AVTEX - Av they had their day?

[596]

I have Avtex in my current van and quality is great but they always seem way behind the times, have complicated systems and are VERY expensive.

I am now looking for a new 12v / 240v system for my new van, I have read a few posts scattered around the forum, some of which seem to confirm what I have been thinking, with the advent of easier mobile wifi and streaming a smart TV seems to be the way to go, I have seen a make called Cello on Amazon who seem to be flooding the market but their system seems to favour the old fashioned Android system, as a techie who appreciates perfect integration I am an Apple user, has anyone found a perfect Apple compatible 12v system in a 22" TV that is 12v and 240v?

I have seen a couple that are only 240v and having spoken yesterday to one of the world leaders in fitting of van bitz it became clear that Avtex was not for me, it was refreshing to speak to such a knowledgeable individual, who it seems, thought it more important for me to have the system I wanted than to sell something incompatible. So do I go for a 240v with more options and use an inverter for the occasional time I use it on 12v (I have a generator so will be minimal), or do I go for Avtex because of the name and quality and have limited functionality and have it sticking out from the bulkhead with a pointless DVD player that is now so archaic making it so deep?

So help, advice truly appreciated from real life experiences, those that don't have real life experiences and are guessing or sticking their big noses in to pretend they know what they are talking about do need not respond

I am unsure whether 22" is the max size, so also looking at 24" just in case, but I never really watch TV, just listen to radio 4, so it is just for the grandkids but I don't want a bulky piece of plastic swinging around in my van making it chavvy. I like LG as that is the control I know how to use but finding smaller ones of decent quality os hard, reviews I have seen moan they are cheap plastic BUT a good screen, so open to other options.

Answers on a post please, and thank you for your time

 

[tonyidle]

seems to favour the old fashioned Android system,

Oooof Cello are the only UK TV manufacturer and do so for a couple of other makes. They had real failure with their first Traveller brand (viewing angles and sound) but since then have produced very good TVs. This van came with a Visio Plus which is excellent too. Avtex pricing model, IMO, is such that they can provide excellent after-sales service rather than superior products. Just stay away from Apples "suck you in then bleed you dry" pricing.

 

[Minxy]

A couple of days ago I ordered a Cello for home use as I just want a basic TV for the bedroom, the ones at £73 whilst saying used are normally brand new with a bit of damage to the cardboard box, as these are the Traveller 2 (T2) versions they come with a 12v lead.

Amazon product ASIN

 

[596]

Oooof Cello are the only UK TV manufacturer and do so for a couple of other makes. They had real failure with their first Traveller brand (viewing angles and sound) but since then have produced very good TVs. This van came with a Visio Plus which is excellent too. Avtex pricing model, IMO, is such that they can provide excellent after-sales service rather than superior products. Just stay away from Apples "suck you in then bleed you dry" pricing.

Thanks Any experience of Cello with Apple products? I understand Cello is the old Ferguson anyone know?

As for Apple products, this year is the first year in 7 years i have not ordered the new phone the day it was available, I paid £1,499 last year for a 512GB XS Max as the year before I had bought the iPhone X and couldn't read the screen having down sized from an 8 plus, but now the charge are so minute for my level of use the money is going on the van. I don't understand old motorhomes getting 4k TV's when their eyes aren't even 1080p Its the first year I turned off the launch stream as they have all lost the plot unless you want to sit in your van playing virtual reality chasing fictitious monsters Maybe when they can project lap dancers into my van I will re consider

 

[TCG]

Totally agree with everything the op has said..... we have the 24 inch Avtex. Nice tv but nothing special apart from the £450 price tag...

We now stream all our TV, currently using an amazon fire stick when we change the TV we will go for a smart TV

Just out of interest we are currently on a three week tour of France, and have to say I have not used the satellite dish one. Always streamed the programmes we want to watch, when we want to watch them...

My next van will not have a sat dish

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[596]

A couple of days ago I ordered a Cello for home use as I just want a basic TV for the bedroom, the ones at £73 whilst saying used are normally brand new with a bit of damage to the cardboard box, as these are the Traveller 2 (T2) versions they come with a 12v lead.

Amazon product ASIN

How big is yours and does it touch the sides? Some say 'edge to edge screen' but have a big ugly frame around, I have just been spoiled with my home Led TV's that have raised the bar, but realise I may have to compromise as one seems to have to do in the motor homing world

 

[596]

Totally agree with everything the op has said..... we have the 24 inch Avtex. Nice tv but nothing special apart from the £450 price tag...

We now stream all our TV, currently using an amazon fire stick when we change the TV we will go for a smart TV

Just out of interest we are currently on a three week tour of France, and have to say I have not used the satellite dish one. Always streamed the programmes we want to watch, when we want to watch them...

My next van will not have a sat dish

I have a satellite dish in the current van, got fed up trying to tune it in France, bought a self seeking/tracking Snipe unit, took it to France and that didn't work, being being a thicky who knows nothing about satellite didn't realise that you can't get the channels down there as you need a humongous dish. Anyway that has been in the box for a few years unused, now I found it yesterday may try it in my garden but worried about rude channels popping up which I don't want for the grand kids! Think I will stick to a smart TV, with smart inverters 12v is becoming less of a necessity, that to me is the only benefit Avtex had, with technology changing having spent so much on an Avtex you may be in a position that you feel you have to keep it for a long time missing out on the new better stuff coming along and being available, a bit like a wife really

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Avtex 22” tv with Alden AS4 satellite, Chromecast and iPad to stream NowTV, Netflix and other players works for us.

 

[Minxy]

How big is yours and does it touch the sides? Some say 'edge to edge screen' but have a big ugly frame around, I have just been spoiled with my home Led TV's that have raised the bar, but realise I may have to compromise as one seems to have to do in the motor homing world

Waiting for it to arrive so can't say for sure but the images show the frame isn't massive.

 

[Lumpy]

I found some info on Cello TV's a while ago when looking for a 12v TV for the van, have not purchased one yet as we tend to just watch films etc on our laptop. Perhaps the cold dark evenings of the UK will change that.

Ferguson TVs relaunched by British TV manufacturer Cello

Today, British TV manufacturer Cello has announced it will be bringing back the Ferguson brand. After completing a deal with Technicolor of France, Cello will manufacture Ferguson televisions for the UK market. Consumers will benefit from Android Smart, 4K UHD and wide screen sizes on British...

celloelectronics.com

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[596]

Avtex 22” tv with Alden AS4 satellite, Chromecast and iPad to stream NowTV, Netflix and other players works for us.

How do you stream from iPads and iPhones, thought you would need Apple TV which we have, but that requires 240v hence pointless buying a 12v TV?

 

[Ernesto]

I think I'll replace my Avtex TV when/if it fails with a portable projector ... they have decent internal batteries which can be supplemented and we'er almost 100% streaming now both home and in the van...
Something along the lines of this ..

Amazon product ASIN B01MU8VC5J

 

[Minxy]

I think I'll replace my Avtex TV when/if it fails with a portable projector ... they have decent internal batteries which can be supplemented and we'er almost 100% streaming now both home and in the van...
Something along the lines of this ..

Amazon product ASIN B01MU8VC5J

jezport has a projector in his camper, not sure which he has though.

 

[596]

What is funny is that at home we have a 75" TV so when I went to Costco yesterday and looked at the smallest Tv they had at 26' it looked tiny and hardly worth getting, but then I realised I was looking for something really even smaller at 22", boy haven't we half been spoiled over the years, I remember black and what huge TV's and the new modern Dixon 12" square box TV's that later if you were posh could get in colour

My Laptop if 15" plus the grandkids just seem to use phones and iPads, have the days of having a TV stuck on the bulked had their day, maybe a projector is the way to go, but then that seems like old technology now although the lumens are now increasing and prices dropping..

 

[596]

I think I'll replace my Avtex TV when/if it fails with a portable projector ... they have decent internal batteries which can be supplemented and we'er almost 100% streaming now both home and in the van...
Something along the lines of this ..

Amazon product ASIN B01MU8VC5J

I have a mini projector we use but the linking to the iphone was a bit hit and miss, they seem to be getting better and better so maybe I will wait, it means you can project outside in the summer and with an 8 mtr van I sure will have a big screen (subject to lumens of course), we could all wear cordless headphones

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[Minxy]

What is funny is that at home we have a 75" TV so when I went to Costco yesterday and looked at the smallest Tv they had at 26' it looked tiny and hardly worth getting, but then I realised I was looking for something really even smaller at 22", boy haven't we half been spoiled over the years, I remember black and what huge TV's and the new modern Dixon 12" square box TV's that later if you were posh could get in colour

My Laptop if 15" plus the grandkids just seem to use phones and iPads, have the days of having a TV stuck on the bulked had their day, maybe a projector is the way to go, but then that seems like old technology now although the lumens are now increasing and prices dropping..

75"!!!!!! Blooming heck I wouldn't know where to put one that big!

As for projectors, for home use maybe as you'd tend to watch it in the same place but in a camper you'd be limited to where you could have the screen so might not be so easy to get it at a comfortable position for viewing as you can with a TV that can be moved round.

 

[596]

75"!!!!!! Blooming heck I wouldn't know where to put one that big!

As for projectors, for home use maybe as you'd tend to watch it in the same place but in a camper you'd be limited to where you could have the screen so might not be so easy to get it at a comfortable position for viewing as you can with a TV that can be moved round.

Use a clip/clamp system like a GoPro, we have a roll up screen but I am sure you could use a whiteboard or similar to view on, the beauty is the flexibility and these things have smart technology in them.

 

[Beltie]

You have a 75" TV, but you think an Avtex or similar in the 'van is 'Chavvy", mmm.....!

 

[596]

You have a 75" TV, but you think an Avtex or similar in the 'van is 'Chavvy", mmm.....!

I only have 75" so I can see it, in fact I am looking at an 85" but think I would get a sore neck watching Wimbledon trying to watch the ball The big TV;s are cheap as chips now, look at an Avtex price and see what size you can get with that money, size isn't everything but bigger is apparently better

This is 22" Avtex money!

This is 24" Avtex money!

This is what a superb 75" costs

AND THIS is what you can get for £150, now compare all this jazzy 4k smart technology to an antiquated Avtex just to have 12v

Hmm I have some deep thinking to do..............

 

[Minxy]

The big TV;s are cheap as chips now, look at an Avtex price and see what size you can get with that money, size isn't everything but bigger is apparently better

Only if you have the quality to go with it!

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[tonyidle]

Thanks Any experience of Cello with Apple products? I understand Cello is the old Ferguson anyone know?

As for Apple products, this year is the first year in 7 years i have not ordered the new phone the day it was available, I paid £1,499 last year for a 512GB XS Max as the year before I had bought the iPhone X and couldn't read the screen having down sized from an 8 plus, but now the charge are so minute for my level of use the money is going on the van. I don't understand old motorhomes getting 4k TV's when their eyes aren't even 1080p Its the first year I turned off the launch stream as they have all lost the plot unless you want to sit in your van playing virtual reality chasing fictitious monsters Maybe when they can project lap dancers into my van I will re consider

No experience of any Apple products. Can't afford them once I've bought a decent phone ?.

 

[596]

No experience of any Apple products. Can't afford them once I've bought a decent phone ?.

Thanks for the honest answer, now I have just spent a fortune on a new van I will be joining your club, the days of spunking £1,499 on a bloody telephone once a year are now finished, nobody calls me anyway because I never answer it

 

[SpeedyDux]

Thanks Any experience of Cello with Apple products? I understand Cello is the old Ferguson anyone know?

As for Apple products, this year is the first year in 7 years i have not ordered the new phone the day it was available, I paid £1,499 last year for a 512GB XS Max as the year before I had bought the iPhone X and couldn't read the screen having down sized from an 8 plus, but now the charge are so minute for my level of use the money is going on the van. I don't understand old motorhomes getting 4k TV's when their eyes aren't even 1080p Its the first year I turned off the launch stream as they have all lost the plot unless you want to sit in your van playing virtual reality chasing fictitious monsters Maybe when they can project lap dancers into my van I will re consider

For the price of a new iPhone you could have real lapdancers in your van.

 

[596]

For the price of a new iPhone you could have real lapdancers in your van.

I know but they were big girls so SVTech said I needed an auto stabilising system which ran into thousands

 

[Khizzie]

I have a satellite dish in the current van, got fed up trying to tune it in France, bought a self seeking/tracking Snipe unit, took it to France and that didn't work, being being a thicky who knows nothing about satellite didn't realise that you can't get the channels down there as you need a humongous dish. Anyway that has been in the box for a few years unused, now I found it yesterday may try it in my garden but worried about rude channels popping up which I don't want for the grand kids! Think I will stick to a smart TV, with smart inverters 12v is becoming less of a necessity, that to me is the only benefit Avtex had, with technology changing having spent so much on an Avtex you may be in a position that you feel you have to keep it for a long time missing out on the new better stuff coming along and being available, a bit like a wife really

Interesting, I have a snipe 2sat dish. And I can get English channels right down as far as the south dordogne, then just a few channels as far as Marseille then the signal breaks up.. Maby I am just lucky but I am very pleased with my snipe /cello setup.

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[596]

Interesting, I have a snipe 2sat dish. And I can get English channels right down as far as the south dordogne, then just a few channels as far as Marseille then the signal breaks up.. Maby I am just lucky but I am very pleased with my snipe /cello setup.

I am in St Tropez area, the thing was searching and searching, have tried it in the Uk and its excellent, I don't have a roof rack or ladder on the new van as trying to save weight so where do you put yours?

 

[Coolcats]

I have a mini projector we use but the linking to the iphone was a bit hit and miss, they seem to be getting better and better so maybe I will wait, it means you can project outside in the summer and with an 8 mtr van I sure will have a big screen (subject to lumens of course), we could all wear cordless headphones

I have used a mini projector for years, along with mini speakers, it is fine with the old style wheel iPod and is fine with the iPhone. Normally use it in Lanzerotte on the white walls outside the Villa. It works on the MoHo as well. We wait for it to go dark and the first star to appear get the fish of the barbecue, a Glass of wine and relax watching the film. the trick is don't go cheap on the connecting cables (not saying you do but its sometimes these that make or break a reliable experience).

 

[Richard n Ann]

We've got a neat 18" Samsung TV. When not on hook up I run it off an expensive little pure sine wave inverter. The wasted power is negligible and at 275w the choice of quality TVs it will run is endless and cheep ?

 

[pappajohn]

So help, advice truly appreciated from real life experiences, those that don't have real life experiences and are guessing or sticking their big noses in to pretend they know what they are talking about do need not respond

Perhaps you should have asked the question on a TV forum.
The nature of this forum is everyone has an answer and an opinion and requests like that do not go well.

 

[Beltie]

I think streaming will ultimately be the way to go, perhaps when 5g is fully rolled out here and on the continent.
At the moment, however, getting a reliable signal is still problematic, particularly in the remoter areas most of us prefer, and even where we live, only twenty five miles from Birmingham.

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