 mark or less.

 

[peterc10]

Thanks to all. Looked at the Cello, seems fine but more than I wanted to pay, really. I'm going to try the supermarket route - Aldi, Tesco - hope to find one that has an external 240/12v transformer which can run on 12v - hopefully around the £100 mark or less.

Many do that and seem happy with the results. BUT if you want to use it in France you will need to get one with an HD tuner so it can receive HD channels. That is not the same as "HD ready".

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[Khizzie]

Many do that and seem happy with the results. BUT if you want to use it in France you will need to get one with an HD tuner so it can receive HD channels. That is not the same as "HD ready".

And if wanted to use with sat system you either need a tuner box or a built in reciever . Roy

 

[Touchwood]

Don't watch satellite channels whilst away - and won't be going to France in the near future!