Smart TV Choice

[Verteuil Man]

We are looking for a replacement television for our motorhome. We have an existing bee stink aerial, Oyster satellite and Fire Stick. Besides spending time in France and Spain we also rally in the UK in fields in what is now called wild camping (it makes the young ones happy to think that they have invented something that we have been doing for 35 years). We use all the types of reception as local conditions dictate. We are currently on a Cheshire Rally at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse which we have 14 DT channels via the bee sting, nothing to 1 bar of 4g and good satellite.
It's a toss up between 2 sets.

Avtex AV21TS SmartPro with Freely.
FALCON 22" WebOs Smart.

I have heard that the Avtex can be restrictive on which apps you can install and they have confirm with me that I cannot install a VPN, so where I am now Freely is useless as it would be abroad with no VPN. Satellite is installed but you have to spend time sorting out the channels you want from the hundreds it finds.
Alternatively the Falcon does not have Freely but does have Freesat which avoids hours of channel sorting and subsequent retuning misery. The VPN installation have not being confirmed by them.
The Falcon is about £100.00 cheaper.

Has anyone has experience of either?

 

[Antl]

I have the Avtex AV21TS Smart Pro. I really like Freely, never had it on any TV before, but it works well if you have an internet signal. The only negative is the remote that comes with the TV is not the best, although you can control using your phone.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We have a Sniper with an Amazon fire stick. Can't remember the model but it also runs on 12v.

 

[starquake]

We have a 240v Bush and inverter to run it when off grid _> has a dvd player built in, and uses Freely for internet delivery.
However when abroad we use Firestick + vpn. The TV is unusable smart abroad due to lack of VPN.

Should add the Bush (new one) we got to replace old (as old fell off stand when driving due to a bad fitment of a vesa) does run the Firestick via the usb port (so it's a high current USB on there).

 

[Gellyneck]

Might be worthwhile considering this one https://celloelectronics.com/products/22-smart-webos-tv-12-volt-full-hd-tv-with-dvd-player

We've had a similar previous version and currently a 32" version.

Probably a further -£100 than the Falcon.

 

[Neil S]

We are looking for a replacement television for our motorhome. We have an existing bee stink aerial, Oyster satellite and Fire Stick. Besides spending time in France and Spain we also rally in the UK in fields in what is now called wild camping (it makes the young ones happy to think that they have invented something that we have been doing for 35 years). We use all the types of reception as local conditions dictate. We are currently on a Cheshire Rally at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse which we have 14 DT channels via the bee sting, nothing to 1 bar of 4g and good satellite.
It's a toss up between 2 sets.

Avtex AV21TS SmartPro with Freely.
FALCON 22" WebOs Smart.

I have heard that the Avtex can be restrictive on which apps you can install and they have confirm with me that I cannot install a VPN, so where I am now Freely is useless as it would be abroad with no VPN. Satellite is installed but you have to spend time sorting out the channels you want from the hundreds it finds.
Alternatively the Falcon does not have Freely but does have Freesat which avoids hours of channel sorting and subsequent retuning misery. The VPN installation have not being confirmed by them.
The Falcon is about £100.00 cheaper.

Has anyone has experience of either?

I believe the latest Generation Avtex Pro also has the Freesat platform incorporated which means no channel sorting as well as Freely and normal Freeview Terrestial channels

 

[Orion]

Some LG domestic Smart TVs are 19v and use a 240v to 19v PSU in the home. It’s a simple job to use a 19v (or adjustable) laptop PSU and run one off a 12v Moho supply - we do, a 22” LG Smart TV which cost about £160 from Argos IIRC. Add in a Firestick and all bases are covered. Currently using NordVPN and no issues accessing UK content from Morocco.

 

[Wh05apk]

If you use a UK SIM card, you shouldn't need a VPN.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Verteuil Man]

If you use a UK SIM card, you shouldn't need a VPN.

The only issue with that is we are retired and go away longer than the network providers like i. e. over 62 days.

 

[interbear]

I have the Avtex AV21TS Smart Pro. I really like Freely, never had it on any TV before, but it works well if you have an internet signal. The only negative is the remote that comes with the TV is not the best, although you can control using your phone.

I have the same TV. As you say the integrated Freely works very well with a decent wifi / internet signal. We use a Netgear Nighthawk M3 mobile router to provide that data.

However, on occasions - especially when in Europe - I would rather NOT use precious mobile data to watch TV, I'd like to keep the data/wifi for other uses ie. phone or tablet, web browsing, work laptop etc. On those occasions I would prefer not to use Freely for TV and instead have the Avtex TV only use digital TV channels via the aerial connected to it. It always seems to default to using Freely over the internet though, I've not found an easy way to prevent that yet.

PS. This is not a problem in the UK with an unlimited data SIM but is a problem when data is more limited.

 

[scotjimland]

• Might be worthwhile considering this one https://celloelectronics.com/products/22-smart-webos-tv-12-volt-full-hd-tv-with-dvd-player
  
  .

Also bought this Cello Traveller TV .. to replace an aging Avtex .. highly recommend

I use it with a cheap mag mount TV arial from Amazon .. and it gets except reception ..

when we want to view streaming services I use a

MU5001 Mobile Router.​

Unlocked ZTE MU5001 5G MOBILE WIFI 6 HOTSPOT Portable WiFi Router High-Speed UK

it is excellent, there are several threads about it..

 

[Antl]

I also use the Netgear Nighthawk, which does work well.

I haven’t tried the TV via the aerial or satellite connections. Is it not possible to select the source via the menu?

 

[PhilG]

Cello for me, work great , and even a Luddite like me can get them to work.

 

[scotjimland]

I also use the Netgear Nighthawk, which does work well.

I haven’t tried the TV via the aerial or satellite connections. Is it not possible to select the source via the menu?

yes you do, I have also used mine with a sat dish .. but don't carry it now as I have the wifi router

 

[Gellyneck]

Also bought this Cello Traveller TV .. to replace an aging Avtex .. highly recommend

I use it with a cheap mag mount TV arial from Amazon .. and it gets except reception ..

when we want to view streaming services I use a

MU5001 Mobile Router.​

Unlocked ZTE MU5001 5G MOBILE WIFI 6 HOTSPOT Portable WiFi Router High-Speed UK

it is excellent, there are several threads about it..

We're using an MU5001 as well for network and as you say, excellent.

 

[Gellyneck]

I also use the Netgear Nighthawk, which does work well.

I haven’t tried the TV via the aerial or satellite connections. Is it not possible to select the source via the menu?

Our Cello Traveller is connected to a terrestrial TV aerial, satellite dish, MiFi router and has a 4Tb hdd attached.
You just select the source you want to watch on the remote.

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[Manic]

I’m just wondering why the op wants a smart tv when they already use a Firestick which makes anyy tv smart.

 

[interbear]

I also use the Netgear Nighthawk, which does work well.

I haven’t tried the TV via the aerial or satellite connections. Is it not possible to select the source via the menu?

I’ve not found an obvious way to do this easily. Could be user error of course